The Ottawa Baroque Consort is Ottawa's professional Baroque orchestra on period instruments. We specialize in the repertoire from the Baroque and Classical eras, with a fresh perspective based on historically informed performance practices. Founded in 2005, originally as a chamber ensemble, the Consort started performing as an orchestra in 2012, under the direction of Olivier Henchiri. Our concerts offer audiences a new look at the 17th and 18th centuries through unique and entertaining presentations such as actor-led theatrical programs, audience challenge concerts, and engaging concert talks. That and, of course, fantastic live Baroque music!
A leading advocate for early music in Ottawa for over twenty years, Olivier Henchiri founded and co-directs the Ottawa Baroque Consort, an orchestra on period instruments. He is a graduate of the Conservatory of Music in Gatineau and studied historical performance at the Tafelmusik Baroque Institute.
He has performed cello in ensembles and festivals in Ottawa, Gatineau, Montreal, and Toronto, such as Les plaisirs du clavecin, the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra, l'Orchestre des concerts symphoniques de Gatineau, the Aradia Ensemble, Voicebox Opera in Concert, Elixir Baroque, the Ottawa Jazz Orchestra, SMAM, and the Ottawa Chamber Music Festival. He collaborates frequently with choirs such as the Seventeen Voyces, Caelis Academy Ensemble, and the Cantata Singers of Ottawa. When performing on period instruments, Olivier plays on a German Baroque cello dated 1725, generously loaned by the Paul Hahn Fund.
An engaging communicator, Olivier has offered a variety of presentations on music and period performance. He has given lecture series on Baroque music in Carleton University's Lifelong Learning Program, cello masterclasses at the Conservatory in Gatineau, chamber music workshops at CAMMAC, talkbacks at the Odyssey Theatre, and produced multidisciplinary events at the National Gallery of Canada and the Bank of Canada Museum.
Lisa Wall - co-director & clarinettist
A graduate of the Conservatory of Music in Gatineau, clarinettist Lisa Wall was a member of the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra and, while living in Germany, performed with orchestras in Freiburg, Offenburg and Baden. She has performed on period instruments with the Ottawa Baroque Consort and the Galileo Orchestra near Montreal. She is an active freelancer performing with local ensembles, orchestras and choirs, and she has offered clarinet workshops for the Conservatory in Gatineau and MusicFest Canada.
An interest in period instruments led her to join the Ottawa Baroque Consort in 2018 to promote historical performance practice in Ottawa. She has given early music presentations with the Consort, demonstrating the difference between modern and historical clarinets, and the development of wind instruments in the 18th century. Lisa looks forward to including more wind instruments in the Consort's future programming and extending its range to include the rich repertoire of the Classical period.
Olivier Henchiri - co-director & cellist
Lisa Wall - co-director & clarinettist