BRT Presents: Skye Consort & Emma Björling

Skye Consort & Emma Björling return to perform trans-Atlantic arrangements of songs and tunes from Sweden, Norway, Ireland, Scotland, England, and Québec, as well as original compositions. They find enchanting stories and melodies, then bring them into the 21st century with worldly chamber-folk settings. Each musician brings their own individual interpretation to these traditions to create this extraordinary collaboration, consisting of voices, fiddle, nyckelharpa, cello, bouzouki, banjo, and percussion.

Collectively, the band present an assortment of whirling polskas, groovy reels, passionate love songs, beautiful hymns, and original compositions. Emma Björling (lead vocal, shruti box, percussion) is an award-winning Swedish singer, composer, arranger, active in the renowned Scandinavian bands Kongero and Lyy. Both bands have toured the world and are active in the European folk-trad scene. Joining Emma is Simon Alexandre (nyckelharpa, violin, voice), Amanda Keesmaat (cello, vocals), the principal cellist of Arion Baroque orchestra, and Seán Dagher (cittern / bouzouki, banjo & vocals), an active performer, arranger, and composer of music from various folk and classical music traditions. Skye Consort was formed in 1999, has performed and toured extensively, and has 8 full-length albums. In late 2018, Skye Consort, in collaboration with Emma Björling, created a new repertoire grown from Scandinavian, Québecois and Celtic roots. Their self-titled debut album, “Skye Consort & Emma Björling,” won the OPUS (QC, Canada) award for best world music album 2020.