SoHIP - A 23-Year History Of Early Music In New England

The Society for Historically Informed Performance (SoHIP), was formed by members of the local early music community in anticipation of the 1987 Boston Early Music Festival. The Festival, with its substantial media presence and internationally renowned performers, made audiences in the Boston area more aware of early music than ever before, yet it was very difficult for all but a handful of New England’s finest players to find suitable opportunities to perform. Hoping to build on the enthusiasm generated by the Festival, members of seven groups collaborated that summer to produce a concert series to showcase the many talented early musicians residing in the Boston area. Their purpose was not only to share in the work and the expenses (committing to a regular schedule, producing a flyer, advertising, etc.), but also to give a helping hand to other groups that were trying to get a start in the field. The Board of Directors consisted of performing musicians who lent their time and expertise to the endeavor. The work of putting on the concert series was shared (i.e., one group “hosted” a concert while another performed). When SoHIP obtained its nonprofit status and generous friends began to make donations, it was clear the SoHIP Summer Concert Series would continue.

Many things have changed throughout the years, but not the board's dedication to locating and presenting the finest emerging and established local early music artists. Some recent changes include:

• We have moved our Wednesday night concerts to a beautiful new venue (complete with Tiffany stained glass windows!) at the Chapel at West Parish in Andover.
• Our board has taken on additional members, both musicians and non-musicians, and is constantly improving its ability to manage a growing network of artists;
• We have received grants from the local cultural councils in both Weston and Andover

As our 23rd anniversary approaches, it is important to note that, to date, SoHIP has presented 358 concerts featuring over 75 different ensembles. A number of groups and individuals who participated in the Summer Concert Series have gone on to become virtual household names in the early music community -- The King’s Noyse, Ken Pierce Baroque Dance Company, Musicians of the Old Post Road, Liber Unusualis, Pamela Dellal, Ellen Hargis, Fred Jodry, Pamela Murray, Peter Bloom, Olav Chris Henriksen, Roxanne Layton, Carol Lewis, Sarah Mead, Robert Mealy, Scott Metcalfe, Roy Sansom, Peter Sykes, John Tyson, Emily Walhout — and the list goes on and on.

We are very proud to have been able to provide quality performance opportunities for up-and-coming and established New England early music groups for the past twenty years. As we look to the future, we are as committed as ever to sharing our love of early music with Boston area audiences. We hope you will attend one of our concerts and find out why.