Music
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A recording by Early Music New York
A track featuring myself and Hank Heijink on Theorbo. This was an incredibly enjoyable recording experience, though a number of takes were wrecked by one of the peacocks on the grounds of St. John the Divine. Yes. Squawking peacocks.
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The Antioch Ensemble
A excerpt from a live track featuring myself on tenor, with the Antioch Ensemble, recorded in 2007. This is from Salve Regina, by William Cornysh
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Image © Maira Kalman
An excerpt from Nico Muhly’s Elements of Style composed for the release of Maira Kalman’s illustrated edition of Strunk & White’s seminal engish style guide.
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Active Ensembles
The Trinity Choir
As a full-time member of The Trinity Choir, I’ve had the honor of singing under amazing conductors over the last few years – from Owen Burdick and Andy Megill, to Jane Glover, Simon Carrington, and Stefan Parkman. I’ve acted as a countertenor soloist in Arvo Pärt’s Passio, and Blow’s Venus and Adonis, and a tenor soloist in multiple Messiah’s, and J.S. Bach’s Jesu, meine Freude, among other things.
Early Music New York
I sing and record regularly with Early Music New York. The 2010 season features two programs of early music, a medieval program in the fall, and a return of the popular Colonial Christmas program in December. I’m on a number of their recent CDs: A Colonial Christmas, A Dutch Christmas, and A Bohemian Christmas.
Clarion Music Society
I can be heard regularly with the Clarion Music Society, as a featured soloist with the Taghkanic Chorale, and have sung over the years with Antioch Ensemble, St. Thomas Church’s Choir of Gentlemen and Boys, and the Vox Vocal Ensemble, under George Steel (though he’s a bit busy now with his new gig)
Notable Performances
Divine Chemistry
Premiered Paul Dedell’s Divine Chemistry in Brattleboro, Vermont. Scored for tenor soloist, adult and children’s choir, and percussion ensemble. Joined by amazing percussionists Doug Perkins, Bill Solomon, Russel Greenberg, Steve Rice, Jen Rice, and Julian Gerstin. Read More
“You Are” Variations
In the fall of 2008, I sang with the SIGNAL ensemble, directed by Brad Lubman, in performance of Steve Reich’s new work. The New York Times hailed the performances as being “vibrant, euphoric performances that seemed to electrify the remarkably youthful audience”.
Elements of Style
In 2005, and again in 2008 (as part of Nico’s American Songbook performance), I performed in Nico Muhly’s entirely entertaining work, the Elements of Style, which was nominated as one of 2005’s Best Classical Performances by New York Magazine. The original New York Times review is here.
Sample Biography
Matthew B. Hensrud is always eager to participate in the next interesting project. Focusing on small ensemble work in modern and early music, he can be frequently heard on Trinity Wall Street’s concert series, and local ensembles such as Pomerium, the Clarion Ensemble, Antioch, and New York Early Music, among others. Recent projects include the premiere of Paul Dedell’s Chemistry of Love, in Brattleboro, Vermont, Bryan Senti’s new work, From the Margins, This, Unmentioned, and a visit to Moscow joining the chorus of Mark Morris’ Dido & Aeneas. Past highlights include multiple performances of BAM’s St. Matthew Passion, directed by Jonathan Miller, Nico Muhly and Maira Kalman’s Elements of Style, which New York Magazine nominated as one of the best classical music events of 2005, the staged premiere of David Lang’s new opera Anatomy Theatre, a recording of Michael Gordon’s Van Gogh Opera with Alarm Will Sound, and a recording of Frank London’s Klezmer musical A Night at the Old Marketplace. He is a featured soloist on New York Early Music’s recent album, A Dutch Christmas.