Compulsive Lyres
The Compulsive Lyres is an a cappella group at the University of Michigan. The group includes both music and non-music majors and sings various arrangements of pop, rock, and R&B songs.
Compulsive Lyres | |
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The Compulsive Lyres performing at 2019 ICCA Quarterfinals. | |
Background information | |
Origin | University of Michigan |
Genres | A cappella |
Years active | 1997–present |
Members | Perc Emma Carter '21 Soprano Maddy Sharp '20 Sydney Vollmar '21 Ella Kethledge '23 Sam Hoey '23 Alto Kate Anderson '20 Maddie Lane '21 Kate Kachmer '21 Loren Jacobs '22 Caroline Caulkins '23 Zoe Barnett '23 Tenor Graham Sell '20 Jack Merruci '22 Luke McDonald '22 Baritone Justin Sherman '20 Sam Ward '20 James Squillante '21 Nate Kennedy '23 Bass Demetrius Markham '20 Matthew MacPhail '21 |
The Compulsive Lyres won the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA)[1] in 2002, and remain the first and only Michigan group to win that honor. Following their win, the Lyres were invited to perform on The Today Show with Matt Lauer, and were featured on the Best of College A Cappella album.[2]
The Lyres hold auditions every September following U of M's "Acarush." Audition sign-ups take place in person on campus as well as on their website.
History
The Early Lyres
The Compulsive Lyres began as an outgrowth of a Greek Week sing team with the theme "Greek to Mi."[3] In the Spring of 1997, the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity and Alpha Phi sorority became the first sing team in the history of Greek Week to receive a perfect score. That following summer students decided that the experience was so much fun and the result so successful that it would be worth a try to keep the group going as an a cappella group. In the fall of 1997, the a cappella group of the University of Michigan Greek System met for the first time under the name Greek to Mi.
In its first year, the group had many hurdles to overcome. The initial group was un-auditioned - any member of the 1997 sing team was welcome. It was quickly discovered that both the level of commitment and musical ability needed for an a cappella group was substantially different from the level needed for Greek Week. In January 1998, the group was reorganized and auditions were held. By the end of the auditions, the group had 14 members from 10 different fraternities and sororities and had changed its name to "Compulsive Lyres". Although the level of dedication and overall musical ability was increased after the reorganization, the group's purpose remained primarily social in nature - music was a clear second. Those who came looking for friendship and camaraderie found plenty - the early group resulted in great friendships and even one marriage(!), but those who came seeking a serious devotion to a cappella music were often disappointed.
In January 2001, the group decided that they were going to take the Lyres in a new direction. The Lyres severed their formal association with the Greek system, opening the audition process to the entire campus. With musical excellence as the primary goal, Lyres searched out new members. Through the summer, the group prepared for what was to be the ultimate test - if the group actually dedicated a year to musical excellence, would they be able to succeed?
The answer was a resounding yes. In the fall of 2001, Lyres worked hard and reaped the benefits. Auditions resulted in an extremely strong collection of musicians, and a fall retreat brought the group closer than it had ever been, so close, in fact, that retreats are still an integral part of the Lyres experience today. Their fall concert, the 1st Annual Michigan A Cappella Festival, was a huge success, featuring 9 of the 12 active groups on campus over two nights. In its first year, MAC-Fest, as it came to be called, became the largest a cappella show of the year at The University of Michigan. As noted earlier, the Lyres largest success came in 2002, with their victory at the International Finals of the ICCAs, establishing the Lyres as a new power in the Michigan A Cappella community.
Recent History
Since their 2002 ICCA championship, the Lyres have continued to thrive as an a cappella group on campus. In particular, the Lyres have also begun a series of new traditions, showing that their innovative, driving presence in the a cappella community is as strong as ever. For one, the Lyres have begun to perform at bigger and better events. Not only have the Lyres become involved with Michigan Athletics, singing the national anthem at a variety of sporting events, but they have also opened for a number of notable recording artists, like Ben Folds.
The Lyres have found success with a series of performances they call "Friday Shows" - performing a free show every Friday around the campus of the University of Michigan. Recently, they have begun releasing a short film at their fall semester concert - such as spoofing the Harry Potter Series, releasing "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Lyres." They are the only Michigan group to have such a tradition.
In 2012, the Lyres competed in the ICCA once again, attempting to become just the third group in collegiate a cappella history to win the ICCA title twice. They now try to compete in the competition every other school year. Having most recently competed in ICCAs in February 2019, the group had the chance to perform in the University of Michigan's "Hill Auditorium," where Co-Music Director Emma Carter received the award for "Outstanding Vocal Percussionist."
