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Philomel Baroque Orchestra is a classical music ensemble that specializes in performing Baroque music. The ensemble was founded in 2008 by a group of musicians who shared a passion for early music and a desire to bring it to a wider audience. Since then, Philomel Baroque Orchestra has become one of the leading Baroque ensembles in the United States, known for its virtuosic performances and innovative programming. The founding members of Philomel Baroque Orchestra were violinist Cynthia Roberts, cellist Beiliang Zhu, and harpsichordist Avi Stein. All three musicians had extensive experience performing Baroque music and had worked together in various other ensembles before forming Philomel. They were joined by a number of other musicians, including flutist Sandra Miller, oboist Gonzalo Ruiz, and bassoonist Dominic Teresi, among others. From the beginning, Philomel Baroque Orchestra set out to create performances that were both historically informed and musically engaging. The ensemble's repertoire includes works by some of the greatest composers of the Baroque era, including Bach, Handel, Vivaldi, and Telemann, as well as lesser-known composers such as Biber, Muffat, and Schmelzer. The ensemble's performances are characterized by their energy, precision, and attention to detail, as well as their commitment to bringing the music of the Baroque era to life for modern audiences. Over the years, Philomel Baroque Orchestra has performed at some of the most prestigious venues in the United States, including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and the Kennedy Center. The ensemble has also been featured on numerous radio programs, including NPR's Performance Today and WQXR's The Bach Hour. In addition, Philomel has collaborated with a number of other artists and ensembles, including the Mark Morris Dance Group, the New York Baroque Dance Company, and the Yale Schola Cantorum. One of the highlights of Philomel Baroque Orchestra's career was its performance of Bach's Mass in B Minor at Carnegie Hall in 2013. The performance was hailed by critics as a triumph, with The New York Times calling it "a performance of exceptional beauty and power." The ensemble's recording of the Mass in B Minor, released in 2014, was also widely praised, with Gramophone magazine calling it "a recording of the highest quality." Another notable performance by Philomel Baroque Orchestra was its collaboration with the Mark Morris Dance Group on the production of L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato, a dance work set to Handel's oratorio of the same name. The production, which premiered in 2014, was a critical and commercial success, with The New York Times calling it "a masterpiece of dance and music." In addition to its performances, Philomel Baroque Orchestra has also been recognized for its recordings. The ensemble's debut album, Telemann: Concertos and Chamber Music, was released in 2010 and received widespread critical acclaim, with The New Yorker calling it "a delightful recording." The ensemble's subsequent recordings, including Bach's Mass in B Minor and Handel's Water Music, have also been well-received by critics and audiences alike. Philomel Baroque Orchestra has received numerous awards and honors over the years. In 2011, the ensemble was awarded a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to support its performances and recordings.

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