| Who are we? |
The Countertop Ensemble was formed in 2005, beginning as a Quartet to
perform music for upper voices, primarily with two sopranos and two
countertenors. In 2008, artistic director Chris Dudley, expanded the group
into an ensemble with up to 16 singers, while also maintaining its original
core. Concerts with Countertop now allow listeners to not only hear the full
ensemble, but the smaller aspects of the group too, with the quartet of
sopranos and countertenors, and the consort, involving the countertenors,
tenors and basses.
Countertop now delights audiences with their varied and exciting
performances throughout the year. They do not specify the performance of
one genre though. Each year, at the Modern Voices concert, Countertop
performs modern music, sometimes by local composers and often performs
King's Singer's arrangements or barbershop music.
Since becoming an ensemble, Countertop has received several critically
acclaimed reviews from the Washington Post for its "fine singers who blend
and balance..." from Joan Reinthaler (2008) and its "consistently beautiful
performance...because of their exotic inscrutability..." from Charles T.
Downey (2009). In May 2010, The Ensemble joined with the Orchestra of
the seventeenth century, to perform the Monteverdi Vespers of 1610, and will
perform it again at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg in
September 2010.
The Countertop Ensemble was invited to perform Bolivian Baroque music, in
Bolivia during the summer of 2010, and will also be performing J. S. Bach's
cantata 106 with the Norfolk Chamber Concert in Virginia in September 2010.
It's 2010/2011 Season will be released shortly.
perform music for upper voices, primarily with two sopranos and two
countertenors. In 2008, artistic director Chris Dudley, expanded the group
into an ensemble with up to 16 singers, while also maintaining its original
core. Concerts with Countertop now allow listeners to not only hear the full
ensemble, but the smaller aspects of the group too, with the quartet of
sopranos and countertenors, and the consort, involving the countertenors,
tenors and basses.
Countertop now delights audiences with their varied and exciting
performances throughout the year. They do not specify the performance of
one genre though. Each year, at the Modern Voices concert, Countertop
performs modern music, sometimes by local composers and often performs
King's Singer's arrangements or barbershop music.
Since becoming an ensemble, Countertop has received several critically
acclaimed reviews from the Washington Post for its "fine singers who blend
and balance..." from Joan Reinthaler (2008) and its "consistently beautiful
performance...because of their exotic inscrutability..." from Charles T.
Downey (2009). In May 2010, The Ensemble joined with the Orchestra of
the seventeenth century, to perform the Monteverdi Vespers of 1610, and will
perform it again at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg in
September 2010.
The Countertop Ensemble was invited to perform Bolivian Baroque music, in
Bolivia during the summer of 2010, and will also be performing J. S. Bach's
cantata 106 with the Norfolk Chamber Concert in Virginia in September 2010.
It's 2010/2011 Season will be released shortly.
| If you need to call us: (866)364-6418 |
Countertop Consists of three break-down groups. They are:
The Countertop Quartet
This name you are already aware of - and we will continue to specialise in upper voiced
music, covering all the centuries.
The Countertop Consort
This is a group that will specialize in lower-voice music, men only, countertenors, tenors
and basses. This will give us the opportunity to perform much of the Baroque and
Renaissance music that was originanally written for men.
The Countertop Ensemble,
The all-encompassing group containing all the singers. Here we can perform larger,
sometimes two-choir, great music.
The Countertop Quartet
This name you are already aware of - and we will continue to specialise in upper voiced
music, covering all the centuries.
The Countertop Consort
This is a group that will specialize in lower-voice music, men only, countertenors, tenors
and basses. This will give us the opportunity to perform much of the Baroque and
Renaissance music that was originanally written for men.
The Countertop Ensemble,
The all-encompassing group containing all the singers. Here we can perform larger,
sometimes two-choir, great music.
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Originally, the founded group was named "The Countertop Quartet." This was more of a
clever play on words. There were two countertenors, and two sopranos in the quartet. The
"Counter" refers to the two countertenors, and the "top" refers to the two top parts. In
addition to remembering our innovative sound, people also go away remembering our
unusual name.
Even though we now have a full ensemble of sopranos, countertenors, tenors and basses, it
was decided that we keep the original name of Countertop.
clever play on words. There were two countertenors, and two sopranos in the quartet. The
"Counter" refers to the two countertenors, and the "top" refers to the two top parts. In
addition to remembering our innovative sound, people also go away remembering our
unusual name.
Even though we now have a full ensemble of sopranos, countertenors, tenors and basses, it
was decided that we keep the original name of Countertop.
| What does the name mean? |