Mandell Presents Harry Yeff: New Creative Intelligence

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HARRY YEFF

Thursday, October 9, 2025 | 7:00 PM | Mandell Theater

Harry Yeff

N e w Creat ive Intelligence

Thursday, October 9 , 202 5 | 7:00 PM | Mandell Theater

Run time approximately 80 minutes

There will be no intermission.

Artist discussion included , facilitated by Youngmoo Kim, PhD

Program Notes

“One of the world’s leading vocal experimentalists” according to TheEconomist , Harry Yeff is a proud neurodivergent artist known for his thought-provoking lectures that fuse human expression with cutting-edge technology. In his performative lecture format, Harry Yeff, aka Reeps100, explores the future of creativity at the intersection of art, voice, and artificial intelligence (AI). The talk dives into the evolving partnership between humans and machines, offering strategic insights into how artists and technologists can co-create and leverage AI to enrich creative processes. Yeff unpacks the complexities of collaborating with AI, from building trust with intelligent agents, directing the world’s first international ballet embracing holistic AI process, to harnessing their potential in ways that enhance rather than replace human intuition. Yeff’s work pushes the boundaries of human expression and expands the creative horizon, while laying a foundation for future-forward, human-centered collaboration in an increasingly digital world.

Mandell Presents

Mandell Presents expands on the mission of Drexel’s Department of Performing Arts to engage a broader University and community audience by bringing professional artists to campus who engage with provocative ideas and make social impact. Mandell Presents is funded, in part, by the Samuel P. Mandell Foundation. Additional presenting partners for the 25/26 season include Drexel ’s ExCITe Center, Westphal Ready first year experience initiative, and Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design.

About the Artist

Harry Yeff aka Reeps100 is a London born neuro-divergent artist and technologist specializing in voice and tech-based expression. Yeff has been visualizing the voice for 15 years and is globally celebrated as a leader in a new wave of voice technology focused experimentation. He continues to build on his world-class skillset utilizing an almost inhuman vocal range to drive his works. His performative installations and machine-like vocal control have amassed a global following, rendering over 100 million views online.

He produces work spanning disciplines, contexts and media in response to an ongoing investigation into the evolution of the human voice, art and science. His work closely examines the junction of visual and audio cultures, transforming vocal music into visible, physical form through performance, installation, sculpture, photography and film as well as curatorial, directorial and academic projects.

Yeff harnesses innovative technologies to enhance his creative process and artistic expansion, as demonstrated in his work “Second Self” whereby Yeff’s expression augmented in response to his Second Self’s ability to create new vocal expression. In his latest work and meditation VOICE GEMS, Yeff not only preserves some of the most precious, extraordinary and critically endangered voices on earth, but envisions the future of connection and vocal expression at the center of emerging technologies.

Yeff is the executive curator of the A.I. Visionary Initiative for the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), part of the United Nations agency for Information & Communication Technologies. His role as an ambassador for art, technology and voice is highlighted by a global lecture portfolio with notable talks on creativity, the arts and innovation at Google Exec, Davos, United Nations, SXSW, Art Basel Hong Kong, Harvard University, Glastonbury Pyramid Stage and most importantly his old primary school.

He has completed three artist residencies at Harvard University, is a culture leader at The World Economic Forum, and has followed in the footsteps of John Cage and Rauschenberg by joining the legendary Experiments in Art and Technology program at Bell Labs. His multidisciplinary new-media spectacles and theory have established artist in residence roles Factory Berlin and Sonar Barcelona. In 2020 Yeff won the Arts and Science Breakthrough with the Falling Walls Foundation for his ongoing portfolio of cutting-edge voice and technology experimentation.

Yeff has exhibited internationally, from the Museum of Art and Design in New York to the Tate Britain in London, as well as Milan, London and Tokyo Design weeks, SXSW, Miami Art Basel, Davos 2020, United Nations Geneva and Sundance film festival. He appeared at the TED Countdown Summit in March 2022 and most recently at the TIME100 AI Impact Awards in February 2024.

