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Affetto

Praised as ‘inspired programmers’ by Metro Magazine, early music ensemble Affetto were formed in 2010 to explore the lesser known chamber music of the Baroque and Renaissance.

The four members of Affetto are all early music specialists, leaders in their respective fields, Kiwis, overseas trained, all playing authentic instruments & all hopelessly passionate about early music.

Rowena Simpson grew up in Wellington, Hamilton and London and began her performing career as a cellist, chorister and dancer. She studied singing with German soprano Rosemary Gordon and graduated with degrees in musicology and linguistics from Victoria University before leaving for The Netherlands in 1997, where she studied singing and historical performance practice at the Royal Conservatoire.

While based in Europe, she performed with professional chamber ensembles and was a soloist in the baroque and classical repertoires. Since returning to NZ in 2006, Rowena has developed a freelance career in chamber music and opera, performing for many organisations including Chamber Music NZ (Barocca & Tōku Ao), Stroma New Music Ensemble, NZ Barok, CBS Music Trust, Pinchgut Opera (Sydney), Days Bay Opera and as a member of the NZ Opera chorus.

Rachael Griffiths-Hughes performs as harpsichordist and organist with many ensembles across New Zealand, including the early music groups Affetto, and NZBarok, and recently as soloist in Bach's 5th Brandenburg concerto with the NZSO. She is Director of Music at St. Peter’s Cathedral, Hamilton, and Convenor of Music at the University of Waikato Conservatorium of Music. Rachael enjoys research, editing and performing 17th and 18th century sacred cantatas, with the Hamilton-based ensemble Vox Baroque, a 12-voice choir with a small band of instrumentalists.

Polly Sussex performs, teaches and researches Baroque Cello and Viola da Gamba music of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. She trained initially in traditional cello playing at the Akademie musickych umeni in Prague and in London at the Royal Academy of Music, then privately with William Pleeth . After obtaining her Ph. D in Music at the University of Otago, Polly performed freelance. In 2007 and 2008, Polly undertook further study in the Viol and Early Music at the Hochschule fuer Kuenste, Bremen, North Germany and in Basel, Switzerland. She plays all sizes of Viol, including the tiny Pardessus, much loved by French ladies of the aristocracy before the French Revolution.

Historical trumpet and cornetto specialist Peter Reid is based in Auckland. He was a founding member of Affetto in 2010 (CD release 2017), has toured with Chamber Music NZ, and regularly performs with NZ Barok, Queen’s Closet in Wellington, and Handel Consort. In Australia he has performed with La Compania, Ludovico's Band, and Australian Baroque Brass.

On the modern valved trumpet Peter plays for Bach Musica and Opus Chamber Orchestra. He studied at the University of Auckland and Trinity College of Music in London, and developed his passion for period performance while in Europe. He plays flugel & tenor horn for Auckland City Brass Band.

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