“Virtuosic command of subtilior music in a flowing, exact yet seemingly effortless way” and a “refined sense for personalized, highly expressive interpretations” aptly capture the artistic voice of Ensemble Pampinea.
Dedicated to the performance of Medieval and Renaissance music, Ensemble Pampinea crafts vivid, meticulously researched programmes that interweave music with broad artistic and cultural contexts, inspiring joy, curiosity, and connection across audiences of all ages. From presenting the world in Boccaccio’s Decameron alongside Trecento Florentine repertoire, to tracing the turns of Fortuna through Ars Nova and Ars Subtilior works, to illuminating the sound world surrounding Jan van Eyck’s paintings with Burgundian music, Pampinea creates immersive and evocative concert experiences. (Our Programmes)
Founded in 2022, Ensemble Pampinea has rapidly established an international reputation, with successes recognised both in competition and on prestigious stages. The ensemble was awarded First Prize at the London Early Music Young Ensemble Competition in 2022 and subsequently performed at the 2023 London International Festival of Early Music. Further distinctions include finalist at the 2023 Musikfestspiele Potsdam Sanssouci competition and selection for the 2026 International Young Artist Presentation in Antwerp. Comprising graduates of the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis, the ensemble performs and tours widely across Europe and beyond. Highlights include a 2024 tour of South and West England and a critically acclaimed tour in Canada in January 2026, alongside appearances at festivals in Switzerland, Lithuania, Slovenia, Italy and the Netherlands. (Upcoming concerts)
Under the direction of recorder/ keyboard player and musicologist Dr. Fiona Kizzie Lee, Ensemble Pampinea reimagines early music through a compelling balance of historical insight and communicative vividness, engaging both seasoned and new listeners alike. The ensemble showcases a rich palette of instruments, including recorder, organetto, fiddle, pipe and tabor, clavisimbalum, and the human voice, brought together in performances of striking colour, nuance, and vitality. (Our videos)