Martin Near
Countertenor Martin Near began his professional singing career at age ten in the choir of men and boys at Saint Thomas Fifth Avenue in New York City, advancing to Head Chorister. He recently appeared as alto soloist with Boston Cecilia in Bach’s Mass in B Minor and was praised as “winsome and lyrical” in the role of David in Handel’s Saul with the Harvard University Choir and Baroque Orchestra. A founding member of the professional early music ensemble Exultemus, Mr. Near takes up the role of Music Director this season. He recently made his debut as record producer for a recording of sacred music by Josquin des Prez and Marbrianus de Orto with the vocal ensemble Cut Circle, to be released this year. In 2002 Mr. Near served as composer and music director of the one act opera Six Character in Search of an Opera for Project ARIA (AIDS Response by Independent Artists). An advocate of the performance of new music, Mr. Near has been a soloit in numerous world premieres, including Temptation in the Desert by Elliott Gyger for Mr. Near and Seraphim Singers, and Some Reflections by John Eaton, a microtonal piece in 72-note equal temperament composed for the 20th anniversary of the Boston Microtonal Society.