Youngmoo Kim, PhD is Drexel’s Vice Provost for University & Community Partnerships, and the Founding Director of the ExCITe Center, the University’s research institute for transdisciplinary collaboration at the intersection of technology and creative expression. He joined Drexel in 2005 as a faculty member in Electrical & Computer Engineering. Dr. Kim is a recognized leader in music technology research and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) education and has co-authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications spanning AI for music, human-machine interfaces and robotics for expressive interaction, and integrating arts and STEM learning.

Mandell Presents is a program of the Drexel University Department of Performing Arts in the Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design

Jason Schupbach Dean

Dr. Miriam Giguere Department Head Professor of Dance

Caroline Leipf

Chris Totora

Mandell Theater Managing Director Mandell Theater Technical Director

Department of Performing Arts Administrative Support to Mandell Presents

Hannah Burke ............................................................................................................................................... Department Administrator

Ellie Ebby Department Coordinator

Asaki Kuruma ...................................................................................................................................................... Costume Shop Manager

Elisha Rob inson .......................................................................................................................... Performing Arts Graduate Assistant

Liv Shoup

Audience Services Coordinator

Lauren Tracy ................................ ............................ Event Supervisor & Performing Arts Ensembles Production Associate

Samantha Auman

AJ Bloomfield

Teresa Burns

Owen Byrnes

Jonathan Cannon

Margaux Cattelona

Desmond Cheung

Russell Chissoe

Liz Contessa

Emily Dean

Lois Divoll

Devante Evans

Lily Ezersky

Seven Finckel

Maddy Foler

Venue Staff

Event Supervisors, Technicians, and Audience Services

Mandell and URBN Annex Black Box Theaters

Cait Foster

Nora Gair

Jenny Glickman

Amanda Hatch

Mike Hazeltine

Liv Hershey

Alex Hughes

Clio Johns

Emily Kane

Will Lazar

Zivia Lichtenberg

Drew Mangione

Andy Martinez

Janelle McGovern

Shawn McGovern

Nina Phillips

Sidney Schulze

Liv Shoup

Victoria Silva

Payton Smith

Joshua Stallings

Dana Taylor

Abby Toll

Lauren Tracy

April Tvarok

Audrey van Boven

MJ Young

Audiences play their part in great performances and events

• Food and beverage are not permitted inside the theater.

• Noises and lights are distracting. Please turn off and silence all electronic devices.

• Photos, videos, and audio recordings are not permitted.

• Late seating is at the discretion of House Management.

Accessibility

The Mandell Theater is wheelchair accessible. Mandell Theater has a limited number of Assisted Listening Devices (ALDs) available. Please inquire with Audience Services, 215.895.2787 or dpaboxoffice@drexel.edu, about accessibility needs in advance of attending a performance. You may also see a House Manager the night of your event. Additional accommodations and services may be available through the Drexel Office of Disability Resources (ODR). ODR can be reached at 215.895.1401 (V), 215.895.2299 (TTY), or disability@drexel.edu .

Drexel University Land Acknowledgement Statement

The land on which Drexel University stands and upon which we gather is part of the traditional territory of the Lenape called “Lenapehoking” (pronunciation: Lun-nah-pay-ho-king). It is here that the people called the 'grandfather tribe' and the 'peacemakers' have lived their lives, spoken their language, and held their ceremonies for thousands of years. Indeed, Lenape is translated as “real or original person.” During the colonial and early federal period, many were removed west and north, but some also remain in their homeland. The Lenape were subjected to 250 years of colonization that included cultural suppression and erasure, forced removal from this land and continue to experience systemic discrimination and marginalization.

Acknowledging this history, our privilege to be on this land, and the Lenape tribe's continued presence, is consistent with Drexel University’s commitment to

diversity, equity, and inclusion. We openly recognize the Lenape tribe as the original inhabitants of eastern Pennsylvania, as well as their continuing presence and relationship with their territory. We acknowledge the Lenape people as the Indigenous stewards of their homelands as well as the spiritual keepers of the Lenape Sipu, or Delaware River, and Drexel University does hereby commit to actively supporting our Lenape community members in whatever way we are able, helping to maintain the Indigenous cultural identity of Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey and southern New York. We hope that, by recognizing this Indigenous history, it will inspire you to think about your place on this land, engage in efforts to promote a community that values work towards decolonization and strengthening of Indigenous communities, here and elsewhere.

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