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Teaching Artists
Below is a list of teaching artists in the state of Michigan. This list is to be used as a reference. Please contact Teaching Artists individually for professional references. If you are a teaching artist interested in being included in the database, CLICK HERE for the application.
Dance, Instrumental Music, Theatre, Visual Arts, Vocal Music
The Cook Arts Center
Grand Rapids KentThe Cook Arts Center send artists, dancers, actors and musicians into schools toteach their specific area of expertise to students in order to supplement the currentcurriculum for teachers and/or to do something fun for events/parties/special activities.
Cultural, Theatre
The Dorfman Foundation Youth Theatre JET Y.E.S.
West Bloomfield OaklandJET Y.E.S. (Youth Education Services) has been presenting entertaining and educational plays in Southeast Michigan schools for the last 17 years. Their three current plays address the timely issue of bullying at age-appropriate levels. For elementary school students.
Cultural, Theatre
The Floyd J. McCree Theatre
Flint GeneseeMcCree Theatre is willing to travel with its violence prevention play, Graffiti Chronicles. It is an excellent violence prevention play with music, geared towards urban elementary students, 8 - 12 years of age.
Graffiti Chronicles is a fast moving, highly energetic play that presents a deep learning experience for youth in a highly entertaining manner. The play tweaks the emotions of young audiences in talking about youth who have succumbed to gun violence in the City of Flint in an effort to steer young audience participants away from violence on an emotional level. The play also stresses the need to strive for a very high value system that is anchored in self-love.
In addition, the play demonstrates conflict resolution tactics. Graffiti Chronicles has been performed to more than 4,000 students in the Greater Flint, MI area over the past three years to rave reviews from teachers, students, and parents.
The Floyd J. McCree Theatre
Instrumental Music
The Gratitude Steel Band
West Bloomfield OaklandThe Gratitude Steel Band makes music that makes people happy. Traditionally known as an instrument of the tropics, Gratitude Steel Band preserves the art and heritage of the steel drum and its commitment to its rich family vocals of all styles. The band engages their audience with stories sung, and plays with dynamics from quiet classical to full turbo hustle and limbo experiences!
They create shows for special celebrations from Arts and Education Grand Openings to the dedication of a museum artifact to University and K-12 Educational Concerts. With unique tempos, styles and artist variations, Gratitude Steel Band adds surprise and excitement to every performance.
Theatre
The Hillberry Theatre
Detroit WayneThe Hillberry Theatre offers Engage With the Stage and is available upon request. Graduate students can come to the school to present a lesson plan that prepares students to see the play they are signed up for or they can also discuss career opportunities in theatre.
Instrumental Music
The Moxie Strings
Chelsea, WashtenawThe Moxie Strings is the electrifying combination of fiddler Diana Ladio and cellist Alison Lynn. With their feel-good melodies and foot-stomping, rock-influenced rhythms, these young women have put a fresh, enticing spin on Celtic and Americana music. Though rooted in tradition, the pair offers listeners a unique opportunity.
Instrumental Music
The Raisin Pickers
Manchester WashtenawThis Michigan-based string band has cultivated a loyal following with its deft mix of rustic Appalachian music, bluegrass and originals. The Raisin Pickers have learned from the past, assimilated their strengths and arrived at a sound all their own. Fans of traditional music who enjoy aces fiddling, banjo work and tight vocal harmonies will appreciate The Raisin Pickers. Offers performances and workshops.
Instrumental Music
Timothy Twiss
Highland OaklandTimothy Twiss presents uplifting performances of early American songs popular in the days preceding the Civil War. Utilizing vocals and a beautiful, period fretless banjo, Twiss plays the timeless music of Stephen Foster, Joel Sweeney Dan Emmett and others. Offers performances and workshops.
Instrumental Music
To Hit
Livonia WaynePercussionists hit things. Whether it is in Michigan or the Middle East, India or Indiana, percussionists everywhere express themselves through the art of hitting. For more than a decade, Tim Mocny and Mike List have been students, performers and educators of percussion. To Hit captivates a variety of audiences with their performances of their original works, arrangements and commissions. The duo has performed in schools, nursing homes, coffee shops and concert halls. The works of To Hit reflect the influences of the globalized culture in which they live, blending the sounds American art and pop music with the music of North India, the Middle East and Africa creating a palate of sonic colors that spans continents.
