REVIEWS

"Red Priest is like no other early music instrumental ensemble you have ever heard... bringing glee to the concert scene for a decade or more... transforming Baroque clichés into vivid drama, often at terrific speed and with practised coordination.... [with] a bedrock of tremendous skill and timing.” —Daily Telegraph

"Highly individual… Purists would probably run a mile from what Red Priest does to this music, but virtuosity, verve and creative spontaneity are fused together in a way that makes the impact positively volcanic” —Daily Telegraph

“The playing is indeed red-hot virtuosic …the adaptation of The Four Seasons- involving swirling snowstorms, thunderclaps and the mime of an entire stag hunt – is way over the top, but one has a sneaking suspicion that Vivaldi might have approved.” —The Times

"The original Red Priest should be dancing in his grave!" —BBC Music Magazine

"Putting the rock into baroque... Energetic spectacular stage show... Invigorating versions of familiar Vivaldi pieces... The difference is clear: Red Priest have much more fun!" —The Evening Standard

"BAROQUE STARS... an unorthodox quartet of virtuoso musicians on a mission to make classical music a visual as well as aural experience... supreme musicians." —The Observer

"Not so much reconstruction as total re-interpretation…they are sure to introduce a new audience to baroque music."
—Early Music Today

"From the country that spawned Mick Jagger, these players add another level of adventure to their concerts... it takes musicians of the highest caliber to make this kind of theatrical presentation work... After Red Priest, you'll never again hear Baroque music in quite the same way." —Albuquerque Journal

"If the Rolling Stones played recorder, violin, cello and harpsichord and their genre was 17th-century music, they would be the band called Red Priest." —Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

"The dynamic early music group Red Priest, drew an absolutely packed house... The concert began 15 minutes late so the large crowd could be seated. There was a buzz in the Old Arts Building that is rare at most concerts, let alone chamber music events. Red Priest did far more than just play good old music well. They put on a show that awed with the breadth of musicality the four musicians displayed." —Edmonton Journal

"The ensemble's performances ran from red hot tempos to way cool interpretations, with plenty of visual and aural humor relieving moments of overwhelming intensity... The raging, wide-ranging sound effects certainly exhausted the exercise books of the respective instruments, but not the energy or precise control of the players." —West Virginia Gazette

"Stunning virtuosity and flamboyant stagecraft." —Pittsburgh Tribune Review

"Red Priest has carved out a unique niche in the early music world with its break-all-rules, rock concert-chamber concert approach to early music performance and with the dazzling technical prowess of recorder player Piers Adams." —Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

"The performance by British period instrument quartet Red Priest of "The Four Seasons" at Dumbarton Church on Saturday didn't so much breathe new life into Vivaldi as plunge an adrenaline-filled syringe into his heart…What made this zaniness work, was the players' virtuosity and thorough understanding of the baroque idiom" —Washington Post

"[Piers Adams] and his bandmates treat Baroque music in the finest rock tradition. So if you get a chance to catch Red Priest, take it -- and take your lighter, too. Dude!" —The Oregonian

"There's absolutely nothing ordinary about the early music ensemble Red Priest, from its quirky costumes and innovative musical arrangements to its zany sense of humor and amazing virtuoso skills. In fact Red Priest is one of the most extraordinary ensembles on today's chamber music scene…" —Virginia Gazette

"Whatever stuffiness remained in the once-stodgy field of early music blew out the windows of Synod Hall on Saturday. Taking its place was the uproarious conduct of Red Priest, an English foursome that appears to have discovered music's fountain of youth... Even though Red Priest gave a new arrangement of "Seasons," the performance seemed more authentic than one by an orchestra, modern or period. And that is simply amazing. Any group that can make you rethink a masterpiece and also make it fun is rare indeed."
—Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

“Antonio Vivaldi met the musical Marx Brothers… an engaging mixture of facetiousness and artistry… staggering virtuosity… a real joy.” —Pittsburgh Tribune Review

"Anyone expecting stuffiness and tedium must have gone home disappointed. The rest of us enjoyed consummate musicianship combined with a healthy dose of mirth." —Green Man Review

