Stichting Oosterkerk

Biografie

Sarah Louise Ridy gained her bachelor degree in modern harp at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, England, before going on to obtain both bachelor and master degrees in baroque harp performance. She plays on the ‘Cellini’ model of an Italian triple harp by harp maker Rainer Thurau from Wiesbaden in Germany, an instrument that she fell in love with during the World Harp Congress in Geneva. She was the first student to be awarded a masters degree in baroque harp at the Koninklijk Conservatorium in Den Haag, the Netherlands.
Sarah performs with numerous ensembles throughout Europe, in a variety of styles but many of which are rooted in ancient music. She currently lives in the countryside in the south of Belgium together with her cat, but enjoys to travel as part of her career, and has performed as far afield as Israel, Greece, Slovenia and USA. Sarah also performs solo concerts and is always excited by the prospect of exploring new repertoire for the baroque harp.

The mezzo-soprano Luciana Cueto began her vocal training in Buenos Aires (Argentina), where she studied at the Manuel de Falla Conservatory. In 2001 Luciana began her studies in Europe at the Brabants Conservatorium’s Early Vocal Music Department, obtaining her diploma in 2006. During her studies she followed lessons by Dr. Rebecca Stewart, taking as well singing lessons with the mezzo-soprano Xenia Meijer. She participated in master classes and singing lessons with Emma Kirkby, Gabriel Garrido, Rosa Domínguez, Patrizia Bovi, Paula de Wit, Juan Carlos Asensio, Lavinia Bertotti, etc. She has performed with numerous ensembles including Elyma (Gabriel Garrido) Scholla Cantorum Bravantie (Rebecca Stewart), Música Temprana and Utrecht Oude Music Festival Choir (Adrián Rodríguez Van der Spoel), La Violetta (Paulina van Laarhoven), Egidius Kwartet, as well as the Spanish ensembles Delphin de Música and Virdung.
Luciana’s particular interest in polyphony as well as early vocal music and folk. As complementary subject of her music education, Luciana studied viola da gamba with Paulina van Laarhoven.
She has participated at prestigious festivals around the world, performing in Argentina, The Netherlands, Spain, Mexico, Costa Rica, Morocco, France, Bolivia, Austria, Norway, Georgia, Peru, Switzerland, Belgium and Germany.