» Ars Lyrica Houston

Ars Lyrica Houston uses period instruments and performance practices to breathe new life into the sublimely expressive instrumental and vocal chamber repertory of the Baroque and early Classic eras. Their mission is threefold: to give world-class performances of chamber and stage works from the 17th and 18th centuries, to make this music relevant to contemporary audiences through innovative concert and dramatic presentations, and to create mutually beneficial partnerships that amplify Ars Lyrica's educational and artistic goals.

Ars Lyrica offers a yearly season of concerts in Houston at a variety of venues, including Zilkha Hall at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts and the Moores Opera House at the University of Houston, and they occasionally tour to other cities. With a flexible roster of expert instrumentalists, singers, and specialists in period gesture and movement, they offer a wide range of programs, from thematic chamber performances to fully-staged chamber operas and dramatized Baroque oratorios.

Founded in 1998 and based in Houston, Ars Lyrica Houston's core members include Alan Austin (Baroque violin), Barrett Sills (Baroque cello/viola da gamba), and Matthew Dirst (harpsichord/organ and artistic director). They appear both on their own and in collaboration with other ensembles, including the Houston Chamber Choir and the Moores School of Music Collegium Musicum at the University of Houston.