10th Anniversary Season!
2026-2027
2026-2027
|
SPECIAL SCREENING EVENT!
ROCK & REEL A FILM ABOUT MONTICELLO'S BLACK FIDDLERS Directed by David McCormick and Stephen Brouillette Sunday, November 15, 2026, at 2pm Irving Theater at the CODE Building 225 W Water Street, Charlottesville, VA 22902 |
|
$25 – General Admission | $10 – Flex Price
Rock & Reel: A Film About Monticello’s Black Fiddlers tells the story of three generations of musicians who transformed the soundscape of Virginia. Eston, Madison, and Beverly Hemings, enslaved sons of Sally Hemings and Thomas Jefferson, were all accomplished fiddlers. Jefferson himself was a violinist, as was his brother; his wife, daughters, and grandchildren were also avid musicians. Indigenous fiddler Jesse Scott, who married into the Hemings family, taught three of his sons and a grandson to play. The Scotts chose to navigate the difficult racial climate of Charlottesville, while their Hemings cousins moved away – Eston Hemings formed one of Ohio’s most famous string bands. In this documentary, the story of these nearly-forgotten fiddlers is brought to life by top Monticello historians.
The film also includes footage of Early Music Access Project musicians rehearsing and performing concerts of music once played by these remarkable fiddlers. Footage from the Affrolachian On-Time Music Gathering in Orange, Virginia traces an unbroken musical tradition that survives today through trailblazing Black old-time musicians. As EMAP musicians recreate these 19th-century sounds in concert, it becomes clear why the Scott family’s music “caused the old chateau to rock and reel to the cadence of the tripping feet.”
Following the screening, David McCormick will moderate a Q&A session featuring co-director Stephen Brouillette, musician Loren Ludwig, historian Andrew Davenport, Scott family descendant Robin Reaves Burke, and Affrolachian On-Time Music Gathering founder Dena Jennings, among others. Musicians featured in the film will then have a brief live jam session, followed by a reception in the lobby.
The film also includes footage of Early Music Access Project musicians rehearsing and performing concerts of music once played by these remarkable fiddlers. Footage from the Affrolachian On-Time Music Gathering in Orange, Virginia traces an unbroken musical tradition that survives today through trailblazing Black old-time musicians. As EMAP musicians recreate these 19th-century sounds in concert, it becomes clear why the Scott family’s music “caused the old chateau to rock and reel to the cadence of the tripping feet.”
Following the screening, David McCormick will moderate a Q&A session featuring co-director Stephen Brouillette, musician Loren Ludwig, historian Andrew Davenport, Scott family descendant Robin Reaves Burke, and Affrolachian On-Time Music Gathering founder Dena Jennings, among others. Musicians featured in the film will then have a brief live jam session, followed by a reception in the lobby.
ROCK & REEL NAMED "OFFICIAL SELECTION" OF VIRGINIA FILM FESTIVAL!
Screening: Sunday, October 25, 2026, at 10:45am
Violet Crown Cinema, Charlottesville
We have some big news! Rock & Reel, our documentary about three generations of Black fiddlers at Monticello, has been named an Official Selection of the Virginia Film Festival, held right here in Charlottesville! Directors David McCormick and Stephen Brouillette will be on hand for a Q&A session after the film. Advance tickets to this screening are no longer available, but check the link below often as tickets may be released prior to the event. The festival also sells unclaimed tickets to a standby line 10 minutes prior to the start of a film. We hope to see you at Violet Crown on October 25 for the Virginia premiere of Rock & Reel!
Screening: Sunday, October 25, 2026, at 10:45am
Violet Crown Cinema, Charlottesville
We have some big news! Rock & Reel, our documentary about three generations of Black fiddlers at Monticello, has been named an Official Selection of the Virginia Film Festival, held right here in Charlottesville! Directors David McCormick and Stephen Brouillette will be on hand for a Q&A session after the film. Advance tickets to this screening are no longer available, but check the link below often as tickets may be released prior to the event. The festival also sells unclaimed tickets to a standby line 10 minutes prior to the start of a film. We hope to see you at Violet Crown on October 25 for the Virginia premiere of Rock & Reel!
|
COMMUNITY BAROQUE GATHERING
Saturday, February 6, 2027, 9am-12pm Church of Our Saviour, Charlottesville VA Registration: $40 for adults, $15 for high school and college students |
|
Early Music Access Project’s Community Baroque Gathering is back! The 2027 edition is open to all singers and instrumentalists. High school and college students are welcome, as well as adult amateurs and professionals. Bring your modern or baroque instruments at A440!
This is an informal event where clinicians David McCormick and Megan Sharp will provide stylistic advice and historical context in a rehearsal setting. PDF copies of repertoire will be sent to participants prior to the event and paper copies will be distributed at the event. Note: we are not able to provide transposed sheet music for instruments not in C. All music will be in either treble or bass clef.