History
Troy Historic Village
Troy OaklandCheddar's History Trunk is also available as an outreach program. This is an alphabet adventure to the past, this 50-minute program exposes kids to a variety of artifacts that explore life of the settlers in the 1830s.
Troy Historic Village
Instrumental Music, Theatre, Vocal Music
Tunes n Tales by Tricia
Laingsburg ShiawasseeTricia Kjolhede is an extraordinary entertainer and much, much more. Tunes n Tales by Tricia combines the fun of musical expression with 30 years of classroom experience and knowledge of young people.
Science
Upper Peninsula Children's Museum
Marquette MarquetteOccasionally bring critters to schools.
Theatre
Valarie van Heest
Holland OttawaAward-winning author, member of the Women Divers Hall of Fame and dynamic presenter Valerie van Heest shares the fascinating stories of the Great Lakes shipwrecks and her expeditions to discover and document them. With a passion for all things creative, van Heest offers a wide variety of programs designed for adults and children alike that enlighten, inspire, and offer a deeper look at Michigan.
Cultural, History, Instrumental Music, Vocal Music
Valerie Barrymore and the Foundation of Funk
Galesburg KalamazooValerie Barrymore and the Foundation of Funk is a high-energy musical experience.
Instrumental Music
Vincent York's Jazzistry
Ann Arbor WashtenawThe history of jazz is as rich and entertaining as the music itself.
Cultural, History, Instrumental Music
Wanda Degen
Lansing InghamFolk musician and educator Wanda Degen is a singer and instrumentalist specializing in intergenerational concerts that feature unique instruments. Degen introduces audiences to the autoharp, hammered dulcimer and mountain dulcimer.
Instrumental Music
Warren Symphony Orchestra
Warren MacombA grant program is available to bring small ensembles to schools or other venues especially for those would benefit more than from attending a general concert in a hall, i.e., special needs children, advanced music students, etc.
Dance
WellSpring Cori Terry and Dancers
Kalamazoo KalamazooDance in the Schools was developed in 1991 to present the opportunity for elementary-aged students to learn the fine art form of modern dance from a professional dance company. Coming into its nineteenth year, Dance in the Schools has been presented to nearly 5,800 third-graders throughout Kalamazoo and Calhoun Counties.
WellSpring Cori Terry and Dancers
Visual Arts
West Michigan Glass Society
Kalamazoo KalamazooThe West Michigan Glass Society offers a number of outreach programs. The first is "Science of Art" Flame Working Demonstrations. Through the use of a torch the demonstrations are geared to each grade level and include states of matter, gravity, surface tension, elements of the earth and more.
The next program is Kiln Glass Sculpture. Each student will create a 3-D glass sculpture; created with clay and then pouring a plaster silica mold of their piece. They would then dig out the clay and compute the amount of glass necessary by volume for the kiln casting. Molds would be fired and cast by WMGAC staff. This program is broken up into two, 1.5 hour sessions with a half hour follow up session. The final program is Fused Glass Sun Catcher. In this, each student will create a tile of their own design by cutting and layering colored glass, frit and glass confetti.
Instrumental Music
Western Jazz Quartet
Kalamazoo KalamazooThe Western Jazz Quartet presents an exciting blend of jazz from Duke Ellington and Dave Brubeck to contemporary originals and the sounds of Brazil. The group of resident faculty from Western Michigan University pairs a worldwide performance schedule with active jazz teaching. They promote jazz and jazz education through performances and workshops for school children of all ages. Western Jazz Quartet is equally at home working with students and touring with artists such as Bobby McFerrin and Randy Brecker. The quartet has released five award-winning CDs, toured from Boston to Los Angeles, and appears regularly in Europe, South America, Asia and Africa. The Western Jazz Quartet is also a hit performing with symphony orchestras.