The artistic leader of Fortuna, Jacqueline Dubach, studied recorder at the Utrecht Conservatory, The Netherlands. Already during her studies at the conservatory she specialised in the performance and research of medieval music. To that end she took lessons and participated in workshops led by leading artists in the field, such as Pedro Memelsdorff (Mala Punica), Dr. Rebecca Stewart (Cappella Pratensis), and several teachers of the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis.
Photo: Taco van der Werf Photography
The Belgium soprano Hilde van Ruymbeke studied at The Royal Conservatory in The Hague, The Netherlands, with Marius van Altena and Jill Feldman. Hilde specializes in performing early music, and is a member of the renowned ensembles Collegium Vocale Gent and Currende. Since 1995 she has been a member of the choir of the Nederlandse Bachvereniging (the Dutch Bach Society).
Elly van Munster studied lute with Willem Mook and attended workshops with e.g. Nigel North, Jakob Lindberg, Toyohiko Satoh, Andrew-Lawrence King and Hopkinson Smith. In addition to performing as a soloist she accompanies singers and instrumentalists, and plays continuo in ensembles. Furthermore she works frequently as a coach at several conservatories in The Netherlands. Elly has participated in concerts with renowned Dutch ensembles such as "het Nederlands Kamerkoor", "de Nederlandse Bachvereniging" and "het Nederlands Blazers Ensemble".
Monique Pellens studied at the Sweelinck Conservatorium in Amsterdam with Bouw Lemkes. In the final year of her studies she won an audition for the first violin group with the Brabants Orchestra and while filling this position she continued her studies at the Sweelinck Conservatorium with Valentin Zhuk. Monique still plays with the Brabants Orchestra and gave recitals in the Netherlands and Belgium.
Since 2006 Monique has been focusing her energy on early music. Her love for the viola de gamba prompted her to begin studying the instrument and also the vedel, the predecessor of our modern violin, now also belongs to her repertoire. She began by studying with Maaike Boekholt and now performs in various early music ensembles.
Tenor Christopher Kale was born in Pennsylvania, USA. He earned his Bachelor and Master’s degrees at Boston University. After winning a grant to study in Amsterdam with Max van Egmond, he has remained based in the Netherlands. Primarily active in Medieval and renaissance music, he performs with many of the respected groups in the field: Cappella Pratensis, Huelgas Ensemble, Capilla Flamenca, Fala Musica, The Boston Camerata, and the Netherlands Chamber Choir.
Described as a "master of the art of baroque ornamentation" (Aachener Zeitung) and praised for his "passionate and virtuosic performance" (De Stentor) Jonathan Talbott made his solo violin debut at the age of 16 and now performs a repertoire that spans more than 800 years. He is known for his performances on renaissance and early baroque violins, rebec and medieval fiddle, and can be heard on recordings by Il Concerto Barocco, Ensemble Braccio, The Boston Camerata, Super Librum and Currende.
Cassandra Luckhardt received her Bachelor of Music and her Bachelor of Arts degrees cumlaude from Oberlin College, Ohio and her Master of Music degree from the San Francisco Conservatory. She moved to Paris in 1994 to study at the Conservatoire National Superieur de Musique under the auspices of a Harriet Hale Woolley grant, awarded that year to only three other artists in the United States. She has won prizes at the Early Music Competition for Ensembles in Bruges, the Van Wassenaer Concours in Den Haag and at the Utrecht Early Music Festival.
In 2001, Cassandra finished her studies at the Royal Conservatory in Den Haag, graduating with degrees on both viola da gamba and baroque cello. Her teachers and major influences have included Bonnie Hampton, Catharina Meints, Kenneth Slowik, Christophe Coin, Jaap ter Linden and Wieland Kuijken.
Photos: Taco van der Werf Photography
