Cerulean S. Payne-Passmore (they/them) is a composer and electronic musician from Philadelphia, PA currently pursuing doctoral studies in music composition as a Benjamin Franklin Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania, studying with Tyshawn Sorey. Their compositional practice focuses on collaborative improvisation, augmenting acoustic sound with electronics, and making what seems strange sound beautiful. In their music, Cerulean experiments with harmony to find new patterns from familiar sounds, integrating intuitive expansion of traditional tonality with new harmonic constructs. Their work often returns to themes of climate change and gender expression. Recently, they have collaborated to create new works with bassoonist Dana Jessen, Yarn/Wire, the TAK Ensemble. 

Currently, they are composing a string quartet on the experience of living through the climate crisis, an electroacoustic piece for voice and feedback inspired by Octavia Bulter’s writings, and a piece for electroacoustic chamber ensemble that confronts the darkness lurking within the creative psyche. 

Cerulean is currently on the faculty of the University of the Arts and Temple University.

In their spare time, Cerulean enjoys reading speculative fiction, exploring new places, and hanging out with their foster cat(s).