Dr. Ross Adrian Williams
Born in Perth, Western Australia, composer and sound designer Ross Adrian Williams has written music and designed sound across a range of styles for theatre, film, animation, dance, museum installation, 360° video and VR. His work for award winning abstract, documentary, animated and narrative films have been shown in festivals, and installations around the world including the Venice Biennale and Busan International Short Film Festival.
His interdisciplinary research collaborations have led to novel research in diverse areas, combining various scientific disciplines. These include the exploration of volcanic infrasound to improve the detection of volcanic events and gaining deeper insights into the cognitive and perceptual mechanisms underlying the impact of sound on visual memory formation in narrative fiction film.
ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Doctor of Musical Arts (1999 – 2002)
Rice University, Houston, U.S.A - Master of Music (1996 -1999)
Rice University, Houston, U.S.A - Bachelor of Music (Hons) (1991-1995)
University of Western Australia
PROFESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS
- British University Vietnam (BUV)
Senior Lecturer (2025 – Current) - Nanyang Technological University Singapore
Assistant Professor (2014 – 2025) - Art Institute of New York City, U.S.A
Senior lead Instructor (2003 – 2014)
RESEARCH AREAS / FIELDS
- Sound, Memory and Image: How sound effects image memory in narrative in 2D and VR films
- Pedagogy of sound in screen media
- Aesthetics of sound design for fiction narrative, experimental and documentary film.
RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS
- Williams, R.A. (2024)
Voice in the Machine: AI Voice Cloning in Film.
Art Style, Art & Culture International Magazine, v. 13, no. 129-143,
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.10443451 - Williams, R.A., Perttu, A. & Taisne, B. (2020)
Processing of volcano infrasound using film sound audio post-production techniques to improve signal detection via array processing.
Geoscience Letters. 7, 9 . https://doi.org/10.1186/s40562-020-00158-4 # - Williams, R.A, (2019)
“Sound As Equal Partner in Film Production: Can Academic Instruction Change Industry Practice”
Ars et Praxis, No. VI, Sept, pp. 183-189.
RESEARCH & CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS / EXHIBITIONS
- Williams R.A. (2025)
Bird Sounds (short film, writer, director)
Busan International Short Film Festival (film screening)
Busan, South Korea - Williams R.A (2023)
Sound and Visual Memory in Narrative Film
The Society of Cognitive Studies of the Moving Image Conference
University of North Carolina Wilmington. U.S.A - Williams R.A (2019)
Where is the Sound? Challenges and Strategies in Enhancing the Status of Sound in Media Pedagogy
3rd Music and Sound Design in Film and New Media Conference. (Keynote Address)
Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, Vilnius, Lithuania. - Williams R.A (2019)
Academy Practice = Industry Practice: Sound in Media Pedagogy,
Sightlines: Screen Production and the Academy Conference,
RMIT Melbourne, Australia - Williams R.A (2018)
Processing of volcano Infrasound using film Sound Audio Post Production Techniques to Improve Signal Detection via Array Processing
European Geosciences Union, General Assembly,
Vienna, Austria (2018).
RESEARCH GRANTS
- Williams R.A (2019)
Unheard, Unseen: Sound and Memory in Sound Design for Narrative Film in 2D and VR
Singapore Ministry of Education, Tier 1 Research Grant ($53 736) - Reinhuber, E, Seide B & Williams R.A (2016)
Tangible/Intangible: Exploring the possibilities of capturing multi-sensory impressions to create immersive Virtual Reality environments, exemplified with the forking path structure of the Yunnan Garden at NTU.
Singapore Ministry of Education, Tier 1 Research Grant ($97 000) - Taisne, B, Williams R.A (2016)
Real time spatial sonification of Nature’s furies using infrasound sensors installed at NTU
Singapore Ministry of Education, Tier 1 Research Grant ($50 186)
AWARDS & HONOURS
- Vertical Movie Award Winner – New Normal 2021
4th Vertical Movie Festival, Rome, Italy
As composer, sound designer/mixer (written and directed by Chul Heo) - Grand Jury Prize, Best Short Film – Little Fiel 2019
Boulder International Film Festival, U.S.A.
