..After intermission came the more melancholy Cantata No. 78 "Jesu, der du meine Seele (Jesus, though who didn't take my soul)." Here the emotional content came mostly from the Empire Orchestra, an early music group organized by cellist Andre Laurent O'Neil. During an aria by Harrison, Yvonne Chavez Hansbrough had a haunting and memorable solo on the wooden flute...(Times Union, Joseph Dalton, June 5, 2006)

I began playing baroque flute at The Florida State University, while I was pursuing a DM in music. Mr. Charles DeLaney, my wonderful flute teacher, required all his students to take a semester each of Introduction to baroque recorder and baroque flute. I fell in love with the sound and capabilities of the baroque flute. I currently play on a flute made by Simon Polak of the Netherlands. The instrument is a copy of the Dutch maker, Beukers (ca. 1735).
Photo by Keira Lemonis
Upcoming Performances
EMPIRE BAROQUE: Wednesday, November 18, 2009 at 7:30 pm Music of Netherlandish Composers: Celebrating the Quatercentennial of Henrick Hudson The College of Saint Rose Picotte Recital Hall Massry Center for the Arts
Performance Highlights
The Musicians of Ma'alwyck
"Dutch Composers of the Golden Age" with Ann-Marie Barker Schwartz, baroque violin; Andre O'Neil, baroque cello; and William Carragan, harpsichord. Music by Jacob van Eyck, Willem de Fesch, Benedict Buns and Wassenaer. We had two wonderful performances June 2009 at Fort Crailo in Rensselaer, NY and at The Boston Early Music Festival Fringe Concert Series. This was my first time attend BEMF and it was wonderful to hear the performances and see the exhibits. I tried lots of wonderful flutes!
Concert of music by J.S. and C.P.E. Bach with Anne-Marie Barker Schwartz, baroque violin/viola; Andre O'Neil, baroque cello; and William Carragan, harpsichord at Saint Andrew's Episcopal Church, Albany, NY Fall 2007
The Empire Baroque with The Cathedral of All Saints Choirs in Albany, NY, summer 2007
The Complete Musical Offering by J. S. Bach at UAlbany, fall 2006 I was honored and challenged to get to perform the famous Trio Sonata in C Minor
The Foundation for Baroque Music Baroque Festival, summers since 2001, Greenfield Center, NY
Other performances and lectures at Skidmore College, MTSU, University of Memphis, Virginia Commonwealth University and UT Chattanooga
Studies
The Florida State University: Amy Edmondson, baroque flute; Karyl Louwenaar, chamber music coach
The Baroque Performance Institute at Oberlin College: Christopher Krueger, baroque flute; Kenneth Slowik, conductor
Wildacres Flute Symposium: Stephen Preston, baroque flute
Amherst Baroque Festival: Janet See, baroque flute
Baroque Flute Sound Clips
Trio in D major, BWV 529 by J. S. Bach, arranged for traverso, viola and continuo by William Carragan. Recording is taken from a live performance at Saint Andrew's Episcopal Church in Albany, NY in 2007. I am joined by Anne-Marie Barker Schwartz on viola, Andre O'Neil on cello and William Carragan on harpsichord.
Listen to excerpt of movement II
More clips coming soon!