Past Events
Hidden and Forbidden: The World of the Medieval Cantrix
Saturday, May 30, 2026 | 8:00 pm
Saint James Cathedral, Seattle
Tickets: $30, Pay-as-you-can
Behind the walls of the medieval cloister, there flourished a musical realm hidden from outsiders by circumstance, tradition, or design. While women religious started out with similar opportunities to praise God in song enjoyed by their male counterparts, over the course of the Middle Ages, their singing came to be seen as inappropriate and problematic. Cantrices were deemed dangerous – likened to “harlots in the temple” and “Sirens” who inspired in their listeners lascivious thoughts and weakness in body and mind. Yet the sisters were not easily silenced, and despite the efforts of the authorities, they developed discrete musical traditions that were shared among convents of various orders— with some musical practices safeguarded from the outside world, and others contested, purged, and banned. In this program, we explore their hidden, forbidden world.
Online ticket sales for this event have closed. Please come to the south (courtyard) entrance to purchase passes/tickets.
A Medieval Women’s Worldview
Sunday, May 3, 2026 | 7:00 pm
Wallingford United Methodist Church | 2115 N 42 St.
Suggested Donation: $20 (at the door) or pay-as-you-can
All proceeds benefit the Medieval Women’s Choir
The overwhelming majority of the music and poetry from the Middle Ages is from a man’s point of view. Whether from sacred or secular sources the texts give us a lot of information about men and and the man’s world, but not so much about women.
In this performance we will take a look at the lives of medieval women, with music from three primary sources: the Llibre Vermell of Montserrat, the Cantigas de Amigo of Martin Codex, and the manuscripts of Hildegard von Bingen, abbess and leading female composer of the time.
Marian Seibert, MWC’s soloist and Assistant Director, joins forces with MWC’s outreach ensemble, Cantiga, and instrumentalists Bill McJohn and Michael LaGaly for a peek into the worldview of a medieval woman: music from Hildegard’s convent, music for a pilgrimage to Montserrat, and music for a trip to the beach at Vigo.
Marian Seibert, soprano
Bill McJohn, harp
with Cantiga
Sally Mitchell, director
A Sherwood Forest Frolic
Saturday, March 28, 2026 | 2:00 – 5:00 pm
Saint Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral, Seattle
Tickets: $65
It’s the party of the year! Join Robin Hood, Maid Marian, and the good people of Nottinghamshire for a celebration of food, drink, dance, music, and storytelling. The ever-changing semi-annual Frolic has become a beloved Seattle tradition. This year, you can eat, drink, sing, and be a part of Robin’s merry band—a sure cure for whatever “ales” you!
Mysteries of St. Nicholas
Saturday, December 13, 2025 | 8:00 pm
Saint James Cathedral, Seattle
Tickets: $30, Pay-as-you-can
Far from being the jolly St. Nick of popular imagination, the real St. Nicholas, a fourth-century Anatolian bishop, was a miracle worker so renowned that Roman Emperor Theodosius II established his first church just a century after his death. The many accounts of his life, spanning over a thousand years, praise him for his piety and generosity, often shown through secret gift-giving. (Sound familiar?) Due to his many interventions for those in need, he came to be seen as the patron saint of sailors, merchants, archers, repentant thieves, clergy, children, brewers, and many more. The works in his honor, including musical plays, make frequent mention of incidents from his life. Join the Medieval Women’s Choir for a look at the real Old St. Nick!
Online ticket sales for this concert have ended. Tickets are available at the South Box Office 7:30 – 8:00 pm.
Celebrating Artistry: A Fundraiser for the Medieval Women’s Choir
Saturday, November 15, 2025 | 2:00 – 4:00 pm
Seattle Swedish Club
Tickets: $65
Fika is the wonderful Swedish tradition of pausing to relax, spend time in good company, drink some tea or coffee, and enjoy some tasty snacks. We cordially invite you to “fika” with us to support the growing outreach and education activities of the MWC. This event includes a performance by Cantiga, the new outreach ensemble, an art exhibition with pieces from members of the MWC, and silent auction baskets. We will serve coffee and tea, paired with treats from local Scandinavian Byen Bakeri. You bring the good company. Together, we will “fika” and raise funds to celebrate the artistry of the MWC.
