Mid-Michigan will explore the boundaries of the human voice when Roomful of Teeth visits the MSU campus Jan. 27-28 through the MSU College of Music Entrepreneurial Musical Artist in Residence program funded by the MSU Federal Credit Union. After leading sing-alongs, workshops and discussions, the eight-member choral ensemble will share the stage with Dublin Guitar Quartet on Tuesday, Jan. 28 at 7:30 p.m. at MSU’s Fairchild Theatre, part of the MSU Federal Credit Union Showcase Series. [See details and video previews on the event page].

Formed in 2009, the Roomful of Teeth vocal project gathers annually in Massachusetts to study a wide variety of singing styles including yodeling, Broadway belting, Georgian singing and even occasional Death Metal. Exploring vocal traditions from all over the world, The GRAMMY-award winning group continually expands its vocabulary of techniques, and regularly commissions composers to create new repertoire without borders.

During their two-day residency, Roomful of Teeth will engage students and the public through a community sing, student composition reading, entrepreneurial and vocal workshops, and a panel discussion exploring the issue of cultural appropriation. Roomful of Teeth will also share the stage with the Dublin Guitar Quartet for an evening of mesmerizing music, including a new chamber work “How Little You Are” by Nico Muly, written for vocal ensemble and guitar quartet.

The Dublin Guitar Quartet has been described by the Irish times as a “quartet with a difference,” and is the first classical guitar quartet entirely devoted to new music. Since its formation at the Dublin Conservatory of Music and Drama in 2001, the quartet has worked to expand limited repertoire by commissioning new works and adapting modern masterpieces from outside of the guitar repertoire. With the help of eight- and eleven-string guitars, the quartet’s original catalog of arrangements includes composers such as Philip Glass, Steve Reich, Arvo Pärt, György Ligeti and more.

Roomful of Teeth vocal project members include Martha Cluver, Eliza Bagg, Virginia Warnken, Eric Dudley, Avery Griffin, Dashon Burton, Cameron Beauchamp and Brad Wells. Members of the Dublin Guitar Quartet are Brian Bolger, Pat Brunnock, Chien Buggle and Tomas O'Durcain.

Along with the MSU Federal Credit Union Entrepreneurial Musical Artist in Residence program, support for Roomful of Teeth is provided by the Arts Midwest Touring Fund, a program of Arts Midwest that is funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, with additional contributions from Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, and the Crane Group. The Showcase Series performance is generously sponsored by Lynn Fendler.

Reserved seats for the Jan. 28 performance are $20 for adults, $18 for seniors (age 60 and older) and $10 for students. Tickets can be purchased online at music.msu.edu, by phone (517) 353-5340, or in person from the main office, Music Building, 333 West Circle Drive, East Lansing. Information on other concerts and ticket links can be found on the event page of the MSU College of Music web site.

Schedule: MSUFCU Entrepreneurial Artist in Residence
Roomful of Teeth, Jan. 27-28, 2020

All events open to public unless otherwise noted.

Roomful of Teeth is a GRAMMY-winning vocal project dedicated to reimagining the expressive potential of the human voice. Through study with masters from vocal traditions the world over, the eight-voice ensemble continually expands its vocabulary of singing techniques and, through an ongoing commissioning process, forges a new repertoire without borders.

The Dublin Guitar Quartet is the first classical guitar quartet entirely devoted to new music. Since its formation at the Dublin Conservatory of Music and Drama, DGQ has worked to expand the limited repertoire by commissioning new works and adapting modern masterpieces from outside of the guitar repertoire.

• Monday, Jan. 27, Community Sing for (Middle School and Hight School students only), hosted by CMS Choirs, Community Music School East Lansing, 7-8 p.m.
• Monday, Jan. 27, Student Composition Reading, Cook Recital Hall, 8:30-10 p.m.
• Tuesday, Jan. 28, Entrepreneurship Q&A, Music Building Room 206, 11:30 a.m.-12:20 p.m.
• Tuesday, Jan. 28, Vocal Workshop, Music Building Room 120, 12:40-1:30 p.m., for vocal art students at the MSU College of Music (not open to the public)
• Tuesday, Jan. 28, Panel Discussion “Thinking about Cultural Appropriation,” Music Building Room 120, 1:50-2:40 p.m.
• Tuesday, Jan. 28, Performance: Roomful of Teeth and Dublin Guitar Quartet, Fairchild Theatre, MSU Auditorium, 7:30-10 p.m.