Our first concert will explore sacred music from the Spanish colonial period, particularly from Latin America, with a strong emphasis on polyphony and choral works rooted in Catholic liturgical traditions. 

The program tells a story of the religious and cultural synthesis of colonial Latin America, where European sacred music traditions were merged with local artistic expressions. The overarching theme of spirituality, identity, and cultural exchange, highlights how the divine (through pneuma, or spirit) was interpreted through music during this period by influential European composers like Juan Gutiérrez de Padilla and Alonso Lobo alongside the indigenous voice of Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz. Our musical selections showcase the vitality of Latin Americans in shaping life and cultural identity in the Spanish New World. 

Please join us for the following dates and times:

October 4th | 7:00 p.m. at Ripon College 

October 12th | 7:00 p.m. at All Saints' Cathedral

October 13th | 2:00 p.m. at All Saints' Cathedral

CLICK SOURCE LINK FOR TICKETS***

Our first concert will explore sacred music from the Spanish colonial period, particularly from Latin America, with a strong emphasis on polyphony and choral works rooted in Catholic liturgical traditions. 

The program tells a story of the religious and cultural synthesis of colonial Latin America, where European sacred music traditions were merged with local artistic expressions. The overarching theme of spirituality, identity, and cultural exchange, highlights how the divine (through pneuma, or spirit) was interpreted through music during this period by influential European composers like Juan Gutiérrez de Padilla and Alonso Lobo alongside the indigenous voice of Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz. Our musical selections showcase the vitality of Latin Americans in shaping life and cultural identity in the Spanish New World. 

Please join us for the following dates and times:

October 4th | 7:00 p.m. at Ripon College 

October 12th | 7:00 p.m. at All Saints' Cathedral

October 13th | 2:00 p.m. at All Saints' Cathedral

CLICK SOURCE LINK FOR TICKETS***

Join us at the Demmer Hall at the Rodman Center of Fine Arts at Ripon College!

Our concert will be featured on the Ripon College Chamber Concert Series. We’ll explore sacred music from the Spanish colonial period, particularly from Latin America, with a strong emphasis on polyphony and choral works rooted in Catholic liturgical traditions. 

The program tells a story of the religious and cultural synthesis of colonial Latin America, where European sacred music traditions were merged with local artistic expressions. The overarching theme of spirituality, identity, and cultural exchange, highlights how the divine (through pneuma, or spirit) was interpreted through music during this period by influential European composers like Juan Gutiérrez de Padilla and Alonso Lobo alongside the indigenous voice of Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz. Our musical selections showcase the vitality of Latin Americans in shaping life and cultural identity in the Spanish New World. 

Chamber Series concerts are free of charge. Charitable contributions to the Ripon College Friends of the Arts program are welcome and encouraged to support the continuation and development of experiential fine arts programming. For information about donations, please contact Kelly Nielsen: NielsenK@ripon.edu, 920-748-8852.

Featuring world premiere choreography by Christal Wagner and Maria Gillespie

Joining forces, Danceworks Performance MKE and APERI ANIMAM embark on a rhythmic journey with Handel’s passionate setting of “Dixit Dominus”. At just 22 years old, Handel composed this master work in 1707 during his time in Italy. Audiences can expect a more flamboyant approach as this work is full of intricate vocal lines intertwined with rhythmic energy. With its dynamic interplay between soloists and choir, “Dixit Dominus” exudes a sense of dramatic fervor that reflects Handel’s profound ability to evoke both grandeur and intimacy while amplifying the sentiments of the war between heaven and hell.

In juxtaposition to Handel’s baroque style, this concert features a world premiere by choreographer Maria Gillespie, that carefully pairs sophisticated repertoire with her authentically raw movement aesthetic, highlighting secular works in the polyphonic style.

Advance ticket purchase is recommended via the Danceworks ticketing website.

Featuring world premiere choreography by Christal Wagner and Maria Gillespie

Joining forces, Danceworks Performance MKE and APERI ANIMAM embark on a rhythmic journey with Handel’s passionate setting of “Dixit Dominus”. At just 22 years old, Handel composed this master work in 1707 during his time in Italy. Audiences can expect a more flamboyant approach as this work is full of intricate vocal lines intertwined with rhythmic energy. With its dynamic interplay between soloists and choir, “Dixit Dominus” exudes a sense of dramatic fervor that reflects Handel’s profound ability to evoke both grandeur and intimacy while amplifying the sentiments of the war between heaven and hell.

