Chicago-based Early Music Ensemble Third Coast Baroque to Close

In Wednesday’s (1/17) WFMT.com (Chicago), Adela Skowronski reports, “Third Coast Baroque announced the end of their run as an ensemble on January 17, 2024. The Chicago-based group was a leader in the field of Baroque music, presenting engaging, educational concerts over the last seven years…. Executive Director Angela Young Smucker cited financial concerns as a contributor to the group’s disbanding. Like many groups across the nation, Third Coast Baroque faced diminishing audience sizes and reduced grant funding possibilities after years of concert disruptions by COVID-19. Over the years, Third Coast Baroque Concerts ranged from Handel rarities and romantic madrigals to undiscovered operas and sacred poetry … and continued to host live streamed productions throughout the pandemic. Education and accessibility were parts of Third Coast Baroque’s mission as they introduced a ‘pay what you can’ model for tickets. Artistic Director Rubén Dubrovsky strived to redefine modern day assumptions about Baroque Music, using his knowledge of classical and folk music to shed light on the African and Latin roots of the genre. Third Coast Baroque was established in 2016 by conductor Rubén Dubrovsky, mezzo-soprano Angela Young Smucker, and soprano Nathalie Colas.”