In Nomine Ensemble is an NYC-based early music ensemble consisting of Jimmy Drancsak (Baroque violin), Mei Stone (Baroque flute and recorder), Morgan Davison (Baroque bassoon), and Hanbyeol Lee (harpsichord).
Graduates of The Juilliard School, the group challenges traditional baroque performance practice with their unique instrumentation and diverse musical backgrounds. The members of the ensemble have individually appeared at prestigious venues such as Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, The Italian Academy at Columbia University, Cultuurkoepel Heiloo, Lebuïnuskerk Deventer, Smetana Hall, and Amare Den Haag and programs such as Boston Early Music Festival, Music Before 1800, and the Aspen Music Festival. Outside of classical and baroque music, they have received training in American, Scottish, and east Asian traditional performance.
In Nomine–which translates from Latin to “in the name of”--explores familiar and lesser-known Renaissance and Baroque works with an attitude of play and curiosity. In the name of curiosity, equity, and identity, they challenge the traditional Baroque trio sonata with their unique instrumentation and backgrounds while performing on historically accurate instruments and styles.
Through Instagram posts and interactive concerts, they focus on exploring underrepresented composers and repertoire and recontextualizing Baroque canonic works for modern audiences. They have received support from The Juilliard School, Gotham Early Music Scene, and Silentwoods Collective. They are also featured artists with Sacred Music at Columbia University, The Bohemians Musician Club NYC, Off the Dock Chamber Festival in Skaneateles, New York and have participated in the Avaloch Farm Music Institute Residency Program.
Residency project:
In Nomine Ensemble is proposing a residency at the Foundation Les Arts Florissants from June 10th to June 24th, 2024 in Thiré, France.
“We will work on three projects during the residency at Thiré: Recreation of French trio sonatas, studying Telemann's Paris quartet, and recording Early Music Advent Calendar 2024. These endeavors will require a significant amount of time to plan, arrange the program, and rehearse.
We are going to study Gaspard Le Roux's Pièces de clavessin and learn how he created Trio sonatas out of harpsichord music. Therefore, we can apply the research to ensemble music with the balance of the sound and harmony. Furthermore, we are going to rehearse selected pieces from The Paris quartets by Georg Philipp Telemann. These repertoire will be recorded partially, and we will have a mini livestream concert on June 17th through our Instagram (@innomineensemble).
After the residency, In Nomine Ensemble will perform the repertoire in our fall concerts in New York City and Philadelphia, USA. In Nomine Early Music Advent Calendar, to be presented from December 1st to 24th, 2024. We plan to rehearse and record 24 pieces, including Oswald’s “Airs for the Seasons: Winter,” selections from Praetorius’s “Terpsichore”, and Charpentier’s “Messe de Minuit pour Noël.” We started our annual Advent Calendar series in December 2022 on our Instagram (@innomineensemble), posting daily recordings along with a brief history explaining the context of each piece. The most recent Advent Calendar series engaged with 8,110 accounts in December 2023.
We proudly showcase our distinctive instrumentation, deviating from the conventional Baroque trio sonata ensembles. With the inclusion of bassoon instead of cello or viola da gamba, and flute and recorder in lieu of additional violins, we explore repertoire with fresh perspectives on breath, song, and timbre. This unconventional approach involves arranging, improvisation, and extensive research, challenging the historical performance practice norms. With our combined backgrounds in American fiddling, Asian traditional music, Western classical music, Western and Central European baroque music, and new music, we have been able to produce a variety of concerts and recordings introducing audiences to the diverse yet intricately interconnected world of 16th – 18th century repertoire.
Residency at the Foundation Les Arts Florissants would provide an ideal setting to further these musical discoveries, supporting the professional growth of In Nomine as a robust and flourishing early music ensemble."
Return from residency:
“In Nomine Ensemble had an absolutely wonderful time during the residency in Thiré. We believe that the Odyssée program is incredibly important for up-and-coming groups like ours, and it was truly enlightening for all of us. With great support from Les Arts Florissants and ACCR, we were able to focus on our projects, bond as members, and be creative in the beautiful, stress-free environment. Our time was extremely valuable, both as an ensemble and individually. We are very grateful for this experience and the opportunity.”