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Garrick Comeaux
Founder & Artistic Director
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Consortium Carissimi
Consortium Carissimi was conceived of by Garrick Comeaux, Artistic Director, in 1996 while living in Rome, Italy. He founded Consortium Carissimi in 2007 as an official nonprofit, 501 (c)(3). This Minnesota-based performing ensemble has the mission of uncovering and bringing to 21st century audiences the long-forgotten Italian baroque music of the 16th and 17th centuries. It does so through live concerts, master classes, recordings and publications. Consortium Carissimi bears the name of the famous composer whose music was known for its simple, fresh approach to text, melody and accompaniment.
Much of the music that Consortium Carissimi performs has not been heard since it was first created in the 16th or 17th century—and it is only through the transcriptions of these original documents that this music may be heard today. The unique strength that Consortium Carissimi possesses is that it has in its library over 200 transcriptions of these long-forgotten works. Currently, there are no other organizations in the United States that have transcriptions such as these. As a result of this uniqueness, Consortium Carissimi contributes to the cultural vitality of the Minnesota community in four key and distinct ways:
- Performances: the ensemble of mixed voices and instruments performs at least three concerts annually of repertoire from the Italian-Roman sacred and secular music of the 16th and 17th centuries.
- Educational programs: Consortium Carissimi conducts master classes with educational institutions located in Minnesota and Tri-State area. Master classes include intense studies of vocal and instrumental practices of 16th and 17th century Rome.
- Manuscript transcription and publication: Consortium Carissimi is the only organization in the United States that has in its library transcriptions of over 200 manuscripts of this time period, including the complete works of Giacomo Carissimi.
- Recordings: Consortium Carissimi intends to extend public access to and knowledge of this musical tradition through digital recordings.
Our Volunteer Board of Directors & Staff
Consortium Carissimi is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in Minnesota.
Are you interested in volunteering as a Board Member or at one of our concerts? We’d love to hear from you! Contact us and we’ll send you information on how to join us.
Volunteer Board Members & Staff
To learn more about our team, click on their link below:
- Joel HansonPresidentJoel HansonPresident
Joel Hanson (Board President) is currently Sr. Director, Innovation Business Development at CWT. He has led numerous products to new success, ranging from mobile applications to business intelligence tools.
Joel is also a musician who was inspired by Consortium’s mission to bring early music to modern ears. He is delighted to be able to broadly apply his skills and MBA from the University of Minnesota to Consortium Carissimi’s unique focus.
- Beth NunnallyTreasurerBeth NunnallyTreasurer
Beth Nunnally (Treasurer) currently serves as the chief financial officer for Health Sciences at the University of Minnesota. From 1995 to 2000, Beth was the University of Minnesota’s tax director and prior to that, a non-profit tax consultant for Coopers & Lybrand.
Beth is a licensed certified public accountant in the state of Minnesota. She served on the National IRS Advisory Committee on Tax-Exempt and Government Entities from 2001-2003.
- Anahita RoussillonSecretaryAnahita RoussillonSecretary
Anahita Roussillon is a Global Client Management Director at CWT based in Brisbane, Australia. Anahita has held numerous leadership roles within her industry including Director of Strategic Planning and Head of Account Management. She recently completed Women in Technology’s 2021 board program and holds a BA in management and leadership from the University of Southern Queensland.
Anahita is passionate about the arts and increasing knowledge and awareness of Consortium’s unique style of music across multiple geographies.
