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. 

Cultural, History, Instrumental Music

Wanda Degen

Lansing Ingham

Folk 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 Macomb

A 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 Kalamazoo

Dance 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.

Visual Arts

West Michigan Glass Society

Kalamazoo Kalamazoo

The 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 Kalamazoo

The 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.

Western Jazz Quartet

Dance, Instrumental Music, Theatre, Vocal Music

Wharton Center for Performing Arts

East Lansing Ingham

An artist-in-residence is a professional performer with a dual role as a "teaching artist." During a multi-day stay on campus and in our community, an artist-in-residence shares his or her expertise and insights on creativity during close interaction with youth and lifelong learners.

Theatre

Wild Swan Theatre

Ann Arbor Washtenaw

Wild Swan Theater offers a dozen different productions which can travel to schools.Sample titles include: Frog and Toad, A Honey Pot of Pooh Stories, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Under the African Sky.A complete listing of productions available for touring as well as their descriptions can be found on their website below.

Theatre

William Schulert

Lake Orion Oakland

Poof! In a brilliant flash, Baffling Bill arrives at your event to teach and entertain with the Magic of Learning Enrichment Shows. With more than 25 years of experience as an educator/entertainer, Baffling Bill makes learning fun through dazzling magic, audience participation and non-stop laughter. Through the art of illusion, Baffling Bill presents a variety of programs that teach children the importance of reading, nutrition, environment and safety.

Instrumental Music

William Vits

Grand Rapids Kent

Bill Vits has been entertaining and educating with his Percussion Discussion for 30 years.

Instrumental Music

Wyatt & Shari Knapp: Acoustic Guitar Duo

Douglas Allegan

Known for their fresh arrangements of traditional and contemporary favorites, strong lead vocals and lush harmonies, this charming husband and wife ensemble offers a potpourri of music styles. The couple offers performances and workshops.

Wyatt & Shari Knapp: Acoustic Guitar Duo

Instrumental Music

Yuki and Tomoko Mack-Duo Pianists

Farmington Hills Oakland

Duo-pianists Yuki and Tomoko Mack have won top prizes for major international duo-piano competitions in the United States and Japan. The duo offers performances and workshops.

Yuki and Tomoko Mack-Duo Pianists

Cultural, Theatre

Yvonne Healy, storyteller

Howell Livingston

Yvonne Healy is an Irish pixie of a performer. She offers performances and workshops.

Yvonne Healy, storyteller