Rural Touring Press Kit

K’antu Ensemble - Artist Bio

Founded in 2012 by Ruth Hopkins, K’antu Ensemble explore the less-trodden territories of early music, combining elements of folk and world music with historically informed techniques. The music of Spain and South America seemed an obvious starting place—hence the name K’antu, referring to an ancient style of Peruvian and Bolivian music and dance.

In England, K’antu perform extensively at festivals and venues including the Bridgewater Hall, Leamington Music, Newbury Spring Festival, King’s Place and St Martin-in-the-Fields. They have also broadcast live on Radio 3’s In Tune from Broadcasting House and as house band during their residency at the Southbank Centre. On the international stage, K’antu represented the UK at Göttingen International Handel Festival’s Historische Reihe in Germany and have toured to Hungary, Romania and Egypt in association with the British Council.

Their albums Dancing & the Divine and Gusto have been featured on BBC Radio 3’s Early Music Show, Late Junction, BBC Introducing, Resonance FM’s LSO Soundhub and in Early Music Today magazine. At Cheltenham Festival, they premiered The Sky Begins to Change by Kerry Andrew. Their performances have reached new audiences with their music featured on BBC One and Hatos Csatorna TV (Hungary).

They enjoy ongoing collaborations with Dancing Master Darren Royston and Nonsuch History and Dance, creating interactive events for a range of heritage sites. Through K’antu Arts CIC, they deliver an extensive education and outreach programme in schools, heritage sites and care homes across the UK and internationally, and work closely with heritage partners to develop site-specific, costumed performances and participatory projects. They have worked as both performers and mentors for Live Music Now and lead residential courses for music students at the South West Music School.

Their work has been generously supported by Arts Council England Heritage Lottery Fund, Spirit of 2012, Oxford University,  Help Musicians UK, JM Instruments and the Society of Recorder Players.

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Press and Reviews

“Informative and entertaining, the music was a joy. Everyone enjoyed it enormously."

(Mark Eynon, Newbury Spring Festival)

"K'antu Ensemble is a breath of fresh air: early music presented with beguiling virtuosity and inventiveness.” (Howard Skempton, Composer)

“Terrifically interesting and enjoyable...their performances are joyously individual”

(Early Music Today Magazine)

"Working their magic!" (Max Reinhardt, BBC Radio 3)

“The choice of music was beautifully judged, moving through a whole range of moods and genres: and even the most familiar pieces on the programme, by Dowland and Morley, seemed new, not only because they were performed with such candour and verve but because they were placed in a new context by the ensemble's inclusion of pieces (and musical textures) from Spain and the New World. These players are expert without being mannered, vivid without being simplistic, wholly alive to the expressive possibilities of Elizabethan and Jacobean music. I cannot recommend them highly enough.”

(Michael Dobson, