Darmstadt and ISSUE Project Room are proud to present an afternoon with legendary singer and composer Joan La Barbara as she demonstrates her "signature" extended vocal techniques and approach to singing, including the vocal warm-up she uses, stretches focusing on the shoulders and neck, essential information about healthy production of tone, resonance focusing, reinforced harmonics or overtone singing, and other techniques (inhaled singing, glottal clicks, vocal fry, ululation) and some discussion of repertoire both historical and current.
Joan La Barbara’s career as a composer/performer/soundartist explores the human voice as a multi-faceted instrument expanding traditional boundaries in developing a unique vocabulary of experimental and extended vocal techniques: multiphonics, circular singing, ululation and glottal clicks that have become her “signature sounds”. Creating works for multiple voices, chamber ensembles, music theater, orchestra and interactive technology, her awards in the U.S. and Europe include the 2008 Letter of Distinction from the American Music Center; 2004 Guggenheim Fellowship in Music Composition; DAAD Artist-in-Residency in Berlin and 7 National Endowment for the Arts fellowships.