Role

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Ensemble

 

Cecilia's Circle is a classical music ensemble that was founded in 2004 by a group of talented musicians who shared a passion for early music. The ensemble is named after Saint Cecilia, the patron saint of music, and is dedicated to performing music from the medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque periods. The founding members of Cecilia's Circle were soprano Laura Heimes, recorder player Priscilla Herreid, and harpsichordist and organist Mark Rimple. All three musicians had extensive experience performing early music and had collaborated on various projects in the past. They decided to form Cecilia's Circle as a way to explore the rich repertoire of early music and to share their love of this music with audiences. Over the years, Cecilia's Circle has expanded to include other talented musicians, including violinist Cynthia Freivogel, viola da gamba player Motomi Igarashi, and lutenist John Lenti. The ensemble's core members, however, remain Heimes, Herreid, and Rimple. Cecilia's Circle has performed at numerous venues throughout the United States, including the Boston Early Music Festival, the Berkeley Early Music Festival, and the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society. The ensemble has also been featured on radio programs such as NPR's Performance Today and WNYC's New Sounds. One of Cecilia's Circle's most notable performances was their 2010 concert at the Boston Early Music Festival, where they performed a program of music by the 17th-century Italian composer Barbara Strozzi. The concert was praised by critics for its "exquisite musicianship" and "sensitive interpretation" of Strozzi's music. Cecilia's Circle has also received several awards and honors for their performances and recordings. In 2008, the ensemble was awarded the prestigious Noah Greenberg Award by the American Musicological Society for their "outstanding contributions to the performance of early music." The ensemble has also been nominated for several Grammy Awards for their recordings, including their 2012 album "The Flower of Paradise," which features music by the 14th-century composer Guillaume de Machaut. Throughout their career, Cecilia's Circle has remained committed to exploring the rich and diverse repertoire of early music and to bringing this music to audiences around the world. Their performances are characterized by their impeccable musicianship, their deep understanding of the historical context of the music they perform, and their passion for sharing this music with others.

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