Early Music Access Project is a rotating group of musicians bringing a wide range of early music to Charlottesville and surrounding communities.

CONNECTIONS

​We embrace a broad definition of early music, to include medieval, Renaissance, baroque, new music composed for old instruments, Eastern traditions, and folk music.  Exploring the connections between these various styles and traditions is at the heart of this project.

COLLABORATION

We collaborate with non-classical musicians, visual artists, dancers, actors, poets, and a variety of other creative individuals and groups to create extraordinary experiences for our audiences.

COMMUNITY

​​We are focused on presenting programs in the Charlottesville community and on partnering with other organizations that serve the community. Educational programming is an important part of every season. 

ACCESS

​Every effort is made to keep programming accessible to a wide cross-section of our local community.  We aim to reach diverse audiences through non-traditional venues, reasonable ticket prices, and engaging programming.

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DAVID MCCORMICK, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

David McCormick performs regularly on both violin and viele (medieval fiddle) and is in demand as an educator and arts leader. He is the founding Artistic Director of Early Music Access Project (EMAP), a rotating group of musicians bringing a wide range of early music to Charlottesville, Virginia and surrounding communities. Through EMAP, David was awarded a 2020 Fellowship with the Robert H. Smith International Center for Jefferson Studies, culminating in a series of concerts and online events exploring various aspects of music-making in Jefferson’s Virginia.

He is a founding member of Alkemie, a medieval ensemble based in New York City. With Alkemie, David has appeared at Indianapolis Early Music Festival, Music Before 1800, and Amherst Early Music Festival. He was also founding Artistic Director of Charlottesville-based baroque ensemble Three Notch’d Road, and has performed with Washington Bach Consort, Mountainside Baroque, North Carolina Baroque Orchestra, and as featured guest artist for the Bach-Handel Festival at Shenandoah University.

David is Executive Director of the Charlottesville Chamber Music Festival and former Executive Director of the Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival, where he regularly performs as soloist and chamber musician. He also serves on the board of Early Music America.
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David was President of the Charlottesville Music Teachers Association for two years and has nearly two decades of teaching experience through both the public schools and his private violin and viola studio. He has offered performance practice workshops for educators, students, and performers through Virginia Music Teachers Association, James Madison University, Fordham University, Fairmount State University, and others. 
 
His degrees in music education and performance from Shenandoah University and Case Western Reserve University include specialized training in chamber music and historical performance. He is a 2017 recipient of Shenandoah Conservatory’s Rising Stars Alumni Award.
 
David’s instruments include a viele by Karl Dennis and violin by Jonathan Vacanti, with period bows by Louis Bégin, Michelle Speller, Ralph Ashmead, and H. F. Grabenstein.

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS

President | David McCormick (see bio above)
Treasurer | Lisa E. Goehler is treasurer of Early Music Access Project and the Crozet Community Orchestra. She is an amateur violinist and early music enthusiast.
Secretary | Kristin Jensen is a project manager at the University of Virginia Library and serves on the Board of Directors for Victory Hall Opera.

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ADVISORY BOARD

Blanton Alspaugh is a multiple-Grammy-winning producer with Soundmirror, Inc. of Boston.
Ruth E. Chodrow is a pet house call veterinarian, adjunct biology professor at James Madison University, and an amateur recorder and bass viola da gamba player.
Mary Vee Connell is a supporter of classical music organizations in the Charlottesville area.
Patrick Dailey (countertenor) is an active performer, advocate, and educator serving on the voice faculty of Tennessee State University.
Sarah Darling is a baroque violinist and modern violist, playing with A Far Cry, Boston Baroque, co-directing the Harvard Baroque Orchestra, and serving on the faculty of the Longy School.
David Deaton is an entrepreneur, nonprofit and business consultant who empowers organization during strategic change and success of operational excellence.
Christina DeMarea is the General Director of Charlottesville Opera and serves on the board of the Front Porch.
Jenn Dungan is an amateur cellist and a professional writer/editor/content strategist.
Amanda Gookin (cello) is founder of Forward Music Project and Executive Director of the Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival
Megan Gray is the Executive Director of the Youth Orchestras of Central Virginia, instructor at Woodberry Forest Private school, violist and educator.

Janet Kaltenbach is the Executive Director of the Charlottesville Symphony Society.
Brian Kay is a specialist in ancient songs and historical plucked instruments and percussion.
​Miki Liszt is Artistic Director of Miki Liszt Dance Company based at McGuffey Art Center in Charlottesville.
Loren Ludwig is a researcher and performer on historical stringed instruments.
Fred Everett Maus is an Associate Professor of Music at the University of Virginia.
Reginald L. Mobley is a professional countertenor and the Programming Consultant for the Handel and Haydn Society of Boston.
John Ros is a Brooklyn-based artist and serves as Director and Professor at studioELL, Founding Director and Curator at Intermission Museum of Art and a Part Time Lecturer at the School of the Museum of Fine Art at Tufts University.
David Perry is Executive Director of The Oratorio Society of Virginia, and is active as a professional clarinetist, educator, and photographer.
Jonathan Woody is a bass-baritone and composer and active performer of early music. Among other groups, he performs regularly with the Choir of Trinity Wall Street in New York, NY.