Aureole, the world-renowned chamber ensemble, has been delighting audiences with imaginative and ground-breaking programs for over 25 years. The sound of flute, viola, and harp conjures a landscape that can encompass the stillness and quiet of an impressionist sunset, and the wild abandon of a folk dance. It brings together the three essential timbres of an orchestra—wind, string and percussion— into a uniquely colorful and versatile chamber music ensemble.

Individual Biographies: Laura Gilbert | Mary Hamman | Stacey Shames

The touchstone of Aureole’s repertoire is Claude Debussy’s enormously influential Sonate (1916), in which the composer imagined an entire universe of new sounds. The work has since inspired many composers to create new repertoire for flute, viola and harp. Aureole has been a key player in this process, commissioning well over 100 pieces that range from renaissance and baroque transcriptions to works by some of todays most gifted composers. Aureole is also passionate about pushing beyond traditional boundaries of classical music, and it has performed and recorded albums of The Beatles, Celtic, Latin and World music.

These consummate musicians, flutist Laura Gilbert, violist Mary Hammann, and harpist Stacey Shames, have a passionate desire to bring their remarkable repertoire—much of which they had a role in creating—to listeners throughout the world. With fourteen recordings in its discography, Aureole is the most widely recorded and best-known trio of its kind. Their yearly tours are a favorite of chamber music audiences, who have come to love and appreciate their dynamic artistry.

Photo by Lisa Mazzucco