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The Affiliates of SFEMS

Since 1980 SFEMS has assisted groups that share the Society's commitments to music for educational purposes, artistic excellence, a historically informed approach, and operation on a not-for-profit basis.

How to become a SFEMS affiliate.

Alice's Renaissance String Band

Alice's Renaissance String Band was formed five years ago by a small group of early music enthusiasts who had met each other at SFEMS events over the years. Meeting regularly in each other's homes, the members worked very hard to improve their ensemble skills, technique and musicality. Alice has performed for friends in house concerts, for church services and for hospital inpatients. In the last two years, Alice has expanded the group from time to time to include one or more professional musicians and singers and has presented public concerts at local venues. Most exciting, Alice has produced fully staged productions of two of Purcell's operas, "The Fairy Queen" and "Dido And Aeneas," and is planning a third for April 2009, Purcell's "King Arthur."

Alta Sonora

Alta Sonora is a Renaissance wind band, playing shawm, slide trumpet, sackbut, recorder and dulcian. The group formed in 2001 and specializes in the alta capella repertory of the 15th century, with forays into 14th and 16th century music as well. Besides presenting concerts, educational programs for adults, and accompanying vocal ensembles, the group presents a program aimed at middle school classes, with demonstrations and explanations of both the music and a variety of wind instruments. (Contact: Peggy Murray, 510-233-0868, peggy-murray@sbcglobal.net)

American Recorder Orchestra of the West

The American Recorder Orchestra of the West (AROW) was founded in 2000 and comprises dedicated, enthusiastic musicians who live throughout Northern California. AROW musicians play the entire recorder family, from sopranino to contrabass. Intermediate and advanced musicians interested in the orchestra are invited to contact Music Director Richard Geisler: richgeis@oro.net; 530/477-2293.

Archetti

Archetti is a dynamic new ensemble of professional Baroque string players who perform the impassioned string concerti and ensemble music of the 17th and 18th centuries.  The eight core members bring the highest expression and vitality to their performances, and are drawn from the very best of the San Francisco Bay Area's renowned early music scene.

Carla Moore and John Dornenburg, Co-directors
For information: carlamoore@berkeley.edu

Barefoot Chamber Concerts

Baroque Etcetera

Bay Area Baroque Workshops

Bay Area Baroque Workshops presented its first coached workshop at MusicSources in Berkeley in September, 2007. It was very well received by the participants. Our third workshop was held in October 2008. For further information, consult our web site www.babw.org or email info@babw.org.

Bella Musica

East Bay Recorder Society

The East Bay Recorder Society is an association of recorder enthusiasts in the San Francisco Bay Area. Recorder players from low intermediate to advanced levels are invited to join to play music together and to learn more about the recorder. Membership activities include the following:

• Monthly playing meetings September through June featuring a professional conductor, usually held the first Friday of the month
• The opportunity to receive the music for practice ahead of time
• Monthly newsletter September through June
• At least two workshops a year, including a weekend in May at the Marin Headlands, featuring large-group, special-interest and low-intermediate sessions with 10 conductors. Viols and soft double reeds also welcome.
• Recitals — Opportunities to perform before a supportive audience of chapter members
• Members' directory
• Social events, including Twelfth Night Party and Summer Picnic

Farallon Recorder Quartet

Annette Bauer, Letitia Berlin, Frances Blaker, Louise Carslake. The Farallon Recorder Quartet has been exploring the repertoire for four recorders since 1996, reveling in the rich masterpieces of the middle ages, Renaissance and baroque periods as well as charting new territory with arrangements and original compositions from the present age. The quartet has recorded motets, lieder and instrumental music of Ludwig Senfl, one of the geniuses of the German Renaissance. This CD can be ordered from http://farallonrecorderquartet.com/ or from www.magnatune.com. The Farallon Recorder Quartet plays on a variety of instruments, including a matched set of renaissance recorders made by Adriana Breukink and modeled after a set in the Vienna Kunsthistorisches Museum.

Contact: Letitia Berlin, 510-559-4670, farallonrq@sbcglobal.net.