This is an informal event where clinicians David McCormick and Megan Sharp will provide stylistic advice and historical context in a rehearsal setting. PDF copies of repertoire will be sent to participants prior to the event and paper copies will be distributed at the event. Note: we are not able to provide transposed sheet music for instruments not in C. All music will be in either treble or bass clef.
|
David McCormick is artistic director of Early Music Access Project, executive director of Early Music America, a founding member of Brooklyn-based medieval ensemble Alkemie, and a 2020 and 2026 fellow of the International Center for Jefferson Studies. He plays a violin by Jonathan Vacanti, a vielle by Karl Dennis, and a rebec by Kate McWilliams.
|
|
|
Megan Sharp earned her undergraduate degree in music from the College of Wooster in Ohio and holds a master’s degree in opera from the Boston Conservatory. Following graduation and a period of intense study of Baroque singing with Sally Sanford, Baroque dance with Ken Pierce, and French art song with Carole Bajac, her career has focused on performing, especially early music, and increasingly on choral conducting. She has sung with the Boston Early Music Festival, the Connecticut Early Music Festival, Ensemble Chanterelle, the Schola Cantorum, Granite State Opera, and Longwood Opera. Ms. Sharp often collaborates with organist and harpsichordist Jonathan Schakel, including concerts in Germany, the Netherlands, Boston, Michigan, North Carolina, and Virginia. In 2011 Ms. Sharp was named music director of the Charlottesville-based early music vocal ensemble Zephyrus. She has led Zephyrus in summer residencies at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Edinburgh; Trinity Cathedral, Dublin; Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford; Bath Abbey; and Chichester Cathedral. Ms. Sharp has directed choirs in churches and schools for over 25 years, and currently serves as Minister for Music and College Students at University Baptist Church in Charlottesville. In addition, she maintains a private voice studio and teaches T’ai Chi at the Charlottesville T’ai Chi Center.
|
|
|
MURDER IN MESSINA
SAVE THE DATES! May 23 & 24, 2027 Performances in Charlottesville and Staunton More details coming soon! |
|
We don't want to give away too many juicy details, but this special murder mystery concert will explore the music of 17th century violinist-turned-murderer Giovanni Antonio Pandolfi. Bring your finest detective skills. All we can tell you is...it wasn't Colonel Mustard in the ballroom with the candlestick!
EMAP musicians will be joined by local actors to bring this true-crime mystery to life. Rarely-heard works by Maurizio Cazzati, Antonio Cesti, Johann Heinrich Schmelzer, Marco Uccellini, and Pandolfi himself will illuminate the murderous tale. Directed by frequent EMAP collaborator Alyssa Weathersby, with a script by EMAP artistic director David McCormick.
EMAP musicians will be joined by local actors to bring this true-crime mystery to life. Rarely-heard works by Maurizio Cazzati, Antonio Cesti, Johann Heinrich Schmelzer, Marco Uccellini, and Pandolfi himself will illuminate the murderous tale. Directed by frequent EMAP collaborator Alyssa Weathersby, with a script by EMAP artistic director David McCormick.
EARLIER THIS SEASON
|
ALL WHO WANDER
A BENEFIT CONCERT FOR SIN BARRERAS Friday, October 2, 2026, at 7:30pm Christ Episcopal Church 120 W. High Street, Charlottesville VA 22902 ADMISSION: A DONATION OF ANY SIZE TO SIN BARRERAS |
|
Join Early Music Access Project artists David McCormick (violin, vielle, rebec), Tracy Cowart (voice, harp, percussion), Brian Kay (voice, plucked strings), and Sian Ricketts (voice, recorders, douçaines) for All Who Wander, a richly diverse program chronicling the struggles of those separated from their loved ones. The program includes 13th-century Cantigas de Santa Maria, 18th-century Scottish tunes, and even a "retro" version of a Bob Dylan tune.
Admission to this concert is a donation of any size to Sin Barreras (Without Barriers), a local nonprofit connecting Spanish speakers and recent immigrants with resources from food to interpretation to legal support. Today, with so many immigrants facing detention and deportation, EMAP is proud to support the work of Sin Barreras with this concert. Though many of the texts in this concert are centuries old, the theme of separation from loved ones is timeless and is meant to bring attention both to the cruelty of current immigration policies and the tireless work of Sin Barreras and other local organizations to provide support at a critical moment.
Admission to this concert is a donation of any size to Sin Barreras (Without Barriers), a local nonprofit connecting Spanish speakers and recent immigrants with resources from food to interpretation to legal support. Today, with so many immigrants facing detention and deportation, EMAP is proud to support the work of Sin Barreras with this concert. Though many of the texts in this concert are centuries old, the theme of separation from loved ones is timeless and is meant to bring attention both to the cruelty of current immigration policies and the tireless work of Sin Barreras and other local organizations to provide support at a critical moment.
|
Tracy Cowart enjoys a wide range of musical interests, from twelfth-century monophony to American old-time music. Praised by the New York Times as “the real attraction” with a voice that is “light and lithe,” Tracy has performed with period ensembles including Apollo’s Fire, La Donna Musicale, Musica Sacra, the Newberry Consort, Rose of the Compass, Severall Friends, and the Washington Bach Consort.
|
|
|
Brian Kay is the artistic director of the early music meets early theater group Theatro, and oversaw their international recording of music from the plays of William Shakespeare. He also works as a recording artist for the Netflix music lab and is a featured soloist on the soundtrack of their original series' The Witcher and The Decameron and created arrangements of Russian folk songs for their upcoming Guillermo del Toro film Frankenstein.
|
|
|
David McCormick is artistic director of Early Music Access Project, executive director of Early Music America, a founding member of Brooklyn-based medieval ensemble Alkemie, and a 2020 and 2026 fellow of the International Center for Jefferson Studies. He plays a violin by Jonathan Vacanti, a vielle by Karl Dennis, and a rebec by Kate McWilliams.
|
|
|
Sian Ricketts enjoys a multi-faceted career as a period woodwinds specialist, singer, and medieval pedagogue; she is a core member of Piffaro and Alkemie, and she also performs and records medieval, Renaissance, and baroque chamber music with ensembles including Trobár, Makaris, Theotokos, Science Ficta, and Apollo’s Fire. Sian has served on the faculties of Fordham University, Amherst Early Music Festival, and Pinewoods.
|
|