Repertoire
Current Semester
Song | Original Artist | Arranged By | Soloist(s) |
---|---|---|---|
Rich Girl | Gwen Stefani | Andrew Callahan | Maddie Lane |
Scared to Be Lonely | Martin Garrix feat. Dua Lipa | Emma Carter | Kate Kachmer |
Thunder Clouds | LSD | Graham Sell | Loren Jacobs, George Davidson |
Let the Light In | Misterwives | Graham Sell | Sydney Vollmar |
Don't Wait | Mapei feat. Chance the Rapper | Matthew MacPhail | Loren Jacobs, Matthew MacPhail |
Love Supreme | NAO | Graham Sell | Mikaela Koelzer |
Drive | Miley Cyrus | Billy Carleton Jr. | Becca Polinsky |
I Can't Make You Love Me | Bonnie Raitt | Sawyer Denton | Mikaela Koelzer |
Love You Long Time | Jazmine Sullivan | Mikaela Koelzer | Mikaela Koelzer |
Just a Memory | ODESZA feat. Regina Spektor | Emma Carter | Kate Kachmer |
Learn to Let Go | Kesha | Francesca Napolitano | Francesca Napolitano |
Apologize | One Republic | Emma Carter | Evan Kolm |
Little of Your Love | HAIM | Emma Carter | Becca Polinsky |
Permanent
Song | Original Artist |
---|---|
Sweet Caroline | Neil Diamond |
Superstition | Stevie Wonder |
Let It Be | The Beatles |
Yellow and Blue / Hail To The Victors | University of Michigan |
The Star Spangled Banner | Francis Scott Key |
Reserves
"Song Title" - Original Artist (Year Retired)
- "Where I Stood" - Missy Higgins ('13)
- "We Found Love" - Rihanna ('13)
- "ET" - Katy Perry ('13)
- "You Give Love A Bad Name" - Bon Jovi ('13)
- "Sweet Disposition" - The Temper Trap ('13)
- "Mad World" - Gary Jules ('12)
- "Rock With You" - Michael Jackson ('12)
- "Mad World" - Gary Jules ('12)
- "If I Die Young" - The Band Perry ('12)
- "Wonderful World" - Louis Armstrong ('12)
- "Superstition" - Stevie Wonder ('12)
- "Jar Of Hearts" - Christina Perri ('12)
- "Stay With You" - John Legend ('12)
- "Wonderful World" - Louis Armstrong ('12)
- "Grenade" - Bruno Mars ('11)
- "Billionaire/Santeria" - Travie McCoy/Sublime ('11)
- "Animal" - Neon Trees ('11)
- "Haven't Met You Yet" - Michael Bublé ('11)
- "Last Dance" - Donna Summer ('11)
- "In The Sun" - She & Him ('11)
- "The Bleeding Heart Show" - The New Pornographers ('10)
- "Fireflies" - Owl City ('10)
- "Locked Up" - Ingrid Michaelson ('10)
- "Smack Dab" - Ray Charles ('10)
- "You Know I'm No Good" - Amy Winehouse ('10)
- "Wine Red" - The Hush Sound ('10)
- "Only The Good Die Young" - Billy Joel ('10)
- "Die Alone" - Ingrid Michaelson ('10)
- "You Make My Dreams" - Hall & Oates ('10)
- "Hip Hop Medley" - Keri Hilson, Jay Sean & Lady Gaga ('10)
- "Heart of the Matter" - India.Arie ('10)
- "I'm Yours" - Jason Mraz ('09)
- "Make You Feel My Love" - Adele ('09)
- "Go Your Own Way" - Fleetwood Mac ('09)
- "Losing Lisa" - Ben Folds ('09)
Current Officers
Executive Committee
Office | Current Officer |
---|---|
Music Director | Emma Carter |
Music Director | Matthew MacPhail |
Assistant Music Director | Jack Merruci |
President | Maddy Sharp |
Business Manager | Maddie Lane |
Secretary | Loren Jacobs |
Publicity Manager | Sydney Vollmar |
Albums
The Compulsive Lyres have recorded one studio album
12 Step Program
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Beautiful Oblivion" | Elida Young | 3:22 |
2. | "Torn" | Natalie Imbruglia | 4:05 |
3. | "Africa" | Toto | 4:58 |
4. | "Stay" | Dave Matthews | 3:12 |
5. | "Limp" | Fiona Apple | 3:12 |
6. | "Hard To Say I'm Sorry" | Chicago | 3:06 |
7. | "Hands Clean" | Alanis Morissette | 3:52 |
8. | "It's Not Easy To Be Me" | David Gray | 3:29 |
9. | "Devil Went Down To Georgia" | Charlie Daniels | 3:40 |
10. | "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" | Judy Garland | 3:30 |
11. | "Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" | U2 | 5:41 |
12. | "That Lonesome Road" | James Taylor | 3:01 |
References
- Compulsive Lyres Win ICCA Championship
- Best of College A Cappella 2002 Archived 2009-02-02 at the Wayback Machine
- "Compulsive Lyres | A Cappella Music - The Contemporary A Cappella Society". www.casa.org. Retrieved 2019-01-30.