Flauti Diversi

Flauti Diversi was founded in 1992 by Frances Feldon at the San Francisco Early Music Society’s Recorder Workshop and has since been enthusiastically received at its performances, including those in conjunction with the Berkeley and Marin Early Music Festivals, and at Hausmusik (now Healing Muses), Music at Old St Mary's, and Music on Squirrel Hill concert series in the SF Bay Area. Beginning in 2003, Flauti Diversi initiated its own concert series called “Baroque and Beyond.” The ensemble presents a variety of innovative programs, which combine baroque and contemporary music and use a wide palette of instrumental colors. Contact: Frances Feldon, 1440 Keoncrest Dr., Berkeley CA 94702; 510-527-9840; franfel@aol.com.

Fweeter

Galax Quartet

Hallifax & Jeffrey

Peter Hallifax and Julie Jeffrey are viol players who first came together to play the music of the French high baroque tradition, specifically the music of Forqueray, Marais, Dollé and Couperin.  Following the success of their first and second seasons, including concerts on the SFEMS series with guest artist Jakob Lindberg, and playing the complete works of Forqueray at the Berkeley Festivals in 2006 and 2008, as well as touring, they have expanded their repertoire to include English 17th century music. For information: pjhallifax@earthlink.net

Healing Muses

Music for Healing is a program designed by Healing Muses to create a peaceful sound environment for hospitals, clinics, hospices, convalescent homes, retreat centers and homebound individuals. Using a combination of Medieval, Renaissance, Celtic music, American folk tunes and spirituals, Music for Healing promotes relaxation and reduces anxiety during stressful hospital stays and procedures. Patients and staff experience the power of music to calm and soothe in a noisy, high-anxiety environment.

Medical research as well as the musicians’ experiences have shown the benefits of therapeutic music in soothing patients, alleviating anxiety, and managing pain. Healing Muses is a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization whose professional musicians offer this kind of healing music, played on harp and flute, to Bay Area hospitals, clinics, hospices, convalescent homes and other institutions providing care for the sick, handicapped and elderly.www.healingmuses.org

Healing Muses, 1185 Solano Ave., PMB #153, Albany, CA 94706
Email: healingmuses@comcast.net. Phone: Eileen Hadidian (510) 524-5661;
Diana Rowan (510) 717-7148;  Maureen Brennan (510) 245-2788;   Patrice Haan (510) 534-9250.

Junior Recorder Society

The local chapter of the Junior Recorder Society was founded in the fall of 1997 to provide opportunities for young recorder players to play music together. Teachers Louise Carslake, Hanneke van Proosdij and Letitia Berlin felt it important for children to discover the fun of playing recorders together outside of their private lessons or school classes. Partially supported by the East Bay Recorder Society and SFEMS, our chapter is also a member of the national Junior Recorder Society, which connects young recorder players throughout the U.S. Our monthly meetings are open to all children who have a basic ability on the recorder. We play a wide variety of music from the Renaissance to the twentieth century, and sometimes we experiment with improvisation. Many of our players can play more than one size of recorder, and thanks to the generosity of many SFEMS members we are able to lend instruments to children who do not yet have their own. Performances in 1998 included enthusiastically received recitals for the ARS East Bay Chapter in March, and at the American Recorder Society's reception at the Berkeley Early Music Festival in June. Enrollment has grown steadily, and we are greatly encouraged by the number of recorder players who have joined us recently. (Junior Recorder Society c/o Louise Carslake, 3931 Linwood Ave., Oakland, CA 94602. Telephone: 510-530-3202)

La Monica

Lute Society of America — Northern California Chapter

The Lute Society of America was formed in 1968 in New York to promote the lute and related instrument and music scholarship, and offer services and education to its members. The Northern California Chapter of the LSA continues the activities of the national chapter on a local level. We sponsor informal weekend seminars throughout the year in and around the San Francisco Bay Area, which are open to all local lute players or other instrumentalists. We also sponsor lute concerts in conjunction with these larger seminars.

