Apollos’ Fire musicians

Apollo’s Fire, Cleveland’s internationally acclaimed Baroque orchestra, hosted its Fired Up! A Musical Feast gala benefit on May 20, at Tenk West Bank for 300 guests.
For the event, Apollo’s Fire performed a musical prelude with music by Georg Telemann and Diego Ortiz, followed by dinner, wine, cocktails and a live auction.
Musicians then performed a Blues Cafe of 1610 concert evoking a London Alehouse with music by Solomon Eccles and Turlough O’Carolan, then a Bistro in Barcelona with music by Barbara Strozzi and Jose de Nebra. Erica Schuller enchanted

Lisl and Maureen Wangermann

the crowd with her melodic soprano voice. She was joined by Elora Kares, a Young Artist Apprentice soprano, who hails from Shaker Heights.
Alan Choo served as concertmaster. Andrew Fouts played violin; Liz Holzman Hagen on viola; Kivie Cahn-Lipman on cello; Daphna Mor played recorder, Kathie Stewart on traverso; Brian Kay played lute and guitar, with Jeannette Sorrell on harpsichord.
This past year, Artistic Director Sorrell and the Apollo’s Fire musicians performed in 50 concerts around the globe, including a recent international tour in New York City, Chicago, San Francisco, London, Aldeburgh (UK), and Germany.

Liz Patterson, Deb Nash, and Brendan Patterson

Funds raised through the Fund-the-Need campaign support community outreach and education, such as the MOSAIC Project (Apollo’s Fire’s diversity initiative); concert production; media production, as well as continuing to fund the orchestra’s artistic excellence. The event raised approximately $202,000 for these initiatives.
This year’s honorees are Dr. Cliff Deveny, CEO and President of Summa Health. His work on the Apollo’s Fire board have supported and strengthened its 29-year residency in Akron, including medical guidance on performance protocols through the pandemic. Astri Seidenfeld, Arts Lover, Patron and Advocate, is a native of Norway who moved to Cleveland 30 years ago. As a new Cleveland resident, she attended her first Apollo’s Fire concert, and has become one of its

Culeen Carey, Charles Bittenbender, and Kasia Rothenberg

strongest advocates and patrons ever since.
Apollo’s Fire 2023-24 season includes 29 concerts in Northeast Ohio. Look for Splendour in London and Handel’s Israel in Egypt in October; Nights in Venice and Fire & Joy from Bach and Vivaldi in November; Wassail! An Irish-Appalachian Christmas in December; Angel Fire: Mysteries of the Violin in February 2024; Hispania! A Spanish-Mexican Journey in March 2024; and Bach’s Easter Oratorio in April 2024. Visit apollosfire.org for more information. STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY ANDREA C. TURNER