Fox Cities News

Lawrence University voice professor Estelí Gomez and her vocal ensemble, Roomful of Teeth, have won a Grammy Award in the Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance category. The award was given for their album "Rough Magic," released in May 2023. This marks the second Grammy win for the ensemble, which previously won in 2014 for their self-titled debut album.

The 66th annual Grammy ceremonies took place at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on February 4. Gomez, who joined Lawrence University's Conservatory of Music faculty in 2019, expressed her excitement about the recognition received by Roomful of Teeth.

“I’m so glad to have this album out in the world finally, after eight years between our second and third albums,” Gomez said. “We’re really proud of it. It’s an honor for our group to have been nominated for Grammys for all three of our albums, but this one is such a special mix of music that we’ve gotten to tour and dig into over years of live performances, commissioning projects, and artist residencies.”

Gomez balances her teaching duties with performances around the globe. She will soon travel to Paris while continuing to teach remotely as Roomful of Teeth performs with Radio France Philharmonic Orchestra.

Her teaching style is heavily influenced by her experiences as a performer. “I really feel a sense of symbiosis with my teaching and singing work—both types of work are about communication and self-expression, and connecting with people,” Gomez explained. “The kinds of connections I get to make with Roomful’s collaborators directly inform and inspire the way I think about singing, and the way I think about teaching."

Brian Pertl, dean of Lawrence's Conservatory, praised Gomez's versatility as both a performer and teacher: “Estelí Gomez is one of the most versatile and virtuosic singers in the world,” he stated.

Students at Lawrence share in their professor's Grammy excitement. Damian Islas from Houston noted Gomez’s dedication to her students: “She has spent so much of her time caring for her students and showing us love and compassion.” Ava Wadia from San Diego expressed pride in learning from someone recognized at such high levels: “It's inspiring as a student to see the payoff of all the techniques that she imparts to us.”

Roomful of Teeth continues to gain acclaim within the music industry as they embark on new projects.