A unique characteristic of our group is that outside our individual LSA membership, we charge no other local dues, and anyone can join by an email or note to one of our members. Our members are mostly amateur players, consisting of both men and women. Many are professionals, with families and otherwise busy lives, but are still drawn to their interest in this old, attractive and fragile instrument. Music professionals, musicologists, singers, guitarists, and others interested in the lute are also welcome to join. The Northern California chapter of the LSA does not put out a monthly newsletter, but is maintained by an email mailing list and a web site, http://www.mclasen.com/lute/balute.html. Our email mailing list helps to keep members informed of our concerts and seminars, as well as advertising lute-related concerts and activities of SFEMS and other groups.

Mid-Peninsula Recorder Orchestra

The Mid-Peninsula Recorder Orchestra (MPRO), formed in 1962, is open for membership to those who play recorder, early winds or early strings. The orchestra meets during the fall, winter and spring from 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. on alternate Wednesdays at the J.L. Stanford Middle School, 480 E. Meadow, Palo Alto. The orchestra presents two or more concerts annually. Additional performing opportunities are offered to those who take part in the MPRO Ensemble, which presents three or more programs a year at schools, community centers, retirement facilities and special events. MPRO membership also includes the services of the orchestra's consort coordinator, who assists those wishing to join or form small ensembles. MPRO has performed on public television stations KQED and KCSM, as well as at the Berkeley Early Music Festival, the Palace of the Legion of Honor, Mission San Jose, and the Dean Lesher Regional Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek. MPRO also sponsors two workshops annually, which are directed by well-known recorder artists. (Mid-Peninsula Recorder Orchestra, 420 Crestlake Drive, San Francisco, CA 94132. Telephone: 650-591-3648 or 415-664-9050)

Monterey Bay Recorder Society

The Monterey Bay Recorder Society holds monthly meetings in Santa Cruz for recorder and other early instrument players of all levels to explore a wide variety of music, especially medieval, Renaissance and baroque repertory and also classical, modern, jazz, and ethnic music. Guest conductors are drawn from around the Bay Area. The Society sponsors public concerts, education and outreach programs, and ensemble coaching for local consorts. (Monterey Bay Recorder Society, c/o Curt Bowman, 831-475-1553 or Lorrie Emery, 831-423-8309)

Mostly Motets

Mostly Motets is a small ensemble that sings sacred music primarily from the Renaissance and earlier. The group sings a cappella works by popular High Renaissance composers (Tallis, Byrd, Victoria, Palestrina, etc.) as well as less-often performed earlier music (Dufay, Desprez, Fry, Ockeghem, chant, Middle English songs, etc.). While the ensemble's roots can be traced back to informal sessions starting in Santa Rosa in 1998, regularly scheduled rehearsals began in January of 2004. The group presently rehearses and performs in the San Francisco Bay Area, primarily in Berkeley, San Francisco, and on the Peninsula. Rehearsals are usually twice a month on Sunday afternoons. Anyone who might be interested in singing with the ensemble is welcome to visit www.MostlyMotets.com and contact the director, Steve Moore, at (707) 575-7400.

Music of the Spheres

Music of the Spheres, formed in 2000, is an early music group based in San Francisco and Atlanta, consisting of Baroque violinist Jeanne Johnson, Baroque cellist Joanna Blendulf, and harpsichordist Yuko Tanaka. Music of the Spheres was a main event at the 2002 Bloomington and Berkeley Early Music Festivals and has been featured on several broadcasts of "Harmonia" and "Performance Today." Highlights of 2005 included a performance on the San Francisco Early Music Society series, featuring a world premiere, and a recording for Magnatune. The year 2006 includes an appearance at the Tage Alter Musik Festival in Regensburg, Germany. Music of the Spheres believes that music exists to captivate the imagination, stir memories, and evoke intensely personal emotions in both listener and performer alike, and we desire to bring a wider audience to classical music through performances that focus on these aspects. We are available for concerts, series, festivals, recordings and advanced master classes. Our CDs are available through www.magnatune.com, or on our web site.

