new baroque orchestra
This community, amateur Baroque orchestra is the perfect playing opportunity for musicians of all levels. All types of period instruments can participate, although modern violins, violas, and cello are also welcome!
2023-2024 NBO Director is beloved Stephen Creswell! Learn about Baroque instrumental style from a master performer and director. No audition is required. For more information, contact Stephen Creswell at stevecrez@gmail.com
Applications for the 2023-2024 program are NOW OPEN: To confirm your participation, please fill up this short form by September 25, 2023.
Fall Calendar:
All activities will be held at Trinity Parish Church (609 8th Ave – Seattle, WA 98104) in the Parish Hall.
Sept 28 | 8:00pm-9:30pm | Sight Reading with the Seattle Baroque Orchestra
Oct 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 | from 6:45pm to 8:45pm | Rehearsals
Nov 2 | from 6:45pm to 8:45pm | Sight Reading with the Seattle Baroque Orchestra
Nov 5, 12 | from 6:45pm to 8:45pm | Rehearsals
Nov 18 at 3:00pm Concert
Winter Calendar: From January 14 to March 12, 2024 Specific dates to be announced!
The participation fee is $200. Payment methods:
- Complete the payment on our website here
- Call 206-325-7066 from 8 am to noon Monday-Thursday to pay with a credit card.
- Please make a check to:
Early Music Seattle
P O Box 25893
Seattle, WA 98125
Thank you for your interest and loyalty to NBO! We can’t wait to see you soon!
Stephen Creswell is an enthusiastic proponent of both chamber music and baroque orchestras. His lifelong participation in both, and long affiliation with Seattle institutions, allow him the confidence to take on the directorship of the New Baroque Orchestra. He has played with members of the Lafayette Quartet, studied with the Juilliard and Borodin quartets, and performed as a member of the Alighieri Quartet and the Alder Quartet. Stephen has attended International String Quartet competitions and several workshops. Since 1986, he also has been a student of early music. His first teacher in these endeavors was Stanley Ritchie, at Indiana University. Thereafter he has worked with August Wenzinger, Gustav Leonhardt, Phoebe Carrai, and Jean Lamon, among others, having studied at the Amherst and Oberlin summer institutes, and also performed and recorded with Tafelmusik. Since moving to the Pacific Northwest, Stephen has played solos with the Pacific Baroque Orchestra and Seattle Baroque Orchestra, been a founding member of the Seattle New Music Ensemble, taught chamber music in the schools for 12 years through the Seattle Chamber Music Society, and recently completed his third year as Chamber Music Program Coordinator at Summer Strings, the Cascade Youth Orchestra’s day-camp for young musicians.
“The New Baroque Orchestra is a refulgent star in the firmament of Seattle’s glittering community orchestra scene. We explore the inexhaustibly rich baroque orchestra repertoire in a supportive atmosphere that allows our membership the opportunity to experiment with baroque techniques and styles, and to bring the music to life! All playing levels are welcome, and for that matter, so are all instruments, provided you’re willing to experiment a little. Led by Stephen Creswell, the group typically rehearses once weekly for a couple of months, leading up to a cathartic show…and then it all starts again a couple of months later! Come play! Learn some new party tricks! Swing some eighth notes (quavers)! Propitiate both Apollo and Dionysus! Get to know some fun folks, and go deep into the metaphysics of what it means to play music authentically!”
New Baroque Orchestra at practice