"For people who "appreciate" classical music but have a little secret -- it bores them -- the answer is Red Priest. The four flamboyantly dressed British musicians mug, throw funny lines at us and make us laugh. But something important is going on, and it happens fast… the process is effortless, a barrel of fun and almost invisibly subtle… immaculately forged and cunningly phrased…legitimately baroque and thoroughly musical. An electrified audience shouted and cheered." —Washington Post

"A high-energy baroque hoe-down… [Red Priest's] performing style comes from pop-infused acts such as Kronos Quartet or the violinist Kennedy… unfettered interaction and spontaneity… a wide-ranging, unhackneyed programme… deliciously twisted, vividly interpreted and played with dash and precision." —Los Angeles Times

"Nothing short of electrifying… combined a supremely accomplished level of musicianship with an almost superhuman energy and a sense of showmanship in a concert that will stand as one of the season's best… Purists might cringe at some of the liberties this ensemble takes, but it is hard to argue with the sheer verve and daring musicality it delivered." —Denver Post

"Without a doubt, Red Priest has redefined the art of baroque music performance... it is really the virtuoso style of these four musicians that makes the entire performance meld into such a satisfying whole... the true magic of Red Priest is that they create music that will likely appeal to anyone with an ear for music. In these times, that is no small feat." —The Easterner

"In brief: Wow!… Red Priest has not simply jumped onto a rolling bandwagon. They've taken off the wagon's wooden wheels and replaced them with Michelin radials." —Daily Hampshire Gazette

"A wild ride . . . playful antics and stunning musicianship . . . breathed new life into all of these ancient pieces . . . an amazing evening"
—The Post-Bulletin, Rochester, Minnesota

"Different from all others, in almost every way imaginable…They had fun, they played their hearts out and brought the venerated era to bawdy, brilliant life." —News Journal Florida

"A joy to behold… absolutely incredible virtuoso skill." —Virginia Gazette

"The world’s most distinctive early music group... Their concerts are clever take-offs, zany and irreverent, yet strangely closer to the spirit of the music than many other performers would dare consider." —The Adelaide Review

"A revelation and a joy... The vitality and virtuosity that Red Priest bring to their concerts is inspiring to musicians and audiences who might otherwise be trapped in the institutionalized conservatism of the historical performance practice movement."
—Music Culture Review

BIOGRAPHY

Red Priest is the only early music group in the world to have been compared in the press to the Rolling Stones, Jackson Pollock, the Marx Brothers, Spike Jones and the Cirque du Soleil. This extraordinary acoustic foursome has been described by music critics as “visionary and heretical,” “outrageous yet compulsive,” “wholly irreverent and highly enlightened,” “completely wild and deeply imaginative,” with a “red-hot wicked sense of humour” and a “break-all-rules, rock-chamber concert approach to early music.”

Founded in 1997, and named after the flame-haired priest, Antonio Vivaldi, Red Priest has given several hundred sell-out concerts in many of the world’s most prestigious festivals, including the Hong Kong Arts Festival, Moscow December Nights Festival, Schwetzingen Festival, Prague Spring Festival, Ravinia Festival, Bermuda Festival, and in most European countries, Japan, Australia, and throughout North and Central America. The group has been the subject of hour-long TV profiles for NHK (Japan) and ITV (UK)—the latter for the prestigious South Bank Show in 2005, which documented the launch of the Red Hot Baroque Show, an electrifying marriage of old music with the latest light and video technology.

Red Priest comprises recorder player Piers Adams, violinist Adam Summerhayes, cellist Angela East and harpsichordist David Wright. These musicians have redefined the art of period performance, creating a virtual orchestra through their creative arrangements, performing from memory with swashbuckling virtuosity, heart-on-sleeve emotion and compelling stagecraft. Their repertoire ranges from obscure 17th century sonatas to the most famous works of Bach and Vivaldi.

In 2008 Red Priest launched its own record label, Red Priest Recordings, which is now the home for all of the recordings of the ensemble and its members, and has attracted much attention in the music press worldwide. The label is distributed worldwide by Nimbus.