- Garrick ComeauxFounder/Artistic DirectorGarrick ComeauxFounder/Artistic Director
Garrick Comeaux, Artistic Director of Consortium Carissimi, returned to the United States in 2005 after 25 years of life in Italy and Germany, with extensive experience in early music, both as a singer and as a conductor. Garrick began his musical formation at an early age in piano studies, bass viol and cello as well as private voice lessons. Comeaux attended Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota and sang under the direction of Paul J. Christensen, then dedicated his energies in vocal studies at Indiana University Music School in Bloomington. In 1981, he moved to Rome, Italy where his studies in voice continued at the Music Conservatories of Santa Cecilia in Rome and F. Morlacchi in Perugia, Italy.He soon took residence in Munich Germany in 1986, continuing vocal studies and performing as a member of the Bayerischer Rundfunk Konzertchor – Munich, Germany Sir Colin Davis, director and sang in concerts and recordings conducted by directors such as Sawalish, Solti, Maazel, Sinopoli, Barenboim and Bernstein. A keen interest in early baroque music began in the years spent in Germany, performing various works and oratories of Schütz, Buxtehude, Bach, Carissimi, Monteverdi and Purcell. Comeaux has worked extensively over the years with various early music groups, predominately in Italy but throughout the European continent. He has collaborated with ensembles and directors such as the Coro della Radiotelevisione Svizzera Italiana, Lugano, Switzerland, Diego Fasolis; L’Homme Armè, Fabio Lombardo and Andrew Lawrence King; Capella Ducale in Venetia, Livio Picotti; De Labytintho W. Testolin.
- Lisa DrewWebmasterLisa DrewWebmaster
Lisa Drew works her website magic with our site and Facebook page in addition to setting up online ticket sales for Consortium Carissimi. Since 2009, Lisa has been building websites for small businesses and nonprofits through her company Websites for a Song.
A former professional soloist, Lisa is now branching into the visual arts as an award winning photographer with a current exhibition at the Minneapolis Convention Center.
- Reid KrugerMulti-MediaReid KrugerMulti-MediaReid is the genius behind our video and audio recordings. Look for him at one of our concerts!As an artist-in-residence from 1996 to 1999, Reid studied sound recording, post production techniques and electronic music at The Banff Centre for the Arts . Faculty included George Massenburg, Bob Ludwig and Mark Willsher. In 2006, Reid recorded Roy Haynes "Whereas" which was released on Dreyfus Records and nominated for a Grammy the following year. Other career highlights include composing the opening score for the Emmy Award-winning television show, "Natural Heroes," and Sound Designer for the 2015 opera-exhibition, "Wise Blood," based on a story by Flannery O'Connor.When he is not working in the studio or on-location, Reid is an adjunct professor at Macalester College, teaching Electronic Music, Music and Entrepreneurship as well as all things audio and video in their state-of-the-art Mairs Concert Hall. In addition to recording and performing original scores, songs and compositions, he plays in several bands including: The Fussy Half, Waschering Maschine, That's What You Get (TWYG), Birth Order Experiment, and Artifact Shore. Additionally, Reid enjoys travel, cycling and sunlight.
Covid Policy & Accessibility
Covid Safety
The safety of our audiences, performers, and volunteers is our highest priority at Consortium Carissimi.
Before your visit our concert venues, we ask that you take note of the following measures we’ve put in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Face masks
Face masks are recommended for all patrons while inside our performance spaces and foyers, including during the performance.
Stay home if you feel unwell
Please do not attend a Consortium Carissimi event or visit our concert venues if you are experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19, are waiting for a COVID-19 test result, or have recently been in contact with a confirmed case.
COVID-19 safety during a concert
While attending a concert we ask that you please continue to practice COVID safety and take the following measures:
- Where possible, remain physically distanced and leave 1.5 meters between you and other patrons.
- Wash your hands frequently with soap and water, and make use of the hand sanitizer located around the venue.
- Cough or sneeze into your elbow and avoid hand-on-hand contact.
- Our volunteers are here to make your experience an enjoyable one, and we ask that you are patient with us as we continue to navigate these changes.
- As a conditions of entry, all patrons who visit a Consortium Carissimi concert venue are assumed to understand there remains a risk of COVID-19 transmission, even if you are fully vaccinated. By entering the venue you acknowledge and agree to this.
- Please consider your well-being and health needs when making your decision to attend one our concerts.
Accessibility
Welcome. Consortium Carissimi is committed to making our events accessible, inclusive and barrier-free so that everyone can enjoy them. Where possible we aim to select venues that provide accessible seating options, accessible toilets and assistive hearing technology. We welcome patrons with Disability Identification and Assistance Animals. If you have any questions about accessibility or would like to book accessible seating, please contact us below.