Roomful of Teeth

What Roomful of Teeth does

Roomful of Teeth is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit vocal ensemble founded in 2009 by Brad Wells and headquartered in Branford, Connecticut, with a long-running creative residency at MASS MoCA in North Adams, Massachusetts. The organization specializes in contemporary vocal music, commissioning and premiering new works from leading composers including Caroline Shaw, Gabriel Kahane, Pamela Z, and Leilehua Lanzilotti, while its members train across diverse global vocal traditions such as yodeling, pop belting, throat singing, Broadway, and extended techniques. Its core outputs include studio albums (Rough Magic, Elevator Songs, Partita for 8 Voices, The Ascendant, Just Constellations, Render), concert-length multimedia works (This Impossible Building), and operas (Liliʻu), distributed through Bandcamp, streaming platforms, and international touring.

The ensemble serves four primary customer segments: concert presenters and venues (Carnegie Hall, New York Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, BBC Symphony Orchestra), educational institutions (Cornell, UC San Diego, University of Chicago), composers who commission new works, and individual donors/members through a tiered annual giving program ranging from $250 to over $10,000. Its go-to-market is event-driven: live concert bookings managed through specialized international agencies (outer/most for North America, KD SCHMID for Europe, LA MUSICA ARTISTS for France), supplemented by educational residencies and festival appearances. The organization has performed in more than 40 countries since 2009, won two Grammy Awards (2014 for Partita for 8 Voices, 2024 for Rough Magic: The Isle III. Caliban), and is affiliated with Caroline Shaw's 2013 Pulitzer Prize in Music.

Revenue is generated through four streams: concert performance fees from venue bookings, album sales and streaming royalties via Bandcamp and streaming platforms, tax-deductible donations and membership subscriptions (Growlers through Overtones tiers), and composer commission funding from organizations such as OPERA America, the National Endowment for the Arts, and private foundations including the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors with Eleanor Schmidt as Board Chair, and led by Executive Director Amanda Crider and Co-Artistic Directors Brad Wells and Cameron Beauchamp.

Name

Roomful of Teeth

Legal name

Roomful of Teeth Vocal Arts Project, Inc.

Website

https://roomfulofteeth.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Roomful of Teeth is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit vocal ensemble founded in 2009 that commissions, performs, and records contemporary vocal music for concert presenters, educational institutions, composers, and individual donors across 40+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocal Ensemble Performance

NAICS

Musical Groups and Artists (711130), Sound Recording Studios (51224), Sound Recording Industries (5122)

akta.pro primary industry

Vocal Production & Coaching (in-studio) (MPAIAHAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Session Musicians & Vocalists (MPAIAHAC)

Keywords

• Vocal ensemble performances
• Contemporary vocal music
• Chamber music recordings
• New music commissions
• Arts education residencies

Headquarters

HQ city

Branford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Concert Performance Fees: Revenue from live performance bookings at venues, festivals, and concert series around the world.
2. Album Sales and Streaming: Sales of recordings through Bandcamp and streaming platforms including Elevator Songs, Rough Magic, The Ascendant, Just Constellations, Render, and earlier works.
3. Donations and Memberships: Tax-deductible donations through a tiered membership program ($250-$999 Growlers, $1,000-$2,499 Yodelers, $2,500-$5,000 Screamers, $5,000-$9,999 Belters, $10,000+ Overtones) supporting artist fees, composer commissions, educational residencies, and recording sessions.
4. Composer Commissions: Funding for new works through commissioning programs and grants from organizations such as OPERA America, NEA, and private foundations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Roomful of Teeth is a Grammy-winning vocal ensemble that creates, performs, and records contemporary vocal music. The ensemble delivers live concert performances at venues and festivals worldwide, releases studio albums and operas through its own channels and streaming platforms, commissions new works from contemporary composers, and conducts educational residencies at universities and conservatories.

Product overview

Roomful of Teeth is a Grammy-winning vocal ensemble that creates and performs contemporary vocal music through multiple channels: studio albums (including Elevator Songs, Rough Magic, The Ascendant, Just Constellations, Render, and Partita for 8 Voices), theatrical works and operas (such as Liliʻu), concert-length compositions (This Impossible Building), live performances and education residencies. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the ensemble is dedicated to expanding the boundaries of the human voice through commissioning projects with visionary composers, creating new repertoire, and sharing vocal techniques through educational programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Elevator Songs Studio album collaboration between Roomful of Teeth and composer/singer-songwriter Gabriel Kahane, featuring nine character-driven vocal pieces set in an interdimensional hotel. Scored for eight voices plus keyboards, guitar, violin, and vibraphone; available via Bandcamp and streaming platforms.
• Rough Magic Grammy Award-winning studio album featuring four commissioned works recorded with the ensemble, spanning styles from 80s-style synth to Steve Reich tape-piece sounds. Available on Bandcamp and streaming platforms.
• The Ascendant Studio album by Roomful of Teeth, sold through Bandcamp and distributed on major streaming services.
• Just Constellations Studio album by Roomful of Teeth, sold through Bandcamp and distributed on major streaming services.
• Render Studio album by Roomful of Teeth, sold through Bandcamp and distributed on major streaming services.
• Partita for 8 Voices Grammy Award-winning studio album featuring Caroline Shaw's Pulitzer Prize-winning composition for eight solo voices; sold via Bandcamp and streaming services.
• Liliʻu Opera composed by Leilehua Lanzilotti celebrating the legacy of Queen Liliʻuokalani, the last Queen of Hawaiʻi, set in 1895. Commissioned by Roomful of Teeth with support from OPERA America, Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.
• This Impossible Building Concert-length multimedia work by composer Pamela Z for Roomful of Teeth and The Living Earth Show, scored for vocal ensemble, live sampling, electronics, guitar, percussion, and video, exploring architectural structure and spatiality.
• Catherine Called Birdy (Soundtrack) Soundtrack recording contribution by Roomful of Teeth for the feature film Catherine Called Birdy.
• Live Concert Performances Booked live performances of contemporary vocal music at concert halls, festivals, and chamber music series worldwide, including appearances at Carnegie Hall, MASS MoCA, Walt Disney Concert Hall, and international venues.
• Educational Residencies Multi-day university and conservatory residencies featuring masterclasses, workshops, and collaborative performance with music students, delivered at institutions including Cornell, UC San Diego, University of Chicago, and Louisiana Tech.