Musica Pacifica

Led by artistic directors Judith Linsenberg and Elizabeth Blumenstock, Musica Pacifica has been performing, touring, and recording since 1990. Mining a rich vein of Baroque literature for mixed wind/string ensemble, the group performs the spirited chamber concerti of Vivaldi and Telemann, colorful dance suites from the courts and opera houses of France, and the more intimate solo, duo, and trio sonatas from European countries as diverse as Scotland, Poland, Spain, and England. Musica Pacifica has been described by the press as "some of the finest baroque musicians in America" (American Record Guide) and "among the best in the world" (Alte Musik Aktuell). They have appeared on prestigious chamber and early music concert series throughout the US and Europe, have twice been a featured ensemble at the Berkeley Early Music Festival, and have been heard on German National radio as well as on National Public Radio¹s Performance Today and Harmonia. Musica Pacifica¹s six CD releases on the Virgin/Veritas and Dorian labels have received international acclaim, including the highest ratings in several CD magazines, each one being chosen as "CD of the Month" by the early music journal Toccata-Alte Musik Aktuell (Regensburg), and two major awards, including Chamber Music America and WQXR's 2003 Record Award honoring the best chamber music recordings of the year. (Musica Pacifica, c/o Judith Linsenberg, 833 Walker Ave., Apt. A, Oakland, CA 94610. Telephone/fax: 510-444-4113; e-mail: info@musicapacifica.org)

Music's Re-creation

Since its founding in 1979 Music's Re-creation has performed to high acclaim in both Europe and America, including appearances at the Lufthansa Festival of Baroque Music in London, York Early Music Festival (U.K.), Kilkenny Festival (Ireland), the Music in Old Krakow Festival (Poland), Carmel Bach Festival, and the Berkeley Festivals. They have made eight CD recordings for the Centaur and Meridian labels that feature music by C.P.E. Bach, Jenkins, Marais, Telemann, Lawes, Clérambault, and Rameau. Well known for their performances of trios, quartets, and chamber cantatas from the baroque era, the group has also expanded in size to perform such large-scale works as Monteverdi's Vespers of the Blessed Virgin, Purcell's Dido and Aeneas, famous operatic arias by Handel, and concerti by J.S. Bach. Over the years Music's Re-creation has collaborated in concert with a long list of distinguished guest artists which includes Jaap Schröder, Stanley Ritchie, Andrew Parrott, Nicholas McGegan, Nancy Argenta, James Bowman, Judith Nelson, Derek Lee Ragin, Jennifer Lane, and Julianne Baird. Music's Re-creation has held artistic residencies with the University of Washington in Seattle and the Renaissance and Baroque Society of Pittsburgh. Members are Louise Carslake, baroque flute, Carla Moore, baroque violin, John Dornenburg, viola da gamba, and Lorna Peters, harpsichord. (Music's Re-creation, c/o John Dornenburg, Telephone/Fax: 510-530-3202; e-mail: jdrnbrg@saclink.csus.edu)

New Esterhazy Quartet

The New Esterházy Quartet (Kati Kyme, Lisa Weiss, Anthony Martin, William Skeen) came together in 2006. They are currently performing for the first time in America on period instruments the complete Haydn cycle, 68 quartets in 18 concerts over the next two seasons, to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Haydn’s death in 2007. For details, please consult their website: www.newesterhazy.org

Novello Quartet

The Novello Quartet was founded in 2002 to perform Joseph Haydn’s rarely programmed quartet setting of the Seven Last Words of Christ. The quartet’s passion for the music of Haydn and his contemporaries has led to an ongoing artistic partnership between four of America’s leading early music artists. The members of the Novello Quartet, Tekla Cunningham and Cynthia Miller Freivogel, violins, Anthony Martin, viola, and Elisabeth Reed, cello, are active in the Bay Area and America’s most prominent early music groups, including Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, American Bach Soloists, Apollo’s Fire Orchestra in Cleveland, Musica Angelica in Los Angeles, Santa Fe Pro Musica, Portland Baroque Orchestra, and the San Francisco Bach Choir.

Opera non Troppo

Passamezzo Moderno

Passamezzo Moderno, founded in 2005, is a period ensemble that performs the music of three centuries, from 1530 to 1830, and specializes in the virtuoso instrumental music of the 17th century. Its members are David Granger, dulcian and bassoon, Andrew Fouts, violin and viola, Jonathan Davis, harpsichord and organ, and Edwin Huizinga, violin. Passamezzo Moderno is an early music ensemble committed to providing their audiences the highest caliber performances on period instruments in historically authentic style. We also are committed to broadening the knowledge and appeal of early music by combining brief lectures within the concerts and through educational outreach. Passamezzo Moderno's first CD, "From Venice to Vienna in the 17th Century," was released in August, 2008.

