About the Guild | 2006-07 Season | Guild Performer Openings | Internships
The New Albion Early Music Guild expects to be among the premier academic music organizations for the Northwest Washington region, specializing in period authentication and scholarly interpretation of early music composition. This goal is to be achieved through a passion for the art, held by both the performers and the patrons of the guild, as well as the advancement of music scholarship among students of music through funding and education met by resources of the guild.
We are currently seeking the full range of voices for the chamber choir and all string parts for the chamber orchestra. Additionally, the guild will host a number of vocal and instrumental student internship positions. Fall of 2006 rolls out the ensemble's first full season to begin to present the masterworks of the Renaissance and Baroque. Somewhat unique to the modern era, these two ensembles will spend a great percentage of the time both rehearsing and performing together, neither group claiming importance over the other.
The Artistic Director, Brent Johnson will lead the guild both as a facilitator and a continuing student of music, relying in part on the expertise and the shared passion for learning of the performing scholars. As a graduate of Pacific Lutheran University involved in all facets of its music department, he hopes to deliver some of the tactics acquired through performance in numerous choral and instrumental ensembles.
New Albion was the name given the Pacific coastal land claimed for England by Queen Elizabeth's prize navigator, Sir Francis Drake upon landfall in 1579. Our best estimates inform us that this landing, though possibly further south, was likely in present day Puget Sound. The English speaking world would continue to refer to the Pacific Northwest as New Albion until the 1770's, when Britain would send such notables as Cook, Whidbey and Vancouver.
Although the word guild has become somewhat obsolete, the concept of a guild is a familiar one. It describes the craft and those artisans who assemble to master it. It is a vehicle of learning for the apprentice, immersion for the journeyman and perfection for the master. It is by such a formula that New Albion Early Music Guild will achieve great success in artistry.
© 2006 New Albion Early Music Guild