Quantifiable outcome

• Grammy Award 2024 - Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Gabriel KahanecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Composer and singer-songwriter who wrote and arranged Elevator Songs, a collaborative album featuring individual performances by each ensemble member, released April 3, 2026.
• MASS MoCAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011Annual summer residency at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art in North Adams, MA since 2011. The residency has produced 14 years of commissioned works and serves as the ensemble's creative home.
• Pamela ZmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerComposer creating This Impossible Building, a concert-length work for vocal ensemble, live sampling, electronics, guitar, percussion, and video, in collaboration with The Living Earth Show.
• The Living Earth ShowmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner for This Impossible Building alongside Pamela Z, creating a multi-media concert experience.
• Leilehua LanzilottimajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerComposer and librettist of Liliʻu, an opera celebrating the legacy of the last Queen of Hawaiʻi, supported by OPERA America Women Composers: Discovery Grants.
• outer/most agencycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNorth American booking agency handling performance bookings for Roomful of Teeth.
• KD SCHMIDcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEuropean booking agency handling performance bookings in Europe with contacts Christoph Drescher and Olivia Maha Al-Slaiman.
• LA MUSICA ARTISTScoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFrench booking agency handling performance bookings in France with contact Coline Vandenberghe.
• Attacca QuartetmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerString quartet collaborators on multiple performances including PIVOT series with San Francisco Performances.
• Peter SellarsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcclaimed director and collaborator on theatrical and operatic projects including Triptych at Holland Festival and performances in Paris.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Voces8: British eight-voice vocal ensemble with a global touring schedule, strong educational programming, and digital reach; comparable to Roomful of Teeth as a similarly-sized contemporary vocal group investing heavily in residencies, recordings, and international bookings.
• The Sixteen: UK-based vocal ensemble founded by Harry Christophers with extensive touring, recordings, and a CORO subscription model; comparable as a similarly-sized vocal group competing for the same chamber/early-contemporary presenter slots.
• Eighth Blackbird: American Grammy-winning chamber ensemble that commissions new works and tours internationally; closely comparable to Roomful of Teeth as a similarly-sized, commissioning-driven chamber group with overlapping presenter network and Grammy-track record.
• Stile Antico: British vocal ensemble specializing in Renaissance polyphony with significant international touring and recording output; comparable to Roomful of Teeth as another small-ensemble vocal group competing for the same chamber-music festival circuit and Grammy nominations.
• Theatre of Voices: Paul Hillier's vocal ensemble exploring early and contemporary repertoire, with whom founder Brad Wells has performed; one of the most direct precedents for Roomful of Teeth's contemporary-vocal-art model and international touring footprint.
• The King's Singers: British six-member vocal ensemble known for contemporary commissions alongside classical repertoire; closely comparable as a similarly-sized, internationally touring vocal ensemble competing for the same contemporary chamber-music presenters and recording audiences.
• Chanticleer: San Francisco-based, GRAMMY-winning vocal ensemble performing a wide range of repertoire from Renaissance to contemporary; directly comparable as another elite small-ensemble vocal group competing for the same presenter slots, donor pools, and Grammy-class chamber music awards as Roomful of Teeth.
• Tenebrae: British vocal ensemble under Nigel Short performing a broad repertoire from Renaissance to contemporary with substantial international touring; comparable to Roomful of Teeth in scale, repertoire breadth, and reliance on a specialist booking network.
• Anonymous 4: American female vocal quartet with decades of touring, recording, and educational programming; comparable to Roomful of Teeth as a similarly-staffed vocal ensemble building repertoire, audience, and donor support around a distinct vocal identity.

Broad incumbents

• Kronos Quartet: Iconic, decades-long American string quartet that commissions, records, and tours globally; a broader incumbent in the contemporary chamber-music space whose brand and presenter relationships Roomful of Teeth can leverage as co-bill partners and category benchmark.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/RoomfulOfTeeth
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/roomful-of-teeth-vocal-arts-project-inc.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Roomful of Teeth