Shirley Hunt makes herself known in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond as a rising star in the field of historical performance. Ms. Hunt performs on baroque cello and viola da gamba with Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, the American Bach Soloists, Musica Pacifica, Agave Baroque, Sonoma Bach, and the cello duo Bradamante. Other recent engagements include performances with Portland Baroque Orchestra, Musica Angelica, San Francisco Renaissance Voices, Berkeley Opera, Archetti, Bach Collegium San Diego, and Faire Violls. In addition to numerous orchestral and chamber performances, Ms. Hunt also appears as a recitalist and concerto soloist
across the United States and Europe.

Elinor Frey, Cello
Hailed as an “Impeccable cellist” by Montreal’s La Presse, “A superb cellist” by the Syracuse Post-Standard, and an “unquestionable and robust talent” by the Giornale di Brescia, Elinor Frey’s recent accolades include the 2009/10 Fulbright Grant to Italy, as well as the Social Sciences and Humanities Research (SSHRC) Canada Graduate Scholarship, and a Canada Council for the Arts grant facilitating her work on Italian baroque and modern unaccompanied Cello music. Recognized for presenting dynamic and personal performances for her audiences, recent seasons have brought Elinor to both North America and Europe, such as performing Bernstein’s “Three Meditations” with the Grand Junction Symphony, Colorado, Schumann Cello Concerto with the Rogue Valley Symphony in Ashland, Oregon, recitals and master classes at Istanbul Technical University, Turkey, and, as a baroque cellist, concerts with Ensemble Caprice, Ensemble Masques, Les Idees Hereuses, Jefferson Baroque, and the cello duo, Bradamante.
Elinor’s recent appearances have included recitals and master classes at the American Academy in Rome, Cornell University, Dartmouth University, Bowdoin College, Mesa State University, and Ithaca College and as cellist of Ensemble KORE in Montreal, Quebec. Her debut album, Dialoghi, was released in 2008 on the Yarlung Records label and is titled for the solo work composed for her by Steven Stucky. Passionate advocate of new and early music, Elinor plays on a beautiful 1962 Mario Gadda cello, an unnamed Klengenthal-style baroque cello from the mid-18th century, and baroque, transitional, and modern bows by Begin, Dickson, and Espey, respectively.
Currently Doctor of Music candidate at McGill University, where she is also a course instructor, Elinor studies baroque cello with Paolo Beschi in Como, Italy, and in Montreal with Susie Napper, as well as modern cello with Matt Haimovtiz. She received a Master of Music degree from the Juilliard School and a B.M. from the Mannes College of Music. Elinor has served on numerous faculties including the Ithaca College Summer Chamber Music Institute, CAMMAC Ontario, the Ithaca Suzuki Institute, and Orvieto Musica in Italy.