28th Annual International Soundpainting Thinktank

The 28th annual International Soundpainting Thinktank was held July 6-13, 2026 at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, NY. The gathering was organized and co-produced by Leese Walker, and the Strike Anywhere Performance Ensemble, Tomi Tsunoda (Brooklyn Soundpainting Company/ Polyphoneco/ NYU), and Walter Thompson in collaboration with the Powerhouse Theater at Vassar. The week’s worth of programming featured workshops, labs, lectures, discussions and performances designed to further the development of the Soundpainting sign language for live-composition and to provide a forum for exchange among the world’s foremost Soundpainters.

Concert Videos

Opening Concert featuring the Strike Anywhere Performance Ensemble, Soundpainted by Leese Walker.

Opening Concert featuring the Strike Anywhere Performance Ensemble, Soundpainted by Tomi Tsunoda, Walter Thompson and Leese Walker.

Closing Concert: An Evening of Soundpainting, featuring the following Soundpainters (in order of appearance): Drew Pattison, Andrea Ariel, Audrey Vallarino, Leese Walker, Tomi Tsunoda, Maria Angeles Cuevas, Claude Whipple, and Soundpainting Inventor Walter Thompson. Filmed on July 11, 2026, at Vassar College.

2026 International Soundpainting Thinktank, Powerhouse Theater Season 2026. Photos by Buck Lewis.

Livestream Videos

Soundpainting as Social Practice

Nicole Poole of Oklahoma’s Spark Collective shared successes and videos of her ensemble’s work with the veteran community, Friday, July 10, 2026.

Video Link
Inner Questions of the Soundpainter

Audrey Vallarino led a session about the inner questions of a Soundpainter on Tuesday, July 7, 2026.

Video Link
Soundpainting Questions for Walter

Soundpainting Inventor Walter Thompson answers questions posed by the Soundpainting Thinktank participants, Thursday, July 9, 2026.

Video Link
False-Time Real-Time Composition

Samu Gryllus led a session about using pre-recorded videos to conduct real-time soundpainting performances on Wednesday, July 8, 2026.

Video Link
Strike Anywhere Performance

Soundpainting Composers Tomi Tsunoda, Walter Thompson and Leese Walker soundpainted the Strike Anywhere Performance Ensemble, Wednesday, July 8, 2026.

Video Link
Final Concert

Seven soundpainting composers conducted various groups of international artists over an Evening of Soundpainting, Saturday, July 11, 2026.

Click Here

"Fifty artists from several continents are sharing what they're developing from across the world. It's an honor to have the creator of Soundpainting, Walter Thompson, here with us."

Michael Sheenan, Powerhouse Theatre at Vassar
"The Strike Anywhere performance was powerful! There is perhaps a way forward for our country. Raw and humble vulnerability is extremely compelling and has the best chance I've seen at healing."

Drew Pattison, Oberlin Conservatory of Music
"Soundpainting has been a part of our curriculum for 20 years. We use it as a performance vehicle with our students. It's so exciting to have these folks here from around the world."

Ed Cheetham, Powerhouse Theatre at Vassar

Soundpainting.org

Strike Anywhere Soundpainting

28th Annual International Soundpainting Thinktank

Concert Videos

Soundpainting as Social Practice

Inner Questions of the Soundpainter

Soundpainting Questions for Walter

False-Time Real-Time Composition

Strike Anywhere Performance

Final Concert

"Fifty artists from several continents are sharing what they're developing from across the world. It's an honor to have the creator of Soundpainting, Walter Thompson, here with us."

"The Strike Anywhere performance was powerful! There is perhaps a way forward for our country. Raw and humble vulnerability is extremely compelling and has the best chance I've seen at healing."

"Soundpainting has been a part of our curriculum for 20 years. We use it as a performance vehicle with our students. It's so exciting to have these folks here from around the world."