John Prescott

JOHN PRESCOTT received his BA Magna cum Laude in Music from Carlton College (MN) and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and his MA in Music from UC Berkeley. He has been the recipient of a number of academic honors including the British Marshall Scholarship for two years study at St. John's College, Cambridge England. He also studied at Oxford University's Worcester College.

He has written extensively on the music of G F Handel and is completing his Doctoral Thesis on John Stanley, the 18th century, blind organist, conductor, violinist and impresario. He has taught music courses at UC Berkeley and Music Theory at The Crowden School (Berkeley, CA), and was the musicologist for the San Francisco Elderhostel Arts and Humanities Program and is currently the resident pre-concert lecturer for Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra (SF, CA).
To contact John, email john.prescott@sbcglobal.net, phone: 415.441.3695. 601 Van Ness Avenue, #523, San Francisco, CA 94102.

Sacramento Recorder Society

The Sacramento Recorder Society is a chapter of the American Recorder Society. Our meetings are from 6:45 to 10:00 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month, Sept.-June, at the Friends Meeting House, 890 57th Street (between H and J Streets) in Sacramento. Our members range from low-intermediate to advanced players, and we offer lessons for beginners. Players of other early music instruments are also welcome. Our monthly meetings are directed by professional early music specialists. We also sponsor recorder workshops and concerts. We encourage members to form small consorts or study groups, which meet in members' homes, and we offer opportunities for those groups to perform. Our newsletter and website keep members informed of early music workshops and concerts throughout Northern California, and carpools are available for those events. (Sacramento Recorder Society, c/o Billie Hamilton, 5706 Shepard Ave., Sacramento, CA 95819. Telephone: 916-451-7614, e-mail: billieham@macnexus.org)

San Francisco Recorder Society

The San Francisco Recorder Society holds monthly playing sessions that are led by a variety of local recorder teachers and qualified chapter members. The sessions introduce the members to a variety of pieces from the recorder repertoire, usually addressing the historical context of each piece and a "historically informed" approach to playing it. Recorder players at all levels are welcome to play at our monthly meetings, which are held on the third Wednesday of each month, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. in the Parish Hall of Christ Church Lutheran 1090 Quintara Street (at 20th Avenue), in San Francisco. A $10 playing fee per session may be applied to the $40 annual fee for chapter membership. Our website is: arssanfrancisco.org, and our president, Greta Haug-Hryciw, can be reached at gr8asf@yahoo.com.

Sex Chordae Consort of Viols

Sex Chordae Consort of Viols was founded by gambist John Dornenburg for the purpose of performing and recording the rich body of music for viol consort of the 16th and 17th centuries. The Consort has performed widely in California with presenters including the Berkeley Early Music Festival, San Francisco Early Music Society, San Jose Chamber Music Society, Santa Cruz Baroque Festival, Gualala Arts, and Magnificat. In 1999 they made their European debut at the Tage Alter Musik Festival in Regensburg, Germany. The Consort currently has three highly praised CD recordings released on the Centaur label. For concert booking information, email the Sex Chordae Consort at jdrnbrg@saclink.csus.edu.

Singers' Retreat

The Singers' Retreat brings together Bay Area singers for two weekends each year. Normally directed by Stanford Professor William Mahrt, the retreats are held in San Anselmo's San Francisco Theological Seminary. Past workshops have explored sacred polyphony by Renaissance composers from Josquin to Monteverdi. Intense singing sessions are balanced with short lectures on the music and its historical contexts. A public performance concludes each workshop. Singers' Retreats are open to all singers with good sight-singing skills. Fees are nominal, some meals are provided, and overnight accommodations can be arranged. (Singers' Retreat, c/o Lee McRae, 2130 Carleton St., Berkeley, CA 94704. Telephone: 510-848-5591; email: LMcR@aol.com)

The South Bay Recorder Society

The South Bay Recorder Society, a chapter of the American Recorder Society, provides opportunities for members and others to play recorders and socialize. The SBRS meets 7:30-10:00 PM on the first Friday of the month at the First Congregational Church of San Jose, 1980 Hamilton Avenue, San Jose, located at the corner of Hamilton Ave. and Leigh Ave. Contact President Liz Brownell at 211 Escobar Ave., Los Gatos, CA 95032. Telephone 408-358-0878 or e-mail zilbrown@aol.com.