As Sound Designer/Mixer (written and directed by Irina Patkanian) - Best Art Award (Group) – Gone Garden 2018
ZKM Beyond Festival, Art exhibition
ZKM Karlsruhe, Germany.
As Co-director, Composer, Sound Designer/Mixer - Faculty Excellence Award 2005
Art Institute of New York City, U.S.A - J. Hodges Awards for Outstanding Composition Student 1995
University of Western Australia, Australia
- Share
Read more 
Teaching Fellow
Acting Discipline Lead – Accounting, Finance & Economics
Raised and educated in Stoke-on-Trent, England, Jed completed a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting & Finance from Staffordshire University. Following graduation in 2018, he was employed by British University Vietnam as an English teacher whilst subsequently completing a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Staffordshire University, delivered at British University Vietnam. During his time at BUV, […]
Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President
Professor Rick BennettRaised and educated in London, Rick completed undergraduate studies in the Fine Arts before working for 7 years within the UK film & television industry specialising in TV commercials and music video production. After emigrating to Australia in 1990, Rick worked at the University of New South Wales (in Sydney) where for 24 years he […]
Lecturer
Dr. Daphne LauBefore joining BUV, Daphne served as a Research Assistant Professor at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (AACSB and EQUIS accredited). She holds a Ph.D. in Accountancy from the City University of Hong Kong (AACSB and EQUIS accredited). Daphne was awarded a Hong Kong Ph.D. Fellowship by the Research Grants Council of the Hong Kong Special […]
Associate Lecturer
Programme Lead - International Hospitality Management
Olivier de Chauliac is a French professional working in the hospitality, tourism and service industry for several years. Coming from a family anchored deep into the hospitality industry with a 3-stars Camping, a 200ha of Vineyard in the South of France and a hunting lodge, Olivier always had a passion for this industry and particularly […]
Teaching Fellow
Head of Pathways
Raised and educated in the North-East of England, Michael completed a Bachelor’s degree in Advertising & Media from Northumbria University, Newcastle. Following graduation in 2012, he was employed for 5 years in the UK music events & hospitality industry as a Marketing & Events Manager. During this time, Michael continued to pursue his passion for […]
Teaching Practitioner
Nhu Huong TraTra Nhu is an illustrator and printmaker creating welcoming and inclusive visual solutions. As an art coordinator and educator, Tra organizes workshops, fairs and community events in Vietnam and the UK. Tra earned a Bachelor of Professional Communication from RMIT University and recently graduated with a MA Illustration from University of the Arts London. From […]
Senior Teaching Fellow
Sven PfrommerSven is a well-rounded creative director & visual artist, with a background in visual communication and 20+ years of industry experience. He was running a design & advertising agency and established a gallery for contemporary photography in the art capital Berlin. Sven was born in Berlin, studied visual communication design at the HAWK University of […]
Associate Lecturer
Ajay PillaiAjay Kumar Pillai is employed as a full-time faculty in British University Vietnam (BUV) and is the programme leader for Finance and Economics. He has an MBA from University of Surrey, UK and holds certificates from The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, UK (CIMA) and The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI). His main […]
Lecturer
Dr. Valentina GorchakovaValentina is an experienced academic and marketing professional with a strong background in tourism, hospitality, and events. She holds a PhD from AUT University, New Zealand, and is a Fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy. Dr. Gorchakova has extensive experience in higher education leadership and programme management, overseeing academic provision, quality, and student learning […]
Senior Teaching Fellow
Scott David CooperRaised and educated in New York, New York City, Scott completed a Bachelor degree in Media Communications (Animation, Cartooning, Illustration) from the School of Visual Arts 1986. Following graduation in 1986, he moved to California for a job in animation field with Filmation that fell through. This encouraged him to explore the new world of graphic […]
