Les Sirènes takes audiences on an exploration of the soprano voice and the Baroque vocal repertory. The members of Les Sirènes, sopranos Kathryn Mueller and Kristen Watson, and harpsichordist Michael Sponseller, are young stars in the world of early music, with solo careers spanning the United States, Europe, and Asia.

As Les Sirènes, Kathryn, Kristen and Michael create thought-provoking and appealing programs that engage audiences with crisp and dynamic music-making, sparkling coloratura, and lavish suspensions.

Artist Biographies

Soprano Kathryn Mueller delights audiences in both concert and operatic performances. Praised for her “pure sound” and “glorious high notes,” (Atlanta Journal Constitution, Arizona Daily Star) she has appeared as a soloist with the Washington Bach Consort, Santa Fe Pro Musica, Firebird Orchestra, Tucson Symphony Orchestra, New Trinity Baroque, and Tucson Chamber Artists, and in operatic roles with Arizona Opera and the Seattle Academy of Baroque Opera. She recently made her Asian debut during a musical Peace Tour across Indonesia with the Swara Sonora Trio. An accomplished ensemble singer as well, Kathryn has sung with Seraphic Fire, the Handel and Haydn Society, the Oregon Bach Festival Chorus, and the Santa Fe Desert Chorale. She holds music degrees from Brown University and The University of Arizona. Kathryn has recorded extensively with New Trinity Baroque on the Edition Lilac label, and is also featured as a soloist on recordings by Seraphic Fire, the Santa Fe Desert Chorale and Tucson Chamber Artists.

Soprano Kristen Watson, hailed by critics for her “blithe and silvery” tone and “winning stage presence”, has made solo debuts with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra of New York City, the Mark Morris Dance Group, Boston Baroque, the Handel & Haydn Society and Emmanuel Music, at such venues as the Walt Disney Concert Hall, Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Boston’s Symphony Hall. Opera audiences have heard Kristen in productions with Boston Lyric Opera, Opera New England, the Boston University Opera Institute, and Opera Boston, with whom she performed in Osvaldo Golijov’s acclaimed new opera Ainadamar (Voice of the Fountain), directed by Peter Sellars. A versatile crossover artist, she has also been featured as the soprano soloist with the Boston Pops on their “Mozart’s Greatest Hits” program as well as their “Holiday Pops” series, both under Keith Lockhart. Other solo performances include the Carmel Bach Festival, Aston Magna Festival, Cactus Pear Music Festival, and the White Mountain Bach Festival.

Harpsichordist Michael Sponseller has appeared throughout Europe and North America with critical acclaim as a soloist, conductor, and chamber musician. Winner of the American Bach Soloists Competition (1998) and the Jurow International Harpsichord Competition (2002), he holds the distinction of being a two-time prizewinner at the Festival of Flanders International Harpsichord Competition (Bruges), as well as taking prizes in Montréal and Kalamazoo. In addition to holding degrees from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and the Royal Conservatory of Music in The Hague, Michael was a teacher of harpsichord at the Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music. Mr. Sponseller can also be heard on several recordings from Electra, Vanguard Classics, Naxos, Delos and Centaur. In 2006, Michael was named Lorraine Hunt Lieberson Fellow by Boston’s Emmanuel Music, in recognition of his achievements as emerging young artist. The following year, he founded Ensemble Florilege, (www.ensembleflorilege.org) a chamber ensemble dedicated to the performance of lesser-performed repertory of the 17th & 18th centuries.