INDIVIDUAL BIOS

Piers Adams is the modern day wild man of the recorder.  His stubborn refusal to accept the natural limitations of his instrument has led the Washington Post to describe him as "superhuman," and International Record Review to declare: "The things Adams does with his recorders defy the imagination."  Born in 1963, he trained initially as a physicist before joining the tail end of the Dutch recorder movement of the 1970s and 80s, rapidly branching out from there to create his own, unique sound and stage personality.  Innovations in recorder design–most recently the "Eagle Recorder"–have enabled Adams to expand the instrument’s repertoire to include every musical genre from renaissance to romantic to rock, and to astonish audiences with its expressive possibilities.  His concert tours have taken him to all corners of the globe, performing over 1000 concerts with Red Priest, as well as recitals and concertos with international symphony and chamber orchestras, and numerous TV and radio appearances. His website is www.piersadams.com.
 

Adam Summerhayes' grandfather studied the violin with Joachim's last pupil and with Adolf Brodsky, the violinist who premiered the Tchaikovsky concerto. He learnt first from him and then from Yfrah Neaman, one of the twentieth century's greatest pedagogues. He was introduced to the Baroque violin by Roy Goodman in the 1980s, initiated into period instrument performance by Paul McCreesh and studied with Micaela Comberti, then at the forefront of the early music scene.

He has been very highly acclaimed as a chamber musician, particularly for a number of discs featuring first recordings of previously unknown repertoire, including works by Aaron Copland. He has also given many concerto performances in Europe, Russia and the USA. Adam has recorded over 20 CDs for Harmonia Mundi, Chandos, ASV, Meridian, Sargasso and others. A disc of his Gypsy fiddle playing was described as "heady stuff . . . thrilling virtuoso playing" (Gramophone). This disc lead to a cameo film moment, in Guy Ritchie's recent blockbuster "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows." A performance of one of his own tracks is also featured. 

He has broadcast live for BBC Radio 3, including on the Early Music Show, and his recordings and compositions have been broadcast throughout the world.

Angela East is widely respected as one of the most brilliant and dynamic performers in the period instrument world, praised in The Times, London, for the “elemental power” of her cello playing. She has given numerous concerto performances in London's Queen Elizabeth and Wigmore Halls, and has performed as soloist and continuo cellist with many of Europe's leading baroque orchestras. Among her impressive list of concert credits are La Scala, Milan, Sydney Opera House, Versailles and Glyndebourne. In 1991 Angela formed ‘The Revolutionary Drawing Room” which performs chamber works from the revolutionary period in Europe on original instruments, and whose first eight CDs have received glowing reviews world-wide. Her long awaited disc of Bach’s Cello Suites has recently been released on Red Priest Recordings. Her CD of popular baroque cello works, “Baroque Cello Illuminations,” has received excellent reviews and was chosen as “CD of the Fortnight” in Classical Music Magazine.

David Wright has spent many years trying to shed his reputation as the bad boy of the harpsichord, having come to the instrument as a refuge from his East End gangland upbringing.  The final spur to pursue a career in music came in 1994 when, as a 17-year old, he found himself facing a sawn-off shotgun at close range in an underground car-park.  Since that time he has reinvented himself as something of an 18th century fop and lothario, thanks to several years of study in sundry London music colleges (he was previously self-taught) and a penchant for baroque beauty and morals.  With his harpsichord he has toured throughout Europe, America and the Far East, sharing the stage with such early music luminaries as Emma Kirkby and James Bowman, performing concertos, directing orchestras and operas (including the first modern day performance of Arne's “The Blind Beggar of Bethnal Green”), and championing the instrument’s solo repertoire–in particular Bach’s Goldberg Variations.  His unconventional background and unsurpassable technique made him a natural to join Red Priest, with whom he has toured and recorded since 2011.

“Stunning virtuosity and flamboyant stagecraft.”

— Pittsburgh Tribune Review

PRAISE FROM PRESENTERS

Limor Tomer, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Live Arts (New York CIty)

“They were fantastic. A great presentation. I was moved.”

