Launched in late 2013 by Dr. Judith Overcash Acres and David Acres, Contrapunctus Early Music - A High Voices Ensemble is one of four 'sister ensembles' that the duo manage, all specializing in the performance of sacred and secular music from the middle ages through the modern era. Like both it's older and younger counterparts, Contrapunctus Early Music combines polyphony, literature, art and dialogue to create exceptional music within an historical context.

 

Formed and based in Cleveland, Ohio, Contrapunctus Early Music has a similar mission to The King's Counterpoint: to explore the variety and beauty found in a cappella music – from chant to 20th-century, medieval carols to the avant-garde, our ensembles are devoted to the creation of delightful programs designed to entertain, educate, and above all to stir the soul. 

 

Contrapunctus Early Music - A High Voices Ensemble has at its core a rich history of choral excellence, and though a relatively young ensemble, at its inception Contrapunctus Early Music wasn't really altogether new: the group had its roots in the small ensemble Cantores Cleveland, which had a long and fruitful history in and around Northeast Ohio. After a decade of performances to its credit, in the spring of 2013 Cantores' original leadership began making plans to step down and fold the ensemble; however, rather than retire the business altogether, the Board of Directors approached Judith about assuming responsibility for and leadership of the organization. 

 

Around that same time, Judith and David were in the early stages of founding a professional high-voices ensemble in Cleveland. Their project was "shelved" for the moment, and together Judith and David began the process of re-creating the organization from the ground up, re-launching as a new ensemble and moving the group to the next level of development while striving to both maintain the organization's original mission and transform it into a successful professional ensemble. Thus Contrapunctus Early Music was founded in 2013; however, in 2015, after working with a sub-set of CEM for their "Angel Voices" programs, David and Judith decided it was time to return to their original concept of a high-voices ensemble, and Contrapunctus Early Music was re-formed into the embodiment of their original concept: Contrapunctus Early Music - A High Voices Ensemble.

 

We invite you to learn more about Contrapunctus via the link below. And we hope that the next time you're in Northeast Ohio, you'll take time to visit Cleveland and look up Contrapunctus - we'll look forward to seeing you there!