HISTORY

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Founded in 1993 by co-artistic directors and ensemble members, Tracy Richardson and Kimberly Reighley, Mélomanie has delighted audiences throughout the Delaware Valley in its presentation of provocative pairings of early and contemporary works.  Their innovative chamber music collaborations feature both guest performers and composers.  Currently Ensemble-in-Residence at Grace United Methodist Church in Wilmington, Delaware, the ensemble's programs reflect its mission to connect the music of the Baroque with contemporary invention.  The ensemble’s contemporary repertoire includes world premieres of compositions written especially for Mélomanie by such composers as Ingrid Arauco, Chuck Holdeman, Sergio Roberto de Oliveira, Mark Rimple, and Mark Hagerty.

Mélomanie is: Kimberly Reighley, flutes; Tracy Richardson, harpsichord; Donna Fournier, viola da gamba; Douglas McNames, cellos and Christof Richter, violins. These Mélomanie artists also appear as soloists and with various orchestras and ensembles in the region, including the Delaware Symphony, Reading Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, OperaDelaware, Brandywine Baroque, Tempesta di Mare, Philomel, and Le Triomphe de l’Amour. The group was also invited to Rio de Janeiro to perform in a series devoted to new music.

Mélomanie has recorded works of Telemann on Lyrichord Discs and can be heard on Winterthur's Playing in the Garden: Musical Inspirations from the Winterthur Garden, a benefit CD released in 2008. A new CD featuring original compositions written for the ensemble is currently in production with an anticipated release date of Winter 2011.