November 9, 2026, Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE): Dr. Stephen de Filippo, Assistant Professor in the General Education Department at Canadian University Dubai (CUD), who teaches The Creative Process in the Creative Industries program, has had his work presented at three international events this year, including two world premieres in Europe and a festival selection in South Korea.
On June 24, 2026, his new 21-minute string quartet, are we just a fraught series of momentary alignments, received its world premiere at Bled Contemporary Music Week in Slovenia. Performed by the .abeceda String Quartet, Anja Kralj and Izabela Hace (violin), Domen Kužnar (viola) and Urban Megušar (cello), at the historic Bled Castle, the composition explores the fragility of unity through moments of musical alignment, disruption and instability.
On August 28, 2026, his new work for solo amplified oboe, restricted access, regulated body, received its world premiere at Attara Soinu in Villava-Atarrabia, Navarra, Spain. Created in collaboration with Spanish oboist Pilar Fontalba, the 11-minute piece investigates the relationships between language, instrumental performance and the human body, incorporating breath, speech, mechanical resistance and unconventional instrumental techniques. It received a second performance the following day at Festival After Cage in Pamplona.
His sound art composition Thailand’s State Railways: Surat Thani → Hat Yai (2023) was also selected for SONIC NOMADS 2026, held from October 22 to October 25 at Seoul National University’s Power Plant (68) in South Korea. The 17-minute fixed-media work documents a railway journey through southern Thailand, combining field recordings, contact microphones and environmental sound to explore the relationships between movement, infrastructure, landscape and memory. It was presented on October 25 as part of the festival’s Long Listen (Deep Listening #3) program.
The recognition reflects CUD’s commitment to creative excellence and to faculty whose work reaches audiences around the world.
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