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Eleanor Adams, Waterford (VA) Concert Series:

“Red Priest was sensational, and a sellout! My six-year-old granddaughter was enchanted. Smiles everywhere. They really are wizards. Everyone loved them, and we really enjoyed their company at the party after the concert.”

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Connie Zimmer, Dumbarton Concerts, Washington D.C.:

“Red Priest is a presenter's dream! I adore musicians who have ideas, great ideas. The ‘Four Seasons’ program was stunning. Check the Wash. Post review today. Save us a date for next season.”

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Jack Bell, Gainesville ProMusica:

“To state it simply: It was probably the best concert in our 56 year history and had the most in attendance as well!”

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Pat Zagelow, Portland (OR) State University:

“They were fabulous!! We just loved them and our audience loved them. The ‘theatrics’ are very classy and appropriate and in such good taste, and backed up by their very fine musicianship. I have heard nothing but raves . . . I'm so happy we brought them.”

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Ruth J. Gurwitz, San Antonio Chamber Music Society:

“What a success Red Priest was in its performance and educational events for the San Antonio Chamber Music Society . . . they breathed new life into an organization that is concerned, like all musical presenters, with an aging audience. Biggest audience of the season, and I saw a definite younger element present.”

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Carl Helmick, Indian Wells Valley Concert Association, Ridgecrest, CA:

“Tonight’s concert was a one-of-a-kind thing, the concert of the century, whether you choose 20th or 21st. From my standpoint, as someone who knows most of the music that they’re doing, to hear it in the way they did it, with the theatrical and visual elements, was really spectacular, but what Red Priest does appeals to those who don’t know much about early music as well as those who do (though there may be a few fuss-budgets purists who won’t go along with it). The one thing that in a sense they played ‘straight’ was the Tartini ‘Devil’s Trill’ Sonata, and that was the most expressive way I have ever heard that piece played. The group ws great with the kids. We usually wait a few years, but I would have them back tomorrow!”

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Roger Bintz, Brown County Civic Music Association (Green Bay, WI):

“It was a fantastic concert. What one hears on a CD does not reveal what the live experience will be!
It was truly a fun evening. Each person is a superb musician and to play all of that music from memory was really impressive. In addition to being great musicians, they fine actors. The audience loved them as evidenced by very sustained applause throughout the concert. It was personally satisfying to see the many smiles on faces of audience members during the performance. At intermission and after the concert people would say ‘you picked another winner, Roger.’ Thanks for convincing us to present Red Priest.”

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Raffaele Montuoro, Community Concerts of Bryan, TX:

“Red Priest's performance was explosive and the reaction of our crowd was enthusiastic and energetic like never before!!!

Our (elderly) audience was engaged and lively as I've never seen in a very long time. And their reaction allowed us to collect the biggest amount of cash ever in our collection boxes, as well as Red Priest to sell almost 50 CDs!!!

It surely was a memorable event! Thank you so much for making this happen . . . I fear that we are raising the bar so high that we'll be in trouble soon with the future seasons. :)”

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Paul Nitsch, Queens University Friends of Music, Charlotte, NC:

“Red Priest was just unbelievable. One incredible surprise of imagination, virtuosity and genius after the next.”

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Paul Posnak, Music Director, St. Martha Concert Series, Miami Shores, FL:

“Wonderful success. They are a truly inspired foursome - virtuosic, expressive, free within the varied styles and genres, witty, imaginative, theatrical in the best sense (most of their visual and peripatetic ‘tricks’ illustrate or help to define the structure of the music and its ambience). In short, a marvelous evening, eye-opening for many in our audience. Over 750, perhaps close to 800 in the overflow audience, including lots of children, kids and young adults. Cheers and standing ovations and wonderment. I think the Red Priest four felt the warmth of the audience - their excitement, attention and full appreciation - They played their bods and hearts out for us.”