Zomerzang 2025
Psalmody and Medieval Chant
July 7, 14, 21, 28, 2025
7:00-9:00 pm | 7400 Woodlawn Center
Course fee: $100, or $35 per session | 18 and under $40, or $10 per session
Psalmody, the chanting of psalms, was the cornerstone of medieval chant. It was the largest part of the sung prayer of communities of monks and nuns and the core of their inherited repertoire. It was also the source of the modal system, which became a central organizing principle for later repertoires, both sacred and secular.
Each week, we’ll visit a related pair of modes: for each, we’ll chant two psalms and (as time permits) other melodies in that mode.
Come experience the medieval modes through this ancient contemplative practice!
Zomerzang is a summer choir for the entire community. Music reading ability is helpful but not required. Each session will be self-contained; attend as many or as few as will work best for you.
All ages are welcome; there are no gender restrictions.
Led by Bill McJohn.
Summer of Love
Saturday, June 14th, 2025 | 8:00 pm
University Congregational Church of Christ
4515 16th Ave NE Seattle
General Admission: $30
Pay-as-you Will, Students & Veterans: donation
The cadence of medieval life was deeply grounded in the rhythms of nature. Medieval poets and songsters, their lives closely entwined with the natural world, praised summer’s explosion of natural beauty, describing fields of wildflowers, surging brooks, and the songs of the nightingale. The long, warm days were also the time for rich social interactions: for dancing, feasting, and, with a bit of luck, loving. Join the MWC’s summer celebration! Join us for celebratory reception following the concert as we raise a glass to celebrate 35 years of music making!
Penitentia
Saturday, April 5th, 2025 | 8:00 pm
Saint James Cathedral, Seattle
General Admission: $30
Pay as you will, Students, & Veterans: Donation
Lent, the penitential season preceding Easter, is a time for reflection upon human frailty, sorrow for our sinful nature, and the desire to make amends. There is a rich tradition of song that reflects this medieval reality, inspiring believers to repent and guiding them on the path towards salvation. Full of beauty and pathos, this is some of the most profound music in the medieval canon.
The Greenest Branch: Music of Hildegard von Bingen
Featuring: Marian Seibert, soprano, & William McJohn, medieval harp
Sunday, March 9, 2025, 3:00 pm
Woodlawn Hall: 7400 Woodlawn Ave NE, Seattle
Reception for the artists following the concert
Suggested Donation for Admission: $20
Join MWC artists Molly Seibert and Bill McJohn as they present an afternoon concert featuring the music of the 11th-century mystic and abbess Hildegard von Bingen, known as the “Sybill of the Rhine” for her visionary and prophetic verses. Seibert, a prominent performer, teacher, and scholar of Hildegard’s music, is joined by McJohn, an accomplished teacher and performer of medieval music. Seibert is the MWC’s Assistant Conductor and a principal soloist, and McJohn serves on the faculty of our Zomerzang and Musica Practica programs in addition to supporting the choir as our principal “accompanist” on medieval harp. Both Seibert and McJohn transcribe and arrange medieval music for performance, and present this concert in support of the MWC’s ongoing mission to share, teach, and illuminate the music of the medieval period.
Tenebris ad Lucem
Saturday, December 7, 2024 | 8:00 pm
Saint James Cathedral, Seattle
General Admission: $30
Pay as you will, Veterans, and Students: Donation
In the medieval mind, darkness and light were closely related to death and life, evil and good, ignorance and enlightenment. The progression from Advent, a time of anticipation and preparation, to the celebration of the Nativity was seen as a transition de tenebris ad lucem—from darkness into light. This holiday season, join the MWC on this medieval musical journey.
