About
Mission
The Bloomington Early Music Festival encourages and celebrates
historically informed performance with an annual festival, seasonal
concerts, numerous educational events in the immediate regions, and
by committed support for emerging performing artists.
Board
- Victor Harnack, President (2006-2009)
- Marie-Louise Smith, Vice-President (2007-2010)
- Janis Starcs, Secretary (2006-2009)
- Donald Breiter, Treasurer (2005-2008)
- Stanley Ritchie, Artistic Director (2005-2008)
- Irv Grossack (2005-2008)
- Charlotte Hess (2006-2009)
- Alexandra Lynch (2007-2010)
- Janet Stavropulos (2007-2010)
- Terie Stephens (2007-2010)
- Martha Wailes (2007-2010)
- Jeanne Walters (2006-2009)
History
Taking place annually towards the end of May, the Bloomington Early Music Festival brings together leading soloists and ensembles for a series of concerts, opera and oratorios, workshops, and pre-concert talks. Cross-cultural interests in the festival sometimes include performances by acclaimed folk musicians. As the only festival of its kind in the Midwest, the festival serves the Bloomington community, the Midwest region, and a growing number of music lovers from across the United States.
The Bloomington Early Music Festival collaborates regularly with a number of local and regional performing arts entities. The festival has produced nine operas and a theatrical children's show. In addition, BLEMF has forged collaborative relationships with faculty and students in the Early Music Institute at Indiana University.
BLEMF has provided a number of opportunities for musicians to break new ground while maintaining a high degree of quality in performance. Good examples of this are the 1995 production of Dido and Aeneas, the 1997 production of Monteverdi's Coronation of Poppea, and the 1999 production of La Purpura de la rosa, all of which were avidly discussed across the nation, on the internet, and in regional newspapers. In the 2000 festival, the production of Alcina by George Frederic Handel, performed to great effect in the Buskirk Chumley Theatre, received rave reviews. More recent productions include Monteverdi's I lavori d'amore persi conceived and created by Nigel North and A. Scott Parry, Purcell's King Arthur, stage directed by Mark Clark, and Adolf Hasse's seldom-heard Piramo e Tisbe, directed by Chia Patino.
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Past Festivals
Photo Resources for several past festivals are available thanks to professional photographer Kevin Atkins. We thank him for his support of early music and the work of the Bloomington Early Music Festival. His site, through the links below, offers wonderful images from many festival concerts which can be enjoyed for free or purchased directly from him. (Images here are used with permission)
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Past Performers
Soloists and ensembles that have performed at the Bloomington Early Music Festival, 1995-2006:
Soloists
- Edmund Battersby, fortepiano
- Thomas Baird, dancer
- Alan Bennett, tenor
- Keith Collins, cláirseach
- Malcolm Dalglish, singer, hammer dulcimer
- Paul Elliott, tenor
- Martin Hayes, Irish fiddle
- Jacob Herringman, lute
- Paul Hillier, baritone
- John Holloway, Baroque violin
- Poul Hoxbro, storyteller, pipe and tabor
- Thomas Irvine, viola
- Grey Larsen, Irish multi-instrumentalist
- Paddy League, Irish guitar and bodhrán
- Lyon Leifer, Hindustani flute
- Andrew Maginley, Baroque lute
- Ingrid Matthews, Baroque violin
- Ustad Mumtaz Ali Khan, Hindustani tabla
- Nigel North, lute
- Kim Pineda, flute and recorder
- Sonja Rasmussen, soprano
- Deepak Ram, Bansuri flute
- Stanley Ritchie, Baroque violin
- Elizabeth Ronan-Silva
- Byron Schenkman, harpsichord & fortepiano
- Rick Seraphinoff, natural horn
- Willy Schwarz, Hindustani vichitra vina
- Colin St. Martin, flute
- Shelley Taylor, cello
- Christopher Verrette, Baroque violin
- Catherine Webster, soprano
- Paige Whitley-Bauguess, dancer
- Andrew Willis, fortepiano
- Bernard Woma, Ghanain drummer
- Allison Zelles, soprano
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Ensembles
- Altramar
- Anaphantasia
- Anima Fortis
- Artek
- Atwater Consort
- Bach Chorale Singers
- The Bath Street Studio
- Belladonna
- The Benevolent Order for the Music of the Baroque
- Bimbetta
- The Bloomington Baroque
- The Bloomington Chamber Singers
- The Bloomington Early Music Festival Orchestra
- The Buxtehude Project
- The Camerino Band
- Cappella Romana
- Charivary
- Ciaramella
- The Concord Ensemble
- The Dodsworth Saxhorn Band
- Eclatante Amarante
- Ensemble Ouabache
- Ensemble Polaris
- Ensemble Seicento
- Ensemble Seven Times Salt
- Ensemble Voltaire
- Ex Umbris
- Feleboga
- Indianapolis Baroque Orchestra
- La Luna
- Liaison
- Liber unUsualis
- The Locke Consort
- The Meridian Vocal Consort
- Modus Ensemble
- Musica Pacifica
- Musick's Handmaids Ensembles
- Musicians In Ordinary
- Naked Fifth
- Piffaro
- Shawn Leopard and John Paul
- Tandernaken
- Theater of Voices
- Trio Callisto
- Violes Egales
- ViVaCe
- Voces Novae
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Co-producing Organizations
- Ardo Opera
- Bloomington Area Arts Council
- Bluemarble Internet Provider
- The Bloomington Chamber Singers
- Indiana University Early Music Institute
- Indiana Arts Commission
- Indiana University Department of Theatre & Drama
- The IU Latin American Music Center
- The Lotus World Music & Arts Festival
- National Endowment for the Arts
- WFIU Public Radio
- Bloomington and Monroe Community Access TV
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