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JoelleBedwell, Central Texas Orchestra Society, Temple, TX

“Red Priest was a complete success today! The master class was incredible and provided memories for all involved. The concert was a huge crowd-pleaser. We had many folks who don’t usually come to our concerts attend tonight, and they all had a great time. Thanks for helping making this happen. We’re tired but will sleep well, with visions of success dancing in our heads.”

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Jack Lawrence, Santa Rosa Concert Association:

“The concert was one of the best we have ever presented.”

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Arthur C. Scott, Del Valle Fine Arts, Livermore, CA:

“The biggest turnout we’ve had in several years—a smashing success!”

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Jeff Huntington, Chamber Music Yellow Springs:

“We enjoyed Red Priest immensely; one of the best ever. Keep up the good work!”

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Philip Rehard, University at Buffalo:

“It was a great pleasure to present this amazing ensemble as part of our Slee/Visitng Artist Series. Their performance was absolutely wonderful!”

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Mary DeTurk, University of New Hampshire Celebrity Series:

“Red Priest was fantastic! The students and faculty are still talking about them. The masterclass was the best attended that I have ever seen and in the words of one student—’I was blown away!’ They are an extremely musical group—as delightful to listen to as they are entertaining to watch! The concert was also well attended by students and music faculty. Everyone involved was pleased with this event. This is definitely a group to invite again.”

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Dolya Konoval, Chan Centre, University of British Columbia:

“It was such a pleasure having you here, a wonderfully balanced program from bliss to the fantastic, and the artists...well, simply the finest. The Chan concert hall itself must have felt blessed! I will always treasure the evening.”

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Yvonne Topf, Kelowna, B.C. Community Concerts:

“The concert was wonderful last night! They are SO professional and so co-ordinated and just so brilliant! it was a great way to end our concert season!”

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Mary Richardson, McNeese State University, Lake Charles, LA:

"They were just great!!! What totally lovely people. Everyone loved them. I loved them. The schools loved them. Personally, it was the highlight of the entire series for me. And -- and I am VERY proud to tell you this -- they drew a crowd of about 700 on a Wednesday night in the south. Just about everyone I know is in church Wednesday night because that is church choir practice night. If we have presented on a weekend, we would have had 1000 people easily. But I'm ecstatic about 700 on a Wednesday. WHAT A GROUP!"

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Sandi Billy, Virginia Wesleyan College:

“Do I even need to report??? They were superb, as always! We could host them once a month and still turn folks away at the door. We had some people here who had been to both Monday & Tuesday performances, as well. Those who were seeing them for the first time were overwhelmed with the perfectly played music wrapped in mystery/drama/intrigue —what a show!

WHENEVER they pass through this end of the world, do let us know. We'd be thrilled to be their permanent 'stopover' location!”

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Bill Menezes, Keene State College:

“It was a wonderful concert . . . still getting kudos for bringing them. The ensemble are also just the finest people to work with. They also gave a great lecture demonstration that was very well attended not only by students people from the community.”

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Ginny Sain, University of the Ozarks:

“They were wonderful! It was one of the most enthusiastic responses I have ever seen from our audience! Everyone loved them—from our senior citizen season ticket holders to the university students. Besides being wonderful on stage, they were also very gracious, fun, and easy to work with. Thank you!”

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Lori Noack, Sunriver Music Festival:

“They were a big hit. It was a very different concert from the traditional fare that our audience is used to -- about time! My biggest test was a couple of our board members who are traditional classical music aficionados, have music degrees themselves, and have very high standards of musicianship for the groups we present. They were thrilled. Hooray!”

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Donald Morrish, Edmonton (Canada) Chamber Music Society

“Wow!! They knocked our socks off! We had a nearly full hall, standing ovation! They are truly wonderful. Piers Adams is unbelievable. Clearly we need to have them again—soon!“

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Roxana Tourigny, University of Rhode Island Great Performances:

“It was dynamite! It made some real Baroque music converts. One third of the house was students! At the end there was applause, whistles and shouts. Wonderful!”

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Jane Ambrose, University of Vermont Lane Series:

“Natalie says I should tell you ‘wow’ and Rita says ‘unbelievably wow.’ They were fantastic—as I was sure that they would be. We would be most happy to have them again season after next should they tour then.”