Tenebriis ad Lucem Program (Download)
Visions and Miracles
Saturday, June 8th, 2024 | 8:00 pm
Saint James Cathedral, Seattle
General Admission: $30
Pay as you will, Student, & Veterans as able
Visions and miracles play a fundamental role in the foundational narratives and sacred texts of Christianity. It is with a miracle at the wedding feast in Cana that Jesus began his public ministry, and miracles are held up in the gospels as one mechanism through which the skeptical are brought to the faith. An acceptance of biblical truth requires the acceptance of a world in which visions and miracles are indisputably real.
No wonder, then, that medieval Christians experienced the world in the same way: celebrating, inventing, narrating, and preserving a dizzying array of visions and miracles. This is a reflection of their intense spirituality and their casual acceptance of the role of the supernatural in daily life. Accounts of miracles and visions permeated the music of the era, often pushing singers to create their most expressive works. Join the MWC as we explore the musical mysticism of the Middle Ages.
Visions Program (Download)
Spring Frolic: Canterbury Tales
April 6, 2024 | 2:00 – 4:30 pm
Epiphany Episcopal Parish, Seattle
Tickets: $65 adults, $25 children 8 – 17
Enter into Geoffrey Chaucer’s Tabard Inn as pilgrims gather to prepare for their journey to Canterbury. This peek into Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales will be a festive, family-friendly afternoon filled with stories (from The Canterbury Tales, of course!), music, dancing, and plenty of food and beverages. People of note (real and fictional) will be on hand – Geoffrey Chaucer himself, Lady Philippa Chaucer, the Wife of Bath, and more. You never know who you might encounter! Wear a costume, or not, and vote for the best story told. The afternoon features performances by the Medieval Women’s Choir, directed by maestro Eric Mentzel. Enjoy mead, wine, beer, sparkling water, heavy hors d’oeuvres, delightful desserts, and a champagne/sparkling juice toast to send our pilgrims on their way! Children aged 8 and up are welcome!
During the event, our guests will be invited to make a donation in support of the Medieval Women’s Choir’s programs. Please consider making a gift at any time during the Frolic, or make your gift in advance to help build the momentum!
Hodie Christus Natus Est!
A Medieval Celebration of the Nativity
Boston Camerata & Medieval Women’s Choir
A co-production of Early Music Seattle &
the Medieval Women’s Choir
Saturday, December 2nd, 2023 | 8:00 pm
Saint James Cathedral, Seattle
The Medieval Women’s Choir and the Boston Camerata come together for a glimpse of Christmas spirituality from Medieval France, Italy, England, Provence, including music of the church and songs of private devotion around the joyous theme of the Nativity. Included are songs to the Virgin Mary, processionals from Saint Martial of Limoges, hymns, lyrics, and miracle ballads, sung in Latin, Old French, Old Provencal, Saxon, interlaced with Medieval English texts.
THE BOSTON CAMERATA
Anne Azéma, voice, hurdy gurdy, bells, direction
Camila Parias, voice
Deborah Rentz-Moore, voice
Shira Kammen, vielle, harp, voice
Christa Patton, harp, winds
Zomerzang 2023
Sally Mitchell, Director
July 10, 17, 24, & 31 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179) was a German Benedictine abbess, writer, philosopher, mystic, visionary, medical writer, and composer. Her music ranges from small-scale chants for liturgical use to larger works, including her morality play, the Ordo Virtutum.
Using both oral transmission and transcriptions we’ll explore some of Hildegard’s smaller works, especially hymns and antiphons. We’ll look at the neumes used in Hildegard’s manuscripts and talk about how they influence our interpretation, and we’ll examine Hildegard’s use of modes.
Hildegard’s songs are unique. Her melodies can rocket upwards through an octave or more in three consecutive notes, and she uses the modal system in a far more flexible way than other contemporary sources of sacred chant.
All singers (both female and male and of all ages) are welcome to experience the music of this extraordinary woman. Music reading ability is not required.
María Estrela do Mar
with Guest Conductor Shira Kammen
Saturday, June 3rd | 8:00 pm
Saint James Cathedral, Seattle
Join us for a musical exploration of Marian music from Mediterranean Lands, including the Iberian Peninsula, Italy, Cyprus, Southern France, Morocco and more, including songs of devotion to the iconic Black Madonnas from those regions. We’ll also dive into music from several important and magnificent manuscripts, among them the Cantigas de Santa Maria, the Las Huelgas Manuscript, the Llibre Vermell, as well as sacred traditional Galician songs, Italian Laude, devotional 15th c. motets from the Burgundian Court on Cyprus, all with a flavor of pilgrimage, joy and awe.
