GABRIELLA DI LACCIO - soprano
Winner of the “ Air Europa Classical Act of the Year Award 2013”, lyric coloratura soprano Gabriella Di Laccio enjoys an international career that spans the genres of opera, oratorio and chamber music. Especially known for her virtuoso voice and much sought after in Baroque music she is also a devoted performer of contemporary repertoire. Gabriella performs regularly as a solo recitalist and as a member of various chamber groups and has appeared on a number of major international platforms including Wigmore Hall, Purcell Room, Southbank Centre, Megaron Opera House, St. John's Smith Square, Banqueting House Whitehall, Théâtre des Variétés Monaco, amongst others. As a performer of the baroque repertoire she has sung with the Amaryllis Consort, Il Festino, Concerto Strumentale, Di Profundis, Baroque Orchestra of Mercosur and Baroque Ensemble Florilegium.

In November 2018, she was listed as one of the BBC’s 100 most inspirational and influential women in the world. She is the founder and curator of the project DONNE, Women in Music. www.gabrielladilaccio.com

AUDACIUM BAROQUE ENSEMBLE
AUDACIUM Baroque Ensemble brings together a group of musicians committed to performance on period instruments and to musicological research on 17th and 18th century repertoire. Inspired by the daring musical innovations of the baroque period, the ensemble brings to life the dramatic expressiveness of this repertoire with passionate originality. Audacium brings together outstanding musicians with an extensive knowledge of historical practice as soloists and members of prestigious groups including Le Concert des Nations, The Red Priest, I Fagiolini, Ex Cathedra, Stile Antico, Florilegium, The Hanover Band, English National Opera, Welsh National Opera, Opera North and Innsbruck Festival Opera., amongst others. Stay tuned and dare to be baroque! www.audacium.uk

DAVID WRIGHT - harpsichord
David Wright is a musician of international acclaim who specialises in early keyboard instruments. Originally from London's East End, David was entirely self taught as a child until his late teens, he then went on to study at the Royal College of Music where he was the winner of numerous international competitions and prizes, most notably the Broadwood Harpsichord Competition. He pursues an extremely busy career as soloist, chamber musician and continuo player in orchestras and opera companies, recently recording with The Academy of Ancient Music.

With an extensive discography to his credit, recent collaborations have included recordings with Tasmin Little, Julian Lloyd Webber, composer Debbie Wiseman (in the sound track to the BBC series Wolf Hall), the English Concert, Academy of Ancient Music and concerts with Dame Emma Kirkby and James Bowman. After recording the monumental Goldberg Variations in 2007 David spent much of his time touring as a soloist until joining the blockbuster group Red Priest who now occupy most of his time with a busy international concert diary from America to the Far East.
LAYIL BARR - viola da gamba & recorder
Layil Barr plays on recorders and bass viol. Classically trained as an Early Music specialist, Layil toured internationally and worked with a range of early music ensembles including La Concert Des Nations, under the direction of Jordi Savall. Layil directs Mi Luna and co-directed Eclipse-Baroque Fusion. She regularly works with few ensembles including Soave Concenti and Charivari Agreable. Many of her most recent collaborations connect to her musical influences and interests, particularly African, Caribbean and Spanish, which ultimately result in the most deeply authentic musical fusion. Latest projects includes Strings Between Us, a collaboration with Kora player Kadially Kouyate and performing with Addictive TV.

JAMES AKERS - theobo & baroque guitar
Critically acclaimed musician Jamie Akers was hailed as ‘the great Scottish guitarist’ by Classical Guitar Magazine and, in a review from Gramophone, his playing was described as, ‘containing all the warmth, colour and expressive richness one could hope for.’ Jamie has performed with leading artists, ensembles and opera companies including Alison Balsom, Dame Emma Kirkby, I Fagiolini, the Dunedin Consort, English National Opera, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre and Damon Albarn and released solo recordings of lute and romantic guitar music.

James lectures in period plucked instruments and performance practice at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Throughout a varied career Jamie has explored music from a stylistic perspective, combining diligent research with expressive playing, to communicate the continuity of musical expression through the centuries. www.jamieakers.com