ABOUT US
L’Isola [Lee-so-lah] is not a choir; it consists of 4-6 soloists. Consort singing, one to a part, is exposed and technically demanding. We strive not for ‘blend’ but for unity of sound, enriched by individual colour in a “creative democracy” which favours real-time artistic decision-making over predefined rules. The group hope you will experience the difference through sound: raw, organic, unfiltered, immersive.
Directed by Matthew Alec Gouldstone, L’Isola is also an incubator for the cream of young vocal talent emerging from the University of Cambridge and its world-class chapel choirs. The finest voices are hand-picked from within these institutions and then exposed to cutting-edge research and the highest standards of performance practise to equip them for careers within Early Music. During this process, members of L’Isola are trained to read fluently from original manuscripts and performances represent this methodology.
In an academic context, L’Isola functions as a specialist performance arm of the early music research and development lab at the University of Cambridge (Cambridge Early Music Consort) directed by Matthew Gouldstone and Edward Wickham. L’Isola also works in close partnership with CIRS (Cambridge Institute for Renaissance Studies) and the Journal of 16th Century Music in addition to various other arts and education establishments. L’Isola therefore brings to audiences the fruits of Cambridge’s pioneering scholarship on music from the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, providing a new understanding about the way music was written and performed.
BIOGRAPHIES
Creative Director
Matthew Gouldstone is a singer, director, and consultant on early music performance, specialising in polyphony from Europe pre-1650. He has previously been a research fellow at Katholiek Universiteit (Leuven, Belgium) and a visiting fellow at Harvard University, as well as directing historical musical events at All Souls College, Oxford. In 2022 Matthew began an affiliation with the University of Cambridge (St Catharine’s College) which continues to this day, and he is now found within the university as a Senior Research Associate at Peterhouse. His research focuses on two specific elements: Polyphony from England and the Low Countries (c.1450-1500) and the late Italian polyphonic madrigal (c.1550-1600). In a consultancy capacity he has partnered with institutions including University of Florida, Universität Salzburg, Accademia Filarmonica Verona, and the University of Sheffield (amongst others) on specific projects involving the connection between performance and historical musicology.
Since 2005 Matthew’s work as a performer has taken him across the globe and will most likely be known under the guise of Capilla Flamenca, where he was employed as permanent bass for numerous years. In addition to this, work as an independent freelance artist with ensembles including the Tallis Scholars, Huelgas Ensemble, Cappella Pratensis, La Grande Chapelle, Cinquecento, Vox Luminis (and most other European vocal ensembles of note) has formed the cornerstone of his career. He has directed worldwide and recently founded the research and development lab that is CEMC (Cambridge Early Music Consort) alongside Edward Wickham (The Clerks). This environment allows the finest choral scholars from across the University of Cambridge the opportunity to explore and further their exposure to music pre-1600, and also facilitates the promotion of high-quality performance as a research methodology. In addition, there is continual pedagogic work on the ability to read and sing fluently from source notation - a skill-set that is integral to all of Matthew’s work.
SINGER PROFILES
Here at L’Isola positivity is a hugely important facet to how we do what we do.
To that end, we wanted to introduce some of the singers to you from within.
Helen's outgoing warmth and tenacity has shaped L'Isola from the very beginning. Not only does she do a huge amount of the brainwork behind the scenes of L'Isola, but she brings a powerful and expressive tone to the stage, in the dancing heights and rich middle range of the Cantus voice. Having studied for a BA in Music at the University of York, she has a vibrant background of research and performing experience. Luckily for us she also has a knack for video editing and her favourite L'Isola moments are often watching back the copious "bloopers" and rehearsal outtakes! Her top listening recommendation would be the madrigals of Sigismondo d’India.
Amy, a.k.a. super alto, is going into her third year studying Music at Selwyn College, Cambridge. She enjoys the challenge of singing soprano parts, alto parts, and even tenor parts in any clef that comes her way. Not only does Amy provide the rich and colourful alto voice for the group, but she is also the resident pop song expert, finding any opportunity for a smiley sing-along in between recording takes. She truly brings joy to the music making at L’Isola!
June has been an exciting new presence at L’isola, and her warm and bubbly personality is always welcome in and out of the groups commitments and trips to the pub. She holds a rich number of musical and non-musical interests; whilst reading music at Cambridge, she balanced a commitment to L’isola with an organ scholarship at St Catharine’s college. Her love for the renaissance sound-world and the organ is rivalled by her passion for popular chart hitters of the 20th century, where she has an avid interest in the Eurovision Song Contest. Alongside loving the game of finding lesser-known gems of the Renaissance, June’s heart belongs to 70’s rock band ‘Steely Dan’. Outside of musical interests she enjoys a competitive board game such as Chinese checkers with friends and family. We all look forward to hearing her beautiful one-of-a-kind voice, and spending more time with her over the coming years.
Rob, affectionately known as Dobby, is our lovely tenor. Being half Dutch, he exudes a certain European charm, with an ever-present smile on his face. Applauded by other singers for his confident embrace of mistakes, he brings a unique and endearing quality to each performance. Despite his youthful appearance, Rob possesses a wealth of singing experience. After graduating from Royal Holloway, Rob lent his talents to the choir of Jesus College, Cambridge, in addition to singing with L’Isola. In his spare time, Rob also helps to run L’Isola’s social media. Rob’s infectious positivity and enthusiasm make him a cherished member of the group.
Conor (who has a plethora of nicknames) is our (other) lovable tenor. Conor has been with L'Isola since before it was L'Isola! Conor's love of the madrigal is comes of how varied each individual piece is within the madrigal style. He has an undeniable love (combined with an analytical eye) of musical structure, with a preference for composers and music from the 1560s. Outside of singing, Conor is L'Isola's audio engineer and spends a lot of time trying various microphone set-ups for our recordings.