Jenifer Thyssen, soprano

Jenifer Thyssen sings music which transports and heals, reconnects and ties us to our past and our future through the musical expressions of human experience written by composers from the 1100's to today.  Honored in her hometown of Austin as Best Classical Singer by the Austin Critics Table in 2018, 2003, and nominated again for the award in 2007, 2008, and 2012, “Thyssen’s beautiful vocal storytelling” is an Austin staple.  In 2001, Jenifer was given the honor to perform the Texas premiere of Handel’s “Gloria” which was at that time being premiered all over the world.  Jenifer’s work as a founding member of Texas Early Music Project (TEMP) and with other early music ensembles and directors in Texas, the Bay Area, Boston and Paris, has been the mainstay of her professional career while raising 7 beautiful children with her husband Andy.

Stephen Redfield, violin

In addition to La Follia, Stephen also leads the orchestras of Conspirare, Santa Fe Pro Musica, Arizona Bach Festival and Victoria Bach Festival. A long-time participant with the Oregon Bach Festival, he has performed there as concertmaster, principal and soloist, and has participated in numerous recordings including the Grammy® award-winning disc Credo. Stephen served for five years as Assistant Concertmaster with the Austin Symphony while earning a doctorate at the University of Texas. He also performs internationally as a soloist and a chamber musician on both modern and Baroque violin. Stephen teaches violin at the University of Southern Mississippi School of Music, where he joins his colleagues in the Impromptu Piano Trio.  In 2019, Stephen received the Austin Critics Table award for best classical instrumentalist.

Eric Smith, viola da gamba

Eric Smith has been praised by critics for his “flawless lightness and grace” and called “the very model of an elegant cellist”. Eric is a multi-faceted musician, performing early music on period instruments, to contemporary music.  As a soloist, chamber musician, and continuo player, Eric  has collaborated with the Dallas Bach Society, Orchestra of New Spain, Texas Camerata, Ars Lyrica Houston, Sonare, Ensemble VIII, Denton Bach Society, Dallas Chamber Players, Bach Society of Houston, New York’s Concert Royal, and the New York Baroque Dance Company. His recordings have been heard on both NPR’s Performance Today, and Public Radio International, and he was featured in an interview in the 125th Anniversary issue of The Strad magazine.

Marcus McGuff, flute (traverso)

Marcus McGuff plays both modern and Baroque flute. He holds degrees in flute performance from the Eastman School of Music and Indiana University, as well as a Doctor of Musical Arts in flute from the University of Michigan. In addition, Dr. McGuff holds degrees in mathematics from the University of Rochester. He has taught flute at Austin Community College and at Concordia University. Currently, he is Professor of Mathematics at Austin Community College and teaches flute privately. He has studied Baroque flute with Wilbert Hazelzet, Michael Lynn, and Jed Wentz and modern flute with Bonita Boyd.

Arash Noori, guitar, theorbo

Noted as “the compelling” guitarist and “the fine” lutenist by The New York Times, Arash Noori performs throughout North America and Europe on lutes and guitars as both recitalist and accompanist. Arash has appeared in performances with Les Arts Florissants, Early Music New York, Orchestra of St. Luke’s, Piffaro: The Renaissance Band, Ars Lyrica, Opera Lafayette, the Folger Consort, Repast Baroque, the Sebastians, Academy of Sacred Drama, ARTEK, and NOVUS NY of Trinity Wall Street amongst others.  He has garnered rave reviews from The New York Times, New Yorker, Boston Globe, Opera News, and The Wall Street Journal amongst others. A graduate of Yale and the Juilliard School, Arash currently serves as Adjunct Professor of Early Music at the University of North Texas College of Music.

Keith Womer, harpsichord and director of La Follia

Keith studied organ with Raymond Ocock of Westminster College and harpsichord with Will Volcker in Houston, Texas.  He was named “Artist of the Year” by Keyboard Arts, Inc. and twice won the National Federation of Music Clubs award. He was soloist with the Chautauqua Symphony and was a featured artist on the Houston Harpsichord Society concert series. He has performed with the Texas Early Music Project, Chorus Austin, the Victoria Symphony and Conspirare. He has been a member of La Follia since 1994, and director since 2004.  He was awarded the Austin Critics Table Award for best classical instrumentalist in 2015-2016.  He is currently organist at University Presbyterian Church in Austin.