From the ensemble:
Established in 2018, Serafina was initially commissioned for a one-off project, which we enjoyed so much it motivated us to form a permanent, independent early music ensemble. As longtime friends and colleagues, we choose to operate democratically and cooperatively, without formal roles. Each member brings her own musical expertise, including ensemble direction, performance, management, and musicological research.
Serafina’s mission is to lift up music written by, for, and about women through performance, education, and advocacy, and we strive to present this under-performed repertoire with a balance of historical accuracy and creative interpretation. We challenge our modern audiences to find beauty, commonality, and relevance in the music of our ancient sisters. It's important to us to create inclusive spaces for both performers and listeners under the umbrella of "traditional classical music."
Serafina was featured on the Society for Historically Informed Performance’s 2019 summer concert series in Boston, with a program featuring works by Strozzi, Cozzolani, and Caccini, among others. The ensemble has performed concerts in collaboration with the Detroit chapter of the American Guild of Organists, the Christ Church Cranbrook Choir, the University of Michigan Organ Conference, and is currently presenting its first full program season.