In juxtaposition to Handel’s baroque style, this concert features a world premiere by choreographer Maria Gillespie, that carefully pairs sophisticated repertoire with her authentically raw movement aesthetic, highlighting secular works in the polyphonic style.

Advance ticket purchase is recommended via the Danceworks ticketing website.

Featuring world premiere choreography by Christal Wagner and Maria Gillespie

Joining forces, Danceworks Performance MKE and APERI ANIMAM embark on a rhythmic journey with Handel’s passionate setting of “Dixit Dominus”. At just 22 years old, Handel composed this master work in 1707 during his time in Italy. Audiences can expect a more flamboyant approach as this work is full of intricate vocal lines intertwined with rhythmic energy. With its dynamic interplay between soloists and choir, “Dixit Dominus” exudes a sense of dramatic fervor that reflects Handel’s profound ability to evoke both grandeur and intimacy while amplifying the sentiments of the war between heaven and hell.

In juxtaposition to Handel’s baroque style, this concert features a world premiere by choreographer Maria Gillespie, that carefully pairs sophisticated repertoire with her authentically raw movement aesthetic, highlighting secular works in the polyphonic style.

Advance ticket purchase is recommended via the Danceworks ticketing website.

Featuring world premiere choreography by Christal Wagner and Maria Gillespie

Joining forces, Danceworks Performance MKE and APERI ANIMAM embark on a rhythmic journey with Handel’s passionate setting of “Dixit Dominus”. At just 22 years old, Handel composed this master work in 1707 during his time in Italy. Audiences can expect a more flamboyant approach as this work is full of intricate vocal lines intertwined with rhythmic energy. With its dynamic interplay between soloists and choir, “Dixit Dominus” exudes a sense of dramatic fervor that reflects Handel’s profound ability to evoke both grandeur and intimacy while amplifying the sentiments of the war between heaven and hell.

In juxtaposition to Handel’s baroque style, this concert features a world premiere by choreographer Maria Gillespie, that carefully pairs sophisticated repertoire with her authentically raw movement aesthetic, highlighting secular works in the polyphonic style.

Advance ticket purchase is recommended via the Danceworks ticketing website.

In the monastic life of the Western church, men and women who lived in monasteries and convents prayed at fixed times throughout the day and night. Compline is the final prayer service of the day.

We invite our Compline audience to sit back and relax into the beauty of serene vocal early music. At the conclusion of the service, audience members leave in silence. It’s magical!

Admission is free; goodwill donations are most welcome.

RSVPs are appreciated.

Please note the corrected start time of 7:00 PM.

At this brief sunset service, you’ll be invited to relax into a moment of serene reflection with contemplative early music in a candlelit setting. The purpose of this time is to unplug from our busy lives, wind down from a busy weekend, and clean the slate for the week to come. The audience is invited to simply enjoy the experience and leave in silence when the last notes sound.

Admission is free; goodwill donations are most welcome.

RSVPs are appreciated.

In the monastic life of the Western church, men and women who lived in monasteries and convents prayed at fixed times throughout the day and night. Compline is the final prayer service of the day. Except in the case of an emergency, members of the community did not engage in conversation after the Compline.

In that spirit, we invite our Compline audience to sit back and relax into the beauty of serene vocal early music from the APERI ANIMAM ensemble. At the conclusion of the service, audience members leave in silence. It’s a truly magical experience!

Admission is free, though goodwill donations are accepted.

While not required, we encourage you to RSVP at the link below.

A Compline service is an ancient form of quiet, communal contemplation intended to help participants reflect on the events of the day and prepare for a restful night's sleep. We invite attendees to relax into the moment and truly let the end of the concert be the end, without further conversation or noise. 

The Compline service is free and open to all; however, goodwill donations to support the mission of Aperi Animam are gratefully accepted. If you are unable to attend but would like to support this program, donations can be made online or by mail to Treasurer, Aperi Animam, at PO Box 26282, Milwaukee, WI 53226. We thank you for your support.

RSVPs are not required, but appreciated.

A Compline service is an ancient form of quiet, communal contemplation intended to help participants reflect on the events of the day and prepare for a restful night's sleep. We invite attendees to relax into the moment and truly let the end of the concert be the end, without further conversation or noise. 

The Compline service is free and open to all; however, goodwill donations to support the mission of Aperi Animam are gratefully accepted. If you are unable to attend but would like to support this program, donations can be made online or by mail to Treasurer, Aperi Animam, at PO Box 26282, Milwaukee, WI 53226. We thank you for your support.

