History of Carmina and Illuminare

CARMINA, (Latin for “poetry” or “songs”) is a chamber choir devoted to exploring the diverse musical styles of the Middles Ages through the Baroque. The group gave its first performance in the spring of 1998 at the Spotlight on the Arts Festival in Fairfax, Virginia. Since then, Carmina has continued to perform frequently in the Washington area, making appearances at such venues as the National Gallery of Art, the National Cathedral, the National Presbyterian Church, Anderson House, and the German Embassy. Carmina often collaborates with period instrument ensembles and has presented concerts jointly with Armonia Nova, the Washington Cornett and Sackbut Ensemble, The Orchestra of the Seventeenth Century, Ensemble Gaudior, the Chesapeake Viol Consort, and The Bach Sinfonia. Carmina has been praised both by The Washington Post and The Baltimore Sun, which noted the group’s “gorgeous tonal balance.” In 2002, Washingtonian magazine included Carmina in its list of “Good arts groups you might not know about.” The same year Carmina won a special grant for new and emerging artistic organizations from the Virginia Commission for the Arts. Since 2004 Carmina has regularly presented concerts as part of the Washington Early Music Festival. Invited by the Washington Arts Group to take part in its 2007 international convocation, both Carmina and Illuminare sang in a showcase performance, An Evening of Brillance, Past and Present, which also featured several internationally-known artists and ensembles. Carmina’s two CDs, A Carmina Sampler and The Son of Getron are available at concerts and through this website.

Carmina photo

Illuminare, formed in the fall of 2006 as the Carmina Women’s Ensemble, focuses on early vocal repertoire (Medieval through Baroque) composed or arranged for women’s voices. The name symbolizes the ensemble’s efforts to illuminate the glorious music of the past, often overlooked today. Just as the beautiful initial letters, or illuminations, decorated medieval manuscripts, the group strives to enhance and enrich the lives of its listeners through its performances. Illuminare has performed at the National Presbyterian Church, Anderson House, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, St. Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral, The Franklin Park Arts Center, and First Night Alexandria. Illuminare’s performances for the Washington Early Music Festival have been favorably reviewed by The Washington Post. Their CD Illuminare Sings! can be purchased through this website and at concerts.

Illuminare photo

Listen to Carmina and Illuminare

Click here to hear samples of some of Carmina and Illuminare’s best performances.

Carmina and Illuminare on CD

Click here for ordering information for A Carmina Sampler and The Son of Getron, and Illuminare Sings!.

More Pictures of Carmina

About the Singers

Carmina and Illuminare’s singers hail from the greater Washington DC area and have a strong interest and practiced expertise in early music.

Reviews

Some of Our Past Concerts