Erika Chang, Marian Seibert, and Linda Strandberg soloists
Michael La Galy, Bill McJohn, Peggy Monroe, and Jim Oakden, instrumentalists
Free admission for children under twelve.
Online ticket sales have closed. Tickets can be purchased at the North (Marion Street) box office.
REVELRY! SOLD OUT
with Guest Conductor Shira Kammen
Saturday, March 25th | 4:00 pm
Woodlawn Sanctuary, Seattle
Celebrate the beginning of spring with delightful medieval music regarding love, nature, frolicking, food & drink, with a handful of opportunities for the audience to take part in song and dance. The greening world, flowering plants, and return of good weather have been cause for celebration in all cultures, and the medieval English & European world are rich with beautiful music expressive of the season. We’ll present secular music from the 12th-15th centuries, both of the court and the country, as well as a few settings of folk ballads that fit with the theme.
With guest artists:
Bill McJohn, harp,
Peggy Monroe, percussion, &
Marian Seibert, soprano
Devotio: Seasonal Music of the Common Life
Saturday, December 3rd | 8:00 pm
Saint James Cathedral, Seattle
Sisters of the Common Life, Brothers of the Common Life: These were terms used in the Middle Ages to refer to religious communities who lived apart from the world. They followed a movement called the Devotio Moderna, a new style of devotion that emphasized individual experience and spiritual fulfillment, and in which music played a crucial role in generating and supporting the piety and emotion needed for adequate faith. But this was nothing new. The music may have been different, but the role of music in the devotional life, be it modern or traditional, was well established, and it led to some of the most inspiring musical creations of the time. Join us as we celebrate the Christmas season by exploring the musical traditions of Devotio in all its aspects.
Note: Online ticket sales have closed.
Night-of tickets can be purchased at the
Marion & Terry (north) entrance of the Cathedral.
Deliverance
Saturday, June 4th, 2022 | 8:00pm
Saint James Cathedral, Seattle
$30 General Admission
Pay-as-you-can for Students, Veterans, and those in financial need
Online tickets sales for this event have closed.
Night of (in person) ticket purchase is available at the North door (Marion & Terry) entrance.
Our recent experience with the Covid epidemic leads us to contemplate how the people of medieval Europe viewed such events. The themes of intercession and deliverance are central to Christian thought, and deliverance from sin, from pestilence, from adversity and from hardship, especially through the intercession of the saints, commonly finds expression in the music of the time. Visions, miracles, and direct interventions from the heavenly realm were part of popular culture and, reflecting a deep spirituality, were never far from the lived experience of believers. They provided consolation in times of loss and the promise of a better future. Help us celebrate our own deliverance by exploring its musical expression from times long past
At this time, we are requiring all singers, staff and audience members to be masked.
Feast of Fools
Saturday, April 2nd 2:30 – 6:00 pm
Epiphany Episcopal Parish, Seattle
General Admission: $65
Join the Medieval Women’s Choir for an afternoon of merriment & tomfoolery, charming company, games, tournaments, circle dances, singalongs, and a concert by your intrepid MWC!
Be entertained by vendors, jugglers, dancers, artists, fortune tellers, champion checkers players, Hildegard (in a rare mood of tomfoolery), Marco Polo, and our own maestro Eric Mentzel with the choir, and lots and lots of fools doing what they do best. Wear a costume or not, enter the Wackiest Hat Contest, watch the Morris Dancers, try the ring toss, balance toilet paper rolls during a precarious stroll, and start your own ad hoc parade! Enjoy mead, wine, punch, heavy hors d’oeuvres, yummy desserts, and a champagne toast to a healthy 2022.
We understand the current situation and are following the news and restrictions with respect to the Covid-19 pandemic and its implications. We are taking every measure to ensure the safety of our guests, vendors, and artists, and we are following all the local regulations regarding mask usage and social distancing.
