The Marion Consort, under the artistic direction of Amy Bearden, is a Chicago-based choral ensemble specializing in music of the Medieval and Renaissance periods. Since forming in November of 2010, The Marion Consort has performed throughout the Chicagoland area as well as Milwaukee. They have been featured on Milwaukee Public Radio’s “Lake Effect” with Bonnie North and the Ars Antigua Presents podcast with Peter Van de Graff.
In Illinois, the group has sung with Early Music at the Barn, Wicker Park Choral Singers, Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago Arts Orchestra, Lunch Time Concerts at the Chicago Cultural Center, and the “Under the Dome” concert series at St. Clement Church. In February 2016, the group was chosen to perform at the ACDA Central Conference in Chicago.
Outside of the Midwest, The Marion Consort has performed in New York City with Khorikos Choral Ensemble, in Boston for the Boston Early Music Festival Fringe Concert Series, and in San Francisco for the Berkeley Early Music Festival Fringe Concert Series.
As the premier Chicago choral ensemble for a cappella early music, The Marion Consort’s mission is to preserve early music for its history and for its beauty. The Marion Consort is a registered 501(c)3 non profit organization. For the most update to date info, videos, and pictures like us on Facebook or check out our website at www.marionconsort.org.
Amy Bearden (Artistic Director–The Marion Consort) holds a masters degree in Early Music Voice from the Early Music Institute of Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. There, she studied voice with Paul Elliott, a renowned tenor and founding member of the Hilliard Ensemble. At Indiana, Amy focused on Medieval and Renaissance music studying both history and performance. In Chicago, Amy is the Artistic Director and Founder of The Marion Consort, a premier early music ensemble. In addition to Marion, Amy is a sought after choral artist who has performed with New Comma Baroque in Chicago, Texas Early Music Project in Austin, Texas and is on staff of the Amherst Early Music Festival in New London, Connecticut. Amy also holds a Bachelors degree in Music Education from Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois. Currently, Amy teaches K-12 General Music, Choir, and Drama in the McKinley Park neighborhood of Chicago.