Francine Maas, violin

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Australian born, Francine Maas graduated with a Masters in Performance at the Royal College of Music, specialising in historical and modern violin under the tutelage of Bojan Cicic, Yuri Zhislin, and Joshua Fisher. Prior to this she also studied at the University of Cambridge, the Royal Conservatoire of The Hague, and the University of Melbourne. Having specialised in both modern and period instruments, Francine brings a unique perspective to the specific technicalities required of certain repertoires, and an understanding of historical context. Since moving to the U.K. in 2018 she has performed with the Hanover Band, Norwich Baroque, Bury Baroque, the Cambridge Collegium, Voces8, and the Academy of Ancient Music, performed a solo recital series at Murray Edwards and Churchill Colleges in Cambridge and participated with projects and masterclasses with performers and pedagogues such as Rachel Podger, Matthew Truscott, Lucy Russell, Adrian Butterfield, Lucy van Dael, and Margaret Faultless. She performs on an original 18th century Benjamin Banks instrument. When not performing, Francine is Director of Music at Dulwich College Junior School.

Matthew Millkey, violin

British-American Baroque violinist, Matthew Millkey, enjoys an active career as an orchestral and chamber musician in and around London. A graduate of Oberlin Conservatory of Music and Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music, Matthew is currently pursuing a PhD in historical musicology at the Royal College of Music. His thesis, titled “The Low Hold and Thumb Hold: historical violin and bow holds as tools for reimagining historical performance practice”, features a practice-based investigation of violin technique in the period 1630-1700, with particular emphasis on the practice of holding the violin against the chest. Matthew has performed with numerous Early Music ensembles around England, including the Academy of Ancient Music, Florilegium, the BBC Singers, Ensemble OrQuesta, Endelienta Baroque, and Noxwode Baroque, among others. Matthew has participated in multiple live radio broadcasts on BBC Radio 3, and has appeared in music festivals throughout the United States and Europe, including the BBC Proms, the Boston Early Music Festival, Prangins Baroque, the Oregon Bach Festival, the Tilford Bach Festival, and the Chigiana festival. Additionally, Matthew is a founding member of The Great Bear Ensemble. Matthew plays on a Baroque violin by Hugh Saville, kindly on loan to him from the Royal College of Music.

Kiele Sacco, keyboard

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Kiele (Ki) Sacco is an American harpsichordist and a Master of Music graduate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where she studied with James Johnstone and Nicholas Parle. Before moving to the U.K., she studied at the University of North Texas and Indiana University, completing degrees in both computer science and historical performance. Alongside her harpsichord studies, she pursued secondary studies in organ, carillon, recorder, jazz piano, and viola da gamba, Based in London, Ki is a founding member of two historical performance groups: The Great Bear Ensemble and Duo Pathopoeia. Recent performances include appearances at the Music Summer School and Festival, the 5th edition of Prangins Baroque, Benslow Music, the London International Festival of Early Music, and the Dartington Summer School. She has collaborated with renowned musicians including Steven Devine, Bojan Čičić, Emma Kirkby, John Butt, Rachel Podger, and Nigel North.