Diapason Ensemble

media release: Les Muses de Versailles - Elegant Sounds of the French Court 

Featuring music by: Marais, Lully, Royer, Francoeur, Couperin, and Morel. 

Tickets available here or at the door; $30 General $15 Students.

The Diapason Ensemble (Benjamin Lenzmeier, historical violin; Eric Miller, viola da gamba; Sean Kleve, harpsichord) specializes in performing the exquisite and vast chamber music repertoire of the 17th and 18th centuries, bringing old sounds to life in contemporary times on historical instruments and technique.

About the Performers

Benjamin Lenzmeier studied modern violin with David Perry at the Mead Witter School of Music at UW-Madison. His exposure to early music began playing at a young age and he has since studied with many leading violinists, including Marc Destrubé. He has performed around the Midwest with ensembles including the Lyra Baroque Orchestra, Madison Bach Musicians, the Wisconsin Baroque Ensemble, and Just Bach. Mr. Lenzmeier is currently a student at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague.

Sean Kleve, percussionist, composer, conductor, harpsichordist, and educator, is the founder of Madison’s premiere experimental percussion ensemble, Clocks in Motion (2011-2022). Sean is an extra percussionist and timpanist with many of the leading orchestras in the Midwest including the Madison Symphony, Quad City Symphony, and the Madison Bach Musicians.

In addition to percussion, Sean is a professional harpsichordist and promoter of early keyboard historical instruments. He has presented his keynote lecture, Bach on the Wrong Instrument in residencies across the Midwest. Sean holds degrees from Manhattan School of Music, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Baldwin-Wallace Conservatory.

Eric Miller is a viola da gambist and cellist (baroque and modern) based in the driftless region of Wisconsin, frequently performing solo and chamber recitals. He has also performed with the Wisconsin Baroque Ensemble, Madison Bach Musicians, the Eurythmy Spring Valley Ensemble, Just Bach, Musica Maxima, Madison Choral Project, Madison Youth Choirs, and American Players Theater. Beyond the sphere of classical music, he has recorded and released several hours of improvised lo-fi electronic music with his electronic duo, Basidium. As an educator, he currently maintains Suzuki cello studios in Viroqua and Madison, taught public school orchestra for many years, and has taught at the Madison Early Music Festival, the Blue Lake Family Suzuki Camp, the Madison Bach Musicians Summer Chamber Music Workshop, and is the director of the Viola da Gamba Society of America's Young Players' Weekend workshop. He holds degrees from Northern Illinois University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.