Streicher Trio

The Streicher Trio combines the talents of three prominent West Coast musicians: Charlene Brendler, fortepiano; Katherine Kyme, violin; and Joanna Blendulf, cello. The Trio's focus is on Classical era repertory — music of Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, and their distinguished contemporaries — performed on period instruments. Many appearances in California concert venues have included tours under the auspices of the California Arts Council. Engagements at major US festivals such as the Berkeley Music Festival and the Mozart Festival in San Luis Obispo include festivals in Germany and France. Three compact discs are available from the Streicher Trio. They are the Mozart Piano Trios on the Bayer of Germany label; Piano Trios of Clara Schumann and Louise Farrenc; and Musica da Camera, 17th and 18th century Italian music selected from the Frank. V. de Bellis Collection in the California State University Library, San Francisco. Visit the web at www.sfems.org/streicher or contact Charlene Brendler, 1510 Laurel Ave., Richmond, CA 94805. Telephone: 510-237-0775.

Tibia Recorder Duo

The Tibia Recorder Duo is in residence at the Hidden Valley Institute of the Arts in Carmel Valley every November for workshops and concerts. Please visit hiddenvalleymusic.org or call 831-659-3115 for more details.

Viola da Gamba Society - Pacifica Chapter

VdGS-Pacifica, the Bay Area chapter of the Viola da Gamba Society, supports local amateur gambists by providing professional consort coaching sessions (to which established consorts, as well as individuals wishing to be placed in consorts according to skill level, are welcome), beginning-instrument rentals and a monthly newsletter, as well as by organizing statewide meets and facilitating contacts with local viol teachers. The chapter meets monthly from Autumn through Spring, normally at Zion Lutheran Church, 5201 Park Boulevard, Piedmont. (VdGS-Pacifica, c/o Ellen Farwell, 1807 Butte St., Richmond, CA 94804. Telephone: 510-524-3327; email: lbfarwell@earthlink.net)

Voices of Music

Voices of Music is an early music ensemble based on the creative vision and continuo group of David Tayler & Hanneke van Proosdij. The group takes the unique view that the interpretation, style, and ornamentation of Renaissance and Baroque music are centered on the art of good singing. Voices of Music's most recent CD, Bach Arias, will be released in January 2007. Projects for the upcoming year include a recording of music from Rembrandt’s studio and concerts at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Albany.

Artists who have appeared in Voices of Music recordings and concerts: Joanna Blendulf, Elizabeth Blumenstock, Louise Carslake, Hugh Davies, Rodney Gehrke, Lisa Grodin, Laura Heimes, Katherine Kyme, Jennifer Lane, Dan Laurin, Christopher LeCluyse, Peter Maund, Vicki Pich, Stephanie Prewitt, Susanne Rydén, William Skeen, Tanya Tomkins, and Catherine Webster.

WAVE — Women's Antique Vocal Ensemble

Women's Antique Vocal Ensemble (WAVE) is a 12 voice women's choir founded in September 1999, directed by Cindy Beitmen. The group was formed as an outgrowth of an evening education class sponsored by the San Francisco Early Music Society (SFEMS). Now an affiliate of SFEMS, WAVE is dedicated to promoting and performing music of the medieval, Renaissance and Baroque periods. The ensemble has performed in a number of area churches, the Berkeley Early Music Festival, and various public service concerts in communities of the East Bay and San Francisco. WAVE is committed to keeping tickets at affordable prices so that more people may enjoy the live concert experience. WAVE is Artist-in-Residence at Calvary Presbyterian Church in Berkeley.

Wildcat Viols

For further information about SFEMS affiliates, including how to become one, see our affiliate membership page.

Last updated 05/06/2010.