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Tanya Contos, Boston Museum of Fine Arts:

“Hi Lisa--It was incredible! Four more talented and personable musicians could hardly be imagined. The concert was a "Sunday Best" pick in the Boston Globe. The large audience gave them a standing O, and I told Julia, Piers, Angela and Howard that we would love to have them back. It was an extraordinarily exuberant afternoon of superb music and inspired theatricality. I was particularly gratified to see that our rather staid core of chamber series regulars seemed as excited as the many younger, hipper people there. All in all, a great success!”

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Jennifer Hinners, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire:

“The charismatic and daring approach to the music, the flagrant virtuosity, and the wonderful giving attitude toward the audience made it an evening to be remembered . . . The players were so undemanding and so relaxed that we also enjoyed them as our guests backstage as well."

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Cynthia Calabrese, Brevard University:

“Red Priest was fabulous. We had around 350 people in attendance and they responded so well to the group. Our technical director provided some great lighting which made them even more festive for Halloween. They received an immediate standing ovation and gave us one more delightful number. I and everyone else were more than thrilled with their performance. I will heavily promote them to my North Carolina Consortium meeting next month as others need to present them!!!

“They exceeded even my highest expectations. I am more than pleased with their performances, their quality, and their pleasant attitudes. They were all very gracious!! ”

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Holly Thomas, Candlelight Concerts, Columbia, MD

“The audience loved the program and want them back again to do the ‘Seasons.’ The outreach concert was spectacular.”

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Hilary Wagy, Kennesaw State University, Atlanta:

“They were great! Enjoyed their "wild gypsy abandon." The show was very entertaining and Piers’ narration was enlightening. The people there loved it. They got a standing ovation from a few audience members after the first rousing piece. Thank you for sending this talented group of musicians to us. I spoke with them after and found them all delightful.”

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Becky Palmer, Williamsburg Chamber Music Society:

“ . . . both Norfolk & Wmsburg loved them!! Delightful people, great show.”

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Dewey Anderson, Florida International Festival:

“We loved Red Priest. The crowd had a ball too. I told Piers and the others to use us as a reference. As a matter of fact, I mentioned them at the Florida Professional Presenters Consortium meeting last week in Orlando.”

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Joyce Bodig, The Frick Collection, NYC:

“Although it was unusual for a Frick concert, I think the audience enjoyed the change of pace. All of the musicians are clearly first-rate. Much of the audience was ecstatic.”

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Mary White, Chamber Music Yellow Springs:

“Fabulous, sellout concert.”

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Paul Nitsch, Queens College (Charlotte, NC):

“Red Priest was magnificent. Extremely well received. Keep these folks - they're all really superb musicians and players, and their program is stunning. Thanks for this great group. They are all very down to earth, no complaints, no ego trips. Great stuff.”

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Yvonne Kuhlman, Luther College (Decorah, IA)

“Red Priest was a huge hit! Our audience just loved them and I've been hearing rave reviews ever since Friday night - even from some of the more stuffy types that I thought might have thought they were a little much. They loved them. Wonderful musicianship and

artistry, great rapport with the audience, and wonderfully fun and refreshing stage presence all made the music fun and even more interesting. Thanks for your help with them! Oh, by the way Piers' class was also excellent. I think every one there, whether a recorder player or not, learned a lot and enjoyed the class.

We had people who drove all the way from Omaha to see them!”

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Dave Siever, Lincoln Center, Fort Collins, CO:

“Hi Lisa ... the concert was very, very good! Our audience gave them a standing ovation, which is rare for the classical music series crowd . . . those who were there really enjoyed it . . . even me!!! If it's any indication, 51 cd's were sold . . . that's with an audience of about 300 people. So thank you ... it was a very successful event.”

