About Chicago Recorder Trio - Testimonials - Videos - Programming - Performance Archive
"If you’ve heard this group perform before, you know that Lisette, Mirja, and Patrick are not only brilliant recorder players, but that they also bring an intelligence and wit to their programming and performing that serves to elevate all of their concertizing to a sublime level." - Peter Beck, audience member
Chicago Recorder Trio (CRT) is a Chicago-based professional recorder trio whose mission is to bring early music to the contemporary world, present contemporary music on one of the earliest known instruments, and showcase the traditional school instrument with thoughtful and memorable programming for recorder ensemble. Referred to in many languages as the "sweet flute," the recorder is a dynamic and sonorous instrument in the hands of CRT members Lisette Kielson, Patrick O’Malley, and Mirja Lorenz.
Three of the Midwest’s premier recorder soloists, chamber musicians, and orchestral players, members of CRT have performed in Europe, across the United States, and in their home base of Chicago with, among others, Bach Cantata Vespers, Bach Week Festival, Chicago Opera Theater, Haymarket Opera Company, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Music of the Baroque, Rendezvous Arts, Rockefeller Chapel Choir, and Chicago’s Classical Radio Performance Series “Live from WFMT.” Performing on over two dozen beautiful instruments, Chicago Recorder Trio has been invited to perform on the following Chicago-area concert series: Chicago Columbia Club, Early Music at the Byron Colby Barn, Musician Club of Women’s Artists in Recital Series, St. John’s Concert Series Presents, American Recorder Society Chicago Chapter, and a bit further south at St. Louis’ Early Music Missouri (EMMo).
More Testimonials
“Your trio program was a complete delight and I have heard nothing but enthusiastic comments about the music and the ensemble’s playing.” “The early repertoire showed off not just individual chops but the lovely ensemble blend, musicality and HIP sensibilities.” “And the new pieces . . . went over very well with an audience expecting just an Early Music concert.” “You all set the space vibrating.”
- Jeff Noonan, PhD
Early Music Missouri, Director
Listen to CRT - from Music Institute of Chicago, Nichols Concert Hall, Evanston, IL 2023
Prelude. Adagio (from Sonata op. 1/3) by Johann Mattheson (1681-1764)
Bevin’s Browning by Elway Bevin (1554-1638)
Links to CRT’s Performance in St. Louis at Early Music Missouri (November 2023)
William Williams’ Sonata ‘In Imitation of Birds’ (Adagio - Allegro)
Matthew Locke’s Suite I (Courante - Ayre - Sarabande)
Johann Mattheson’s Sonata op.1/3 (Allegro - Chaconne)
CRT’s Programming
Sweet Discord
Chicago Recorder Trio presents Sweet Discord, a program that undulates between tranquil consonances and ravishing dissonances. CRT performs on dozens of recorders from soprano to sub great bass, spanning five octaves and seven centuries of music. Journey with CRT as it contemplates a sacred round, flirts with jazz, and dances through suites and sonatas. Animal calls evoking chirping birds and braying donkeys add to the controlled disarray! Relish the sounds of Sweet Discord as crafted by composers such as J.S. Bach, Matthew Locke, Johann Mattheson, William Williams, Pete Rose, and Patrick O’Malley.
Our Favorite Things!
Founded in 2020, Chicago Recorder Trio performed Our Favorite Things to a solely live-streamed audience after rehearsing entirely via digital programs and platforms. This program represents our pure joy, optimism, and gratitude for making music together and sharing it with our audiences. With music by Bach, Bevin, and Uccellini and from 14th century Spain to 20th century America, we simply remember our favorite things!
Winter’s Charm: Baroque Delights and Seasonal Joy
Celebrate with Chicago Recorder Trio as it welcomes in the season. Winter? Bring it on—it provides the perfect setting for CRT’s dozens of recorders and centuries of music from lands near and far. Enjoy repertoire from the Baroque to Jazz, with sprinkles of seasonal delights and merriment!
Performance Archive
May 19, 2024
Chicago Chapter, ARS
Covenant Presbyterian Church
2012 West Dickens, Chicago IL
December 10, 2023
Early Music at the Byron Colby Barn
Byron Colby Barn at Prairie Crossing
1561 Jones Point Road
Grayslake, IL
November 5, 2023
Early Music Missouri
St. Peter’s Episcoplan Church
110 North Warson Road
St. Louis, MO
March 12, 2023
St. John’s Concert Series Presents
St. John’s Episcopal Church
3857 N Kostner Ave
Chicago, IL
December 19, 2021
Chicago Chapter, ARS
Yuletide Concert
Covenant Presbyterian Church of Chicago
2012 W Dickens Avenue
Chicago, IL
December 9, 2021
Chicago Columbia Club
Weihnachtsprogramm
Women’s Athletic Club, Ballroom
626 North Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL
April 9, 2021
Musicians Club of Women
Artists in Recital Series
Fourth Presbyterian Church, Buchanan Chapel
Chicago, IL