Our History

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Leeds Baroque is a period instrument performance group directed by Peter Holman based in Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK

Leeds Baroque, the city’s only period instrument choir and orchestra, specialises in performances of music of the 17th and 18th centuries. 

Founded in 2000, and made up of professional, student and talented amateur performers, Leeds Baroque is directed by Prof. Peter Holman MBE, an international authority on the performance of Baroque music. 

Over the course of twenty-four years we have earned an enviable reputation for performances covering works from Monteverdi to Mozart as well as bold explorations of unfamiliar Baroque music. Most of the performers are unpaid, playing in the belief that this specialist but accessible repertoire should be available to all, and more widely appreciated.

In addition to the core membership Leeds Baroque welcomes a range of professional singers and instrumentalists for special projects. 

A successful crowd funding project enabled the purchase of a pair of Baroque timpani. These hand-built instruments made their debut in October 2019. 

Leeds Baroque is financed solely from its ticket income, modest grant funding and its small, but very supportive ‘Friends’ organisation.

We hope you will help us continue to keep Baroque music ‘live’ in the region by attending our performances, joining our Friends or sponsoring a performance. 

You can keep in touch via social media and regular e-newsletters [you can subscribe on the main page].

[Photo credit: Daniel Johnson Gray]