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About the Compulsive Lyres

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About the Lyres
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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 it's 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 of 1998, the group was reorganized and auditions 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 level of dedication and 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, and turnover among the group was high. As the original members graduated, the newer members were increasingly unsatisfied with music being a secondary goal and by the 2000-2001 academic year, turnover reached 50% every semester, and the group struggled to recruit new members and music directors.

In January of 2001, the group made a determination that they were going to take Lyres in a new direction. Compulsive Lyres severed the 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 the strongest collection of musicians in the group's history, a fall retreat brought the group closer together than it had ever been. A new organizational structure resulted in smooth operation, and financial growth. Lyres' first attempt at a studio recording was selected to be featured on the 2002 Best Of College A cappella (BOCA) album, and their first entry into the International Championship of Collegiate A cappella (ICCA) advanced them to the quarterfinals. Their fall concert, the 1st Annual Michigan A Cappella Festival was a resounding 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. In December of 2001, a live recording of the show was released and so became Lyres' first CD ever.

Spring break brought a week of driving through 13 states, more than 3,000 miles, and memories that will last forever. Lyres stayed in Key West, Florida for 3 days and stopped en route in New Orleans, St. Louis, Alabama, and Athens, GA on the way home. Spring 2002 also brought the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella. Lyres took first place at the quarterfinals at the University of Wisconsin, first place at the semifinals at the University of Illinois, and finally took the title of International Grand Champions of Collegiate A Cappella when Lyres took first place at the finals in New York City's Lincoln Center.

In the fall of 2002, Lyres hosted another successful Michigan A Cappella Festival with an impressive turnout of 12 of the 13 Michigan A Cappella groups. Plans to finish recording Lyres' debut studio CD were the main focus. The studio CD is scheduled to be released in early 2003.

And the adventure continues...