Grammy-winning, choral music innovators Roomful Of Teeth will perform in Madison on April 9
Posted: 04/01/25
Grammy-winning vocal ensemble Roomful of Teeth will perform in Madison, Wis., on April 9 at 7:30 p.m. in Shannon Hall at Memorial Union as part of the Wisconsin Union Theater’s (WUT’s) Classical Series.
Founded by Brad Wells in 2009, Roomful of Teeth aims to explore the power of the human voice. The ensemble comprises singers who embrace the exploration of vocal boundaries and vocal music experimentation.
In 2024, the ensemble received a Grammy for Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance for its album “Rough Magic,” a work created to explore the beauty and struggle of language while showcasing vocal music innovation.
The group’s performances often feature original pieces created for the ensemble with composers and a fusion of vocal traditions, such as Tuvan throat singing, Inuit throat singing, pansori, and yodeling. The ensemble holds residencies at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, where they develop new vocal techniques and compositions.
The April 9 program will include:
- “Vesper Sparrow” by Missy Mazzoli
- “Friday’s Saints” by Christopher Cerrone
- Excerpts from “COMIC CON” by Mingjia Chen
- “The Isle” by Caroline Shaw
“There truly is no ensemble quite like Roomful of Teeth,” WUT Director Elizabeth Snodgrass said. “It has redefined vocal music and shaken up the entire genre with its bold expansion and expression of what the voice can do. In addition to its technique, the ensemble members are incredible musicians, who may surprise you with how much emotion their performance can conjure.”
Patrons can enjoy beverages at the Shannon Sunset Lounge across from Shannon Hall starting at 6:30 p.m. through the end of the event’s intermission.
Tickets to all WUT performances are available online, in person at the Memorial Union Box Office or by phone at (608) 265-2787. Additional WUT events include the Branford Marsalis Quartet on May 1.
WUT has a more than 80-year history of bringing what’s next now in performing arts to stages in Madison through student-led collaborative artistic direction.
Patrons can visit union.wisc.edu/theater for information about the full season lineup and to purchase tickets to WUT events, such as the performance by Roomful of Teeth on April 9.