Sara Tea

It’s been a year coming but I composed an experiential piece for the bicentennial of Ann Arbor for the library @aadlgram with @aadlarchives + @michstatetheaters 🔗 in bio with the full story below essentially posing the question “While many soundtracks, songs, and sounds have been played in these walls, has a soundtrack ever been written for the theater alone?” This is first of a series where I’ve created a suggested path with a map you can download to experience it within the @michstatetheaters Fifth Wall: A Soundtrack for the Michigan Theater by Sara Tea “Growing up in the 1980s was a time of seeing architectural elements of the 1930s in drab remnants, broken bulbs of uncared for marquees, sloppy layers of paint on top of beautiful woodwork and moldings. Many theaters covered the floors with loud carpets and slapped up 1980s neon signs on top of these once vibrant spaces with no regard for the histories they held. Today, this is not true for the Michigan Theater. When I had the opportunity to choose the Michigan Theater for this project, my desire was to give the community a chance to engage and hopefully appreciate the space in a new way. While many soundtracks, songs, and sounds have been played in these walls, has a soundtrack ever been written for the theater alone? With this piece comes a digital map of the suggested path of listening with some key spots within the theater that inspire me. The path is merely suggested, but I encourage folks to spend time where they are drawn, curious & sparked. Often in our busy lives we spend our time consuming spaces without taking an opportunity to reflect on all of the individuals and the hard work that goes into creating something like this in our community. With this soundtrack I’m offering a chance for us to take a moment within the space, to explore and spend time in a way that we haven’t before. In this exchange is a chance to break the “Fifth Wall” between those who create and nurture space, the performers, and those who come to experience it.” - Composer Sara Tea #womeninsound #femalecomposers #soundtrack #michiganmusic

I’ll be digging into the aural ethers for an ambient set at @ziggysypsi with @_______sharp________ + @golden.feelings.now tour kickoff July 22nd that’s a Monday come hang & we can chat about this book & the Apple soda I tried at @soniclunch #womeninsound

Many thanks to everyone who made our latest Michigan event come together for @girlsrockdetroit we partnered with the @michiganmusicalliance @comuse.work and @catchandplaysongs to host our Michigan @womenaroundmusic mixer and panel. These events highlight the incredible Michigan women working in music with an opportunity to network, foster community and share resources! Please consider donating to Girls Rock Detroit. The evening flowed thanks to our moderator @loriastratton Thank you to @spread_art for hosting us met so many talented folks hope everyone stays connected Most of this footage is from before so if you want the full panel we have audio & video up on @womenaroundmusic & in my bio too along with resource links as well 🛠️

Made it to 48 🎉 Forgot to plan this far ahead so it’s been a team wing it, let’s see what the future shall bring. Surprise me! A lovely gift this month is from @zooliejoo for including my composition in a series of performances in Lyons France this coming May 18th at @grame.cncm “GRAME’s project is part of an approach that supports emerging artists as a catalyst for cultural and social renewal. It aims to support those first, fragile yet bold endeavors, even (and especially) when they are atypical, unstable, or marginalized. GRAME views emergence not merely as an administrative process, but also as a space for risk-taking, for renewing forms, narratives, and cultural imaginaries.” If the translation smoothly transitioned this description (I hope) As for Michigan folks I’ve included a few puppet & film related flyers for spaces I love, adore & hope you can support as they’ve supported me too! #womeninsound #femalecomposers #lyonfrance #michiganmusic

Some final moments & thoughts before Saturdays @umspresents show where @zooliejoo graciously shared her room with us in the belly of the Earl V Moore building. I got to hear more stories from these fellow collaborators, pieces of their history & keep discovering some new sonic layers as we head into the weekend. We would love for you to join us for Frames & Frequencies: Silent Films with Live Music this Saturday at the Ypsilanti Freighthouse 7:30pm if you haven’t gotten your ticket already (link in my bio) I encourage you too as well as giving a moment of kudos & appreciation & heart claps for this @nytimes article that came out this week that features an array of incredibly talented Detroit musicians including a shout out to the two who are part of this Resonant Soundscapes show @marcus.elliot & @michaelnomalice . Many thanks to all the folks at @iffypsi for curating a fine lineup of Washtenaw County filmmakers we encourage you to secure your spot by getting a ticket & we look forward to gathering with you all tomorrow. #michiganmusic #ypsilanti #annarbor #washtenawcounty

We’re in the throes of some incredible film curation & creation here in Michigan so if you’re able to venture out here’s a few moments I encourage you to support. Thanks to @zv_motorcity & company for the fabulous stains last night The @aafilmfest is this weekend & @iffypsi is upcoming as well in between that with a @umspresents event I hope you can join us April 11th for an evening of a live soundtrack & local washtenaw county filmmakers #michiganmusic #michiganfilm see you out!