Our friends at Early Music Now have invited APERI ANIMAM to perform the debut concert in their year-long Milwaukee Early Music Series.

This captivating musical journey through the English Renaissance weaves together a selection of both well-known and not-so-well-known pieces, exploring the themes of Passion, Peace, and Play in a rich tapestry of emotions and musical styles.

The concert commences with passionate compositions that hold a rich and complicated history, evoking intense emotions and stirring the depths of the soul: William Byrd’s “Ave verum corpus” and Orlando Gibbon’s “Drop, drop, slow tears.”

As the concert progresses, the atmosphere transitions to embrace the serenity and tranquility of Peace. From the ever gentle “If Ye Love Me” by Thomas Tallis to introspective sacred works like John Sheppard’s “In pace in idipsum”, these compositions inspire you to breathe.

The concert will end with upbeat madrigals filled with humor and witty wordplay as well as the beloved setting of “Haec dies” by Byrd, leaving the audience with joyful energy.

The concert will begin at 7:00 PM on Thursday, September 14 at the United Methodist Church of Whitefish Bay, 819 E Silver Spring Dr, Whitefish Bay, WI 53217.

Admission is pay-what-you-can, with a suggested donation of $20.

LACRIMAE NOSTRAE: Music for our tears

We will be ending our season in a more uplifting manner with a program all about crying! Seems strange, but it will be an evening of honoring the act of crying as part of our stress cycle and how it provides us a healthy release for our mind, body, and soul.

This was first inspired by a show in the 2021 | 2022 Danceworks, Inc. season entitled “Fight or Flight” (directed by Artistic Director Christal Wagner) that explored the nervous system. With a lot to cover in such a topic, crying was not at the forefront of that particular show, but we, APERI ANIMAM, are happy to take the initiative to explore that area.

Take a look at the program, available for download here.

Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 at the door.

To set the stage for the performance on Saturday, May 20, APERI ANIMAM Artistic Director Jackie Willis will present a brief lecture, “Music, Crying, and the Nervous System” beginning at 6:45 PM. Purchase of a ticket for the performance is required to attend the lecture.

NOTE: The Friday evening performance has been canceled.

This year’s second Compline service will be held in Downtown Milwaukee at All Saints’ Cathedral.

A  Compline  service  is  an ancient form of quiet, communal contemplation intended to help participants reflect on the events of the day and prepare for a restful night's sleep. We invite attendees to relax into the moment and truly let the end of the concert be the end, without further conversation or noise.

Click here to see the program.

The Compline service is free and open to all;  however,  goodwill donations to support the mission of Aperi Animam are gratefully accepted. If you are unable to attend but would like to support this program,  donations can  be made online  or by mail to Treasurer, Aperi Animam, at PO Box 26282, Milwaukee, WI 53226.  We thank you for your support.

APERI ANIMAM invites you to join us at St. Paul's Episcopal Church for our first Compline service of 2023.

Compline derives its name from a Latin word meaning 'completion' (completorium). It is an ancient service of quietness and reflection before rest at the end of the day. The service is most effective when the ending is an ending, without further conversation or noise. Those present depart in silence.

While the Compline service is free and open to all, goodwill donations to Aperi Animam are gratefully accepted. If you are unable to attend but would like to support this program, donations can be made online at this link, or by mail to Treasurer, Aperi Animam, at PO Box 26282, Milwaukee, WI 53226. We thank you for your support.

Join us on Sunday, December 4th at 4pm for All Saints' Cathedral's annual Lessons and Carols service!

The service also features the Cathedral Choir and beautiful organ music by the wonderful Lee Erickson. A offering of music, readings, and prayers, this tradition helps us reflect upon the scriptural prophesies that foretold the coming of the Messiah. It is a perfect respite from the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. Come, quiet your mind and open your soul.

A reception follows the service at 5:30 p.m. We’ll see you there!

Usher in the upcoming Advent season by attending All Saints' Cathedral's annual service of Lessons and Carols! Presented by the Cathedral Choir in partnership with vocal ensemble Aperi Animam, this sensory liturgy of preparation is filled with prophetic imagery in music and scriptural texts, sure to enrich your spiritual journey toward Christmas.

The lessons progress from God’s promise of salvation in the book of Genesis to the Baptism of Christ by John the Baptist in Mark’s gospel. Carols and hymns are offered in response to each reading, comforting us along the liturgical journey.

The event is free to the public, though donations are encouraged to support the mission and ministries of All Saints'. Give here—be sure to select "Lessons and Carols" from the drop-down menu.