Historical harps

Siobhán was born in Dublin, lives in Ireland and works as a freelance performer and teacher, mainly in Europe. With eclectic interests, she plays seventeenth-century opera and chamber music with the main baroque directors in Europe; has performed as a soloist on Hollywood film soundtracks and gigs at the world's biggest traditional music festivals.

In 2003, Siobhán founded The Historical Harp Society of Ireland, the resource organisation spearheading the international revival of the early Irish harp.

laying early Irish harp, Siobhán collaborates with some of the most interesting traditional singers and instrumentalists in Ireland including Roísín Elsafty, Ronan Browne and Doimnic Mac Giolla Bhríde.

Countertenor

Mark Chambers has established himself as a versatile and distinguished vocalist, performing internationally with leading ensembles and conductors. His solo repertoire spans from Baroque masterpieces to contemporary works, including Bach’s St. Matthew Passion and Mass in B Minor with Sir John Eliot Gardiner, Monteverdi’s Vespers of 1610 with Paul McCreesh (Deutsche Grammophon), and Beloved and Beautiful with the Nederlandse Bachvereniging under Jos van Veldhoven.

Now based in Wexford, Mark combines an active performance career with part-time lectureships in voice at the University of Birmingham and University College Dublin.

Viols

Sarah Groser first played the viola da gamba as a child, At Manchester University she studied both Baroque cello and viol with Charles Medlam of London Baroque and continued on to Rotterdams Conservatorium to study Baroque cello with Jaap ter Linden. Later she had lessons with Jordi Savall as an external student at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis. Sarah was a member of the Rose Consort of Viols for fifteen years and of Sonnerie under Monica Huggett for three years. She has also played with London Baroque, Fretwork, Charivari Agréable, and the Dowland Consort. In 2001 Sarah moved from England to West Cork, Ireland, where she is in frequent demand as both a solo bass viol player and as a continuo player.

Recorders

Laoise O'Brien, has been described in the press as a crusader with mesmerising skills and boundless imagination. Laoise has been championing the recorder since discovering the versatility and virtuosity of this historic instrument while a student of the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. She has promoted the recorder through concert performances, education, recording, and broadcasting, working with multiple ensembles and arts organisations in Ireland.

As a soloist, Laoise has performed with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, Irish Chamber Orchestra, Camerata Kilkenny and the Irish Baroque Orchestra. She has also performed with many ensembles including Resurgam, Sestina, The Gregory Walkers and the Irish Consort and the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland.

Bass viol/cello

Norah Catherine O’Leary is a Irish cellist specialising in period instrument performance. Norah holds a first-class degree Masters of Performance of Early Music from the Sibelius Akatemia of the University of Fine Arts, Helsinki, where she studied under Louna Hosia and Markku Luolajan-Mikkola whilst undertaking mentoring projects with the Nordic Baroque Orchestra and Concerto Copenhagen. Norah has performed with various other groups such as the Finnish Baroque Orchestra, Camerata Kilkenny, Sestina Music, Cork Baroque Orchestra, Capella Scania, and Ensemble OrQuestra.

Recorders

Caoimhe de Paor began her musical studies in Limerick City, and continued through the Cork School of Music and London's Guildhall. She is a founding member of the award-winning, UK-based Palisander recorder and works as an educator in the UK and Ireland, in addition to her performing career.

As a soloist, Caoimhe has achieved a number of competition successes in Ireland and the UK. She has given the Irish premiere of Richard Harvey’s Concerto Incantato with the UL orchestra, has recorded for The New York Times Conception series and is a member of opera chamber ensemble, Insieme, an Ensemble-in-Residence at Lauderdale House in London.

Organ/ harpsichord

Malcolm Proud is a harpsichordist and organist and performs regularly with the Irish Baroque Orchestra, Camerata Kilkenny, Resurgam and Sestina. His international career has included playing all six Brandenburg Concertos with the English Baroque Soloists at the BBC London Proms and at the Schleswig-Holstein Festival. He has worked also with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Academy of Ancient Music, European Union Baroque Orchestra and Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin.

Malcolm Proud is Emeritus Organist at St Canice’s Cathedral Kilkenny and has given recitals on historic organs such as the 15th century instrument at Valère-Sion in Switzerland, the 1565 Antegnati in Mantua, the 1610 Compenius at Frederiksborg in Denmark and the 1766 Riepp at Ottobeuren near Munich.