Alkemie exists to explore and share the life-affirming and alternative perspectives to be experienced in the sounds of centuries past. Comprised of singer-performers playing over a dozen instruments (including vielles, harps, psaltery, gittern, recorders, douçaines, and percussion), the ensemble has a particular interest in the porous boundaries between the court and folk music of the Medieval period. Grounded in historical performance practice and fed by a love of experimentation, Alkemie’s performance on the Indianapolis Early Music Festival was lauded as “enchanting” and “indicating [the] future health of the field of early music.”

​

Founded in 2013, Alkemie is based in Brooklyn and also performs nationally; since 2018 they have maintained a partnership with the Medieval Studies program at Fordham University. In addition to growing a series in NYC, Alkemie has been presented by the Amherst Early Music Festival (New London, CT), Amherst Glebe Arts Response (AGAR – Amherst, VA), Arizona Early Music Society (AZ), Cambridge Society for Early Music (Cambridge, MA), Capitol Early Music Series (Washington, DC), Five Boroughs Music Series (NYC) Gotham Early Music Scene (NYC), Johns Hopkins Program for Arts, Humanities & Health, Music Before 1800 series (NYC), Williams College Museum of Art, and European Early Music Network virtual Early Music Day festival.

This season, Alkemie has presented concerts featuring new arrangements of works by Hildegard von Bingen for electro/acoustic instruments; 15th-century French works exploring the feminine and non-binary perspective; and a reprise of their “Verdant Medicine: Hildegard’s Resonant Apothecary” program with pre-eminent vielle player and composer Shira Kammen.

Next season, Alkemie looks forward to performing their “Like a Woman” program on the San Francisco Early Music Series; as well as debuting new programs featuring a collaboration with the Grammy-nominated duo Chapter House; a CD-release concert for their newly-recorded indie-troubadour album “Fine Companion”; and another collaboration with guest artist Shira Kammen
that focuses on the works of Guillaume du Fay.

Alkemie’s members are also committed to the lively teaching of medieval and Renaissance performance practice and history. Alkemie has been in residence at Fairmont State University, and has presented workshops and educational outreach programs at the Capitol Early Music Series (VA), Ramaz High School (NY), and at Fordham University (NY). Alkemie members teach collegiate and amateur students at Case Western Reserve University (OH), Fordham University (NY), the Strathmore Arts Center (MD), Amherst Early Music Festival (CT), the Baroque Performance Institute at Oberlin (OH), Pinewoods (MA), and through the Early Music Access Project (VA).

Tracy Cowart
Co-Founder; Co-Managing Director
Voice, Harps, Percussion, Dance

David McCormick
Co-Founder
Vielle

Sian Ricketts
Co-Founder; Co-Managing Director
Voice, Recorders, Douçaines

Elena Mullins
Co-Founder
Voice, Harp, Percussion,Dance

Ben Matus
Core Member
Voice, Recorders, Dulcians, Hümmelchen

Niccolo Seligmann
Co-Founder
Vielles, Scheitholt, Gittern, Psaltery, Percussion

Jim Hopkins
Harmonium, Organetto, Synths

Caitlin Hedge
Voice, Vielle

Elliot Cole
Composer, Harmonium, Guitar

Harrison Hintzsche
Baritone, Percussion

Karl Ronneburg
Percussion

Shira Kammen
Composer, Vielle

Charles Mueller
Composer, Electric guitars, Synths
Audio/Visual Engineer

Alexander Ronneburg
Engraver

Peter & Sarah Walker
Chapter House
Storyteller, Voice, Pipes, Fiddle

Spiff Wiegand
Guitars, Jaw harp, Percussion

Ellie Sutherland
Voice, Violin, Videographer

Corey Shotwell
Tenor, Admin-at-large

Joey Quigley

President

​

Carrie Henneman Shaw

Vice President

​

John Carey

Treasurer
 

Jim Hopkins

Secretary

​

Jessamyn Conrad

Andrew Albin, PhD

Associate Professor of English and Medieval Studies · Fordham University

​

Jesse Blumberg

Founder, 5BMF

​

Kristen Gelinas

Friends of the High Line

Loren Ludwig, PhD

Johns Hopkins Program in Arts, Humanities & Health

Alkemie’s primary operations occur on the occupied land of the Lenape people, Lenapehoking. We are grateful to be on this land, and recognize the inherent violence of our occupation of it, as well as respect the imperative for environmental stewardship. For more information, please visit the Lenape Center.