Words can’t describe the magic that went down at the @detroitpubliclibrary this past weekend! The C/A/L/M event was a dream come true! And huge thanks to Cully Sommers at the Library for his continued work to bring unique free programming to this beautiful public space. Photos by @noahgreenbergproduction The event was produced by @chienanyuan and @saltbreakermusic with exceptional support from @saratea___ @vnesswolfchild @yalirivlin @duckduckchickenpics @codymgallagher @fruto.del.peral Jeffrey Niemeier @wc.bevan @snonll And we are grateful to the event partners @neudai.detroit and @atmosphericmusicalliance @1473music

Join Resonant Soundscapes for a unique, improvised live-score performance showcasing the rare Chinese silent film The Goddess (1934). Featuring acclaimed southeast Michigan musicians Marcus Elliot ( @marcus.elliot ) , Michael Malis ( @michaelnomalice ), Chien-An Yuan ( @chienanyuan ) , Sara Tea ( @saratea___ ), Julie Zhu ( @zooliejoo ) , and Garrett Schumann, this performance will enthrall music lovers and cinephiles alike as it brings together the improvisation traditions of electronic music and jazz to highlight a historic landmark of Chinese cinema. This event is made possible through the support of the Ann Arbor District Library @aadlgram and the University of Michigan Arts Initiative @michiganarts The ‘Resonant Soundscapes’ performance project was founded by Garrett Schumann, Sara Tea, and Julie Zhu in 2024 with the goal of welcoming their community to reflect with them in a wash of electronic and acoustic sound. After celebrated debut performances at the University of Michigan that blended carillon and organ with electronic elements, Resonant Soundscapes was featured at the 2025 Ann Arbor Summer Festival. This “Resonant Soundscapes: Scoring Global Silent Film” program is first offering in the next chapter of this ongoing collaboration, and has expanded its scope and roster of participating artists in order to deliver new and even more exciting performances to its audiences. Tuesday March 24, 2026: 6:00pm to 7:30pm Free Where Downtown Library: @aadlgram Lower Level Program Room

Detroit — take a breath with us 🌬️ On Saturday, March 21, step into C/A/L/M — an immersive ambient music experience inside the beautiful Adam Strohm Hall at the @detroitpubliclibrary 🧡🎶 C/A/L/M stands for Comfort, Atmosphere, Layers, and Meditation — and that’s exactly the invitation: to slow down, settle in, and simply be. In collaboration with sound artist Chien-An Yuan, this five-hour ambient journey will unfold through live, improvised soundscapes across the afternoon of the spring equinox. Come meditate, stretch, journal, daydream, rest, or simply let the sound move through you. Set within one of Detroit’s most storied architectural spaces, C/A/L/M offers room for reflection, stillness, and gentle introspection as we move into a new season 🌱 Featuring performances by @chienanyuan , @saratea___ , @saltbreakermusic , @vnesswolfchild , @yalirivlin , @wc.bevan , @codymgallagher , and Jeffrey Niemeier. 📅 Saturday, March 21
🕛 12–5 PM
📍 Detroit Public Library – Main Branch
🎟️ Free
🔗 RSVP at neudai.co/link in bio
 — #detroitmusic #detroitevents #freeevent #ambientmusic

Friends who are in a dire need of a gather, a moment to breath, to see each others faces, to celebrate some sonic adventures, reverberate some fresh air in each others energetic fields & pause for a moment we would love to see you these upcoming dates. I’m honored to be joining some incredible musicians to curate some aural journeys this Spring. Join us! 3/21 @detroitpubliclibrary Strohm Hall • Noon to 5pm • Free 3/24 @aadlgram 3/24/26 Ann Arbor Public Library • 6-7:30pm • Free 4/11 @umspresents at Ypsilanti Freighthouse • 6-7:30pm • Pay What You Can #detroit #annarbormichigan #ypsilanti #womeninsound #ambient

Detroit friends I would love to shake off these Winter encrustations like a cicada with you in person for some sonic celebrations in historic spaces. Saturday March 21st from Noon to 5pm upstairs at the @detroitpubliclibrary we will be hosting an ambient music event called C/A/L/M : Comfort, Atmosphere, Layers and Meditation is what it stands for. We invite you to meander upstairs to this beautiful historic space and basque in the gentle improvised music! A huge cast of artists will be there rotating performances through 5 hours of music, and yes it’s free. Divine time to take a moment to gather, experience some sound waves & support each other in the moments we can. If you haven’t already please consider subscribing to my email list (in my profile) as the algorithms of corporate conglomerates are limited & censored ❤️ would love to continue to see you & I will post here sporadically to stay connected xxo

Almost made it to the end of the year y’all. Thanks for showing up. “Squeeze the juice out of all suckers with power & pour some back out so as to water the flowers.” Stay close to those you love & nourish the spaces & folks you want to see flourish. Many reasons to stay isolated & more the reason to build connection & community with the drops of energy we have left. In our endless scrolls take a moment to send a 5 second text to those you love or a half hour to write a handwritten letter. Thanks to all those who have been there for me this year & understanding of the silent struggles we’ve all had to overcome. Let’s keep building & see what 2026 brings ❤️