Music of Mirth
Saturday, December 4th 8:00pm
Saint James Cathedral, Seattle
General Admission: $30
Student, Veteran, Financial Need: Pay-as-you-will
Online ticket sales have closed. Seats can still be purchased at the door (Marion and Terry entrance only.)
Per King County and Seattle requirements, please be prepared to show proof of COVID vaccination or recent (72 hours) negative test result at the door.
Despite the challenges of the past two years, the return to live performances is cause for celebration. The medieval church left us a large, vibrant corpus of music designed to do just that, much of it focused on the miracle of Christmas, on spiritual renewal, and on the feast days that illuminate the darkest days of the year. What better way to make merry than with a live concert?
Zomerzang 2021
Monday evenings, 7:00-8:30 pm PDT
June 21 – August 16
Led by Sally Mitchell and Bill McJohn
All classes will be held via Zoom.
Zomerzang is a summertime collegium for medieval music. Zomerzang 2021 will have offerings for both singers and instrumentalists, plus it’s being kicked off by an Introduction to Medieval Modes. Singers and instrumentalists of all levels are welcome to explore music from 13th-century France.
June 21 – Introduction to Medieval Modes,
Led by Bill McJohn
June 28 – July 19: Zomerzang Ensemble for Instrumentalists,
Led by Sally Mitchell and Bill McJohn
July 26 – August 16: Zomerzang for Singers,
Led by Sally Mitchell
Singers and instrumentalists of all levels are welcome. The Introduction to Medieval Modes on June 21 is included in both the instrumentalists’ and the singers’ classes. Registration fee for instrumental and vocal section includes Introduction to Medieval Modes. (Course descriptions below,.)
L’Histoire d’Ys
Saturday, June 5, 2021 | 7:00pm |Online Event
Admission: $12 per family
From Plato’s description of Atlantis to Lerner and Loewe’s portrayal of Brigadoon, the idea of the lost city has captured the human imagination across millennia. One of the most compelling is the story of Ys, a city built in the early middle ages behind sturdy dykes and sea walls on the coast of Brittany. It quickly became a center of sin and debauchery and was eventually, in an act of divine retribution, reclaimed by the sea.. For this production, we use archival recordings from our musical telling of the “Histoire d’Ys,” combined with a newly created narrative and a rich tapestry of images both ancient and modern to bring this medieval legend to life.
L’Histoire d’Ys 2021 Program (Download)
Link to Video Replay (YouTube)
Zoom Collegium Spring 2021:
Singing Medieval Song and The Birth of Polyphony
Third Sundays, April 18 and May 16 2:00 pm (Pacific)
The MWC presents Zoom Collegium, a pair of workshops on singing medieval music conducted by our Artistic Director, Eric Mentzel. The repertoire of the second workshop will be related to the one before, but the workshops will be designed so that they can also be taken individually. These offerings will take place on Sunday afternoons, April 18 and May 16. Registration is $20 per class, however, cost should not be a barrier to participation (just let us know you’d like to defer the registration fee with a scholarship on the registration form). You may register for either session; however, attendance at both in sequence is recommended.
Sunday, April 18, 2-3:15 PM: Singing Medieval Song: Performing medieval song is full of challenges for the modern singer. Often lacking the familiar organizing elements of harmony and unambiguous rhythm, how do we imbue such music with life and succeed in engaging the listener? In this workshop, we will look at the roots of medieval song and uncover the hidden logic of its modes and structure.
Link to video replay | Link to slides
Sunday, May 16, 2-3:15: The Birth of Polyphony. The virtuoso polyphonic (multi-part) works of the high middle ages are based on an improvisatory art that anyone can learn in the privacy of their home! The basics of this practice are described by medieval writers and can be deduced from pieces preserved in such manuscripts as the Codex Calixtinus, the Codex Las Huelgas, and sources from Notre Dame and St. Martial. In this workshop, we will use these principles to create our own polyphonic masterpieces.
