Compulsive Lyres

Compulsive Lyres
The Compulsive Lyres of Winter 2010
Background information
Origin	University of Michigan
Genres	A capella
Years active	1997–present
Website	compulsivelyres.com
Members
Soprano Lauren Rink '12 Meredith Finch '13 Tara Tarazi '15 Georgina Menegas '15 Alto Emily Byl '12 Lisa Elder '13 Megan Blouin '14 Tenor Josh Buoy '13 Christian Keil '13 Charlie Frank '14 Logan White '14 Chris Yu '15 Bass Josh Strazanac '11 Lee Gunderson '12 Emilio Mateo '14 Jon Cameau '15

The Compulsive Lyres is an a cappella group at the University of Michigan students. The group comprises both music and non-music majors and sings various arrangements of rock, jazz, pop, and R&B songs.

The Compulsive Lyres won the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA)^[1] in 2002, the first and only Michigan group 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]

History

The Early Lyres

The Compulsive Lyres began as an outgrowth of a Greek Week sing team. 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 than 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.

Current Officers

Executive Committee

Office	Current Officer
Music Director	Emily Byl
President	Lauren Rink
Business Manager	Josh Buoy
Secretary	Meredith Finch
Publicity Manager	Christian Keil

Associate Committee

Office	Current Officer
Social Chair	Lisa Elder
Webmaster	Christian Keil

Repertoire

Current Repertoire

Song	Original Artist	Arranged By	Soloist(s)
Joy To The World	Three Dog Night	Emily Byl	Christian Keil, Josh Buoy, Lee Gunderson
Sweet Disposition	Temper Trap	Josh Buoy	Megan Blouin, Emily Byl, Logan White
Stay With You	John Legend	Christian Keil	Jon Cameau
Wonderful World	Louis Armstrong	Emily Byl	N/A
Behind Blue Eyes	The Who	Emily Byl	Charlie Frank
If I Die Young	The Band Perry	Christian Keil	Lauren Rink
Superstition	Stevie Wonder	Kyle Ogunbase	Logan White
Accidentally In Love	Counting Crows	Lisa Elder	Charlie Frank
Jar Of Hearts	Christina Perri	Emily Byl	Meredith Finch
The Other Side	Bruno Mars	Ryan DeLeon	Lauren Rink & Megan Blouin
Mad World	Tears for Fears	Josh Buoy	Charlie Frank

Reserve Repertoire

Song	Original Artist
Sweet Caroline	Neil Diamond
Let It Be	The Beatles
Chariot	Gavin DeGraw
Yellow and Blue	Michael W. Balfe
The Star Spangled Banner	Francis Scott Key

Complete Repertoire

"Song Title" - Original Artist (Year Retired)

• "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 Summers ('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)

Alumni

• '11 Graduating Seniors

Melissa Nestor (-'11)
Kyle Ogunbase ('10-'11)
Ryan Deleon (-'11)
Alexa Lord (-'11)
Derek Kauserud ('08-'10)

• '10 Graduating Seniors

Benny Lee ('07-'10)
Karol Kobylecki ('08-'10)
Josh Strazanac ('10)

• '09 Graduating Seniors

Kat Weber (-'11)

• Earlier Alumni

Rob DeLeon
Jesse Nager
Krista Luli
James Lee
John David Carson
Rob Ungar
Brianna Sarr
Trisha Alberts
Susan Dailey
Daniel Confer
Christine DeLeon
Mary Sabin
Dan Hartley
John McLaughlin
Kevin Morgan
Stuart Naylor
Lincoln Gillett
Aaron Suh
Nathan Suh
Mark Surprenant
Melissa Swain
Kristin Cibik
List Incomplete

Albums

The Compulsive Lyres have recorded one studio album, and expect to release their second album in the summer of 2011.

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

1. ^ Compulsive Lyres Win ICCA Championship
2. ^ Best of College A Cappella 2002

External links

• Compulsive Lyres official website