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Jane Ambrose and Natalie Neuert, University of Vermont

(for Red Priest’s second appearance)

“Fantastic opener for us! Sold out and great enthusiasm from our audience. Many cds sold as well. We'll do it again year after next —Jane “Red Priest was amazing. Just amazing. The audience (sold-out) was on their feet the second it ended. They are really something else—the combination of the showmanship and the warmth and the unbelievable level of the playing is really unique and special. I think they had a fantastic time by the way - they really loved the townhouse and Burlington.”

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Charles McKnight, Asheville Chamber Music Society

"Absolutely loved them! They were fabulous!"

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Henry Igram, Music for a Great Space, Greensboro, NC

"We absolutely loved Red Priest, and a friend described the audience reaction as 'unprecedented enthusiasm.'"

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Marilyn Delk, Darke County Center for the Arts, Greenville, OH

“Thanks to Red Priest, enthusiasm for baroque music has invaded Darke County. Although we did not fill the hall on a frigid winter night, the group’s brilliant performance warmed and energized an audience of nearly 450. Among the many positive responses to Saturday’s Red Priest concert were: three hard-to-please ladies from a local retirement community came up to me grinning from ear to ear to say, ‘Marilyn, we really liked this one;’ a Darke County teenager was thrilled to be able to purchase a classical music CD in our little town; people drove from Dayton, Yellow Springs, and Springfield to Greenville for an arts performance (usually it’s the other way around)! I could go on, but you get the idea. DCCA’s presentation of Red Priest earned praise from those who say that they don’t appreciate ‘long-hair music’ as well as from lovers of classical music; and the concert also reinforced my oft-repeated contention that cultural enrichment can be a lot of fun! At least for one brief shining moment in January, DCCA’s mission to enhance lives through the arts was fulfilled to the hilt; thank you for helping make this moment possible.”

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John Beckford, Furman College, Greenville, NC

“It was an absolutely splendid concert. It's difficult to characterize what they do during a performance—but the proof was in the pudding and I'm glad I was there to taste it. The audience reaction was very, very favorable. The musicians were wonderful to work with, too. It was a pleasure getting to know them.”

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Joyce Smar, University of Massachusetts, Amherst

“We have had a terrific couple of days with Red Priest… they were wonderful and met or exceeded our expectations. We are truly heartened emotionally—I cannot express how positive we feel about it all.”

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Karen Blankenship, Withrop University, Rock Hill, SC

“They were incredibly talented, nice as can be, and a joy to host! Our audience oooed and aahed!!”

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DOnald Morrish, Edmonton (Canada) Chamber Music Society

“They were fabulous, as ever. We had a sold out performance and had to put extra chairs in the aisles. Two standing ovations! . . . We will certainly have them again in another 2-3 years (good to keep as a special treat!)”

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Dan Schmal, Wisconsin Lutheran College

“THEY WERE TERRIFIC! INSTANT STANDING OVATION! My wife, Mary, says they were the best group we have had . . .There was a big crowd . . CD sales were brisk. The pirate theme was a hoot!”

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Ann Mason, Pittsburgh Renaissance and Baroque Society

“The audience LOVED them . . . low maintenance musicians with tremendous talent = PERFECT! . . . I'll welcome them back any time!”

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David Stern, Charleston Chamber Music Society

“The audience went wild. They did quite a show.”

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Rhoda Moya, Pensacola State College

What a phenomenal group of musicians! Nobody really knew what to expect and Piers, Howard, David and Angela had us eating out of their hands! There was hearty applause after every piece, which is rare, we usually reserve that for the end of the show. There was no “texting” during the show, again, quite novel. The seats that were vacant up front were quickly filled by folks sitting in the back. There was a standing ovation at the end of the performance and Red Priest walked off stage and folks just kept on clapping and they came out for another bow. They could have played all night and we would have just sat there mesmerized! What an amazing group of musicians, oh, and they are all nice too! What a bonus!”

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Karner Tretheway, Tri-Counties Community Concerts, CA

“I thought the Priests were a knockout and from what I heard from audience members they did too. One older lady asked me, “Can you get more like them?” I told her I doubted it because they were unique. They were great individual musicians, fine performers (entertainers), and had a superb program. On a personal level I thoroughly enjoyed the time spent with such thoughtful, intelligent beings.”