The University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance announces that Professor Tyler Driskill will join the faculty as a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Musical Theatre in fall 2023. Driskill, who has served for nearly 20 years as a collaborative pianist for the Departments of Musical Theatre and Dance, has enjoyed an extensive career as a music director, conductor, arranger, vocal coach, and educator.
“I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have spent so many years at the University of Michigan, and in such a variety of roles and capacities. The breadth of study offered by this institution and the myriad ways in which its faculty promote engagement with the global community are what attracted me to come here as a student,” Driskill said. “As a working musician, it has afforded me countless experiences working with true leaders and best across so many disciplines, and I could not be more excited and honored to join its esteemed faculty and be given the opportunity to carry forward these traditions of excellence, openness, and intellectual and creative discovery in the classroom and on the stage.”
Since 2020, Driskill has taught the advanced music theory class for students who wish to pursue the newly offered minor in musical theatre composition, and he currently co-teaches Musical Theatre Sophomore Performance. He has been an instructor and principal accompanist for the MPulse Musical Theatre Summer Intensive since 2012, collaborating with current and former SMTD faculty and alumni. His U-M music direction credits include Sophisticated Ladies (associate MD), Hair, and Sweet Charity, and for the Encore Musical Theatre Company, Smokey Joe’s Cafe, Always Patsy Cline, Mamma Mia, Fun Home, Brigadoon, West Side Story, Sweeney Todd, Assassins, Into the Woods, My Fair Lady, Into the Wild, Sondheim on Sondheim, and An Evening with Jeremy Jordan.
“Professor Tyler Driskill brings his knowledge of music, music theory, and popular music genres of the 21st century to our faculty. His expertise and long-standing commitment to our department supports our mission to celebrate diverse voices and educate our students on the many artists who have contributed to the development of our art form,” said Michael McElroy, chair of the Department of Musical Theatre and Arthur E. and Martha S. Hearron Endowed Professor of Music.
Driskill performs regularly at Kerrytown Concert House in Ann Arbor, where he most recently presented tribute concerts to Barbra Streisand and Peggy Lee with Broadway artist and fellow U-M MT faculty member, Chelsea Packard. He has performed with jazz vocalist Brad McNett at the Metropolitan Room in New York City.
“I’m grateful to work with a team of colleagues who lead with care and kindness while instilling in our students the utmost attention to detail, the most disciplined approach to craft and artistry, and, above all else, the ability to think critically about the work and what is being communicated at all times,” Driskill shared. “I’m beyond thrilled to begin this new chapter of my teaching career at the University of Michigan.”
Driskill holds a BM and BA from the University of Michigan.