Link to video replay | Link to materials
Behind the Veil:
Hidden Talents of the Medieval Women’s Choir
Video premiere scheduled for Saturday, November 21, 7:00 pm
Now available on YouTube HERE
Pre-event chat with the performing artists and Artistic Director Eric Mentzel, 6:30 pm
Like many musical organizations, our members have numerous talents and accomplishments that generally remain unknown to our audience at large. They are writers, artists, instrumentalists, singers and scholars, and they enrich our community in any number of ways beyond their appearances with the choir. Since the pandemic keeps us from meeting in person with you, and with each other, we thought this would be a good time to step out from behind the veil, and display some of the secret talents of our members. This exclusive online presentation features excerpts from literary works and performances of music from medieval to McCartney, hosted by Artistic Director Eric Mentzel.
Contributing artists include Mary Lynne Evans, Sophia Smith, Dinnen Cleary, Bill McJohn, Ellen Seibert, Candace Robb, Basha Osinski, Alice K. Boatwright, Wendy Joseph, Erika Chang, Mary Ann Hagan, Marian Seibert, Sally Mitchell, and Michael LaGaly, all supported by videographer Ailisa Newhall, sound engineer Kevin Wyatt-Stone, and produced by the MWC’s Artistic Director, Eric
Behind the Veil Program (Download)
Link to Video Replay (YouTube)
Now Make We Mirthë
December 7, 2019 8:00 PM
Saint James Cathedral, Seattle
General admission & discount tickets still available at the door.
In medieval Europe, the Christmas season was always celebrated in a big way. The harvest was in, and the short, cold days of winter were all the inducement needed to stay close to the fire and busy oneself with feasting, merriment and song. One type of song, the carol, was so frequently written with Christmas gatherings in mind that today we can hardly imagine any other kind. The joy of Christmas imbued church music as well with the same tuneful glow. The Medieval Women’s Choir tours England and the Continent to bring you the most inspiring music of the season.
Erika Chang, Marian Seibert, voice
Shulamit Kleinerman, vielle
Bill McJohn, harp
Peggy Monroe, percussion
A Feast for St. James
Saturday, June 15, 2019, 8:00 PM
Saint James Cathedral, Seattle
It happens that one of the earliest and largest written sources of polyphonic music—music for multiple voices—is wholly dedicated to the Feast of St. James as it was celebrated at his great pilgrimage shrine, the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. The Codex Calixtinus was an international effort, but it has been housed in Santiago since the 12th century. The choir and soloists are pleased to bring this music from the Saint’s cathedral in Spain to his Cathedral in Seattle. We will be welcoming Marian Seibert, Erika Chang, Linda Strandberg, Lisa Pontén, Emily Ostrom, and Marjorie Bunday with Bill McJohn as performing artists on our program.
Travelers’ Frolic!
Saturday, May 4th, 2019, 5:00 PM
Epiphany Parish, Seattle
Journey with the Medieval Women’s Choir as we recreate a spring evening shared by medieval travelers. Though travel could be costly and difficult, people often regarded the journeys as adventures, hoping to try new foods, meet new people, refresh their lives, much as we regard modern vacations. Your ticket includes a frolic-filled evening of entertainment and food including hors d’oeuvres, wine, beer, entertainment, dinner, dessert, and a champagne toast. The singers of the Medieval Women’s Choir will offer their voices during the evening, and you will be invited to make your gift in support of one of the most loved institutions in Seattle’s Early Music community.
Hodie!
Saturday, December 15, 2018, 8:00 PM
Saint James Cathedral, Seattle
“Hodie,” or “Today,” is the word that begins any number of songs and texts for Christmas: Today Christ is born! Today the Savior appeared! It was the cue to unleash the greatest celebration of the year. Join us as we unleash our joy in sharing the music with you!
This concert is supported, in part, by a grant from the Washington State Arts Commission.
Courtly Love: A User’s Guide
Saturday, March 16th, 2019, 8:00 PM
Seattle First Baptist Church
Medieval love songs contain elements so universal that they could almost constitute a “how-to” guide for romantic relationships at court. In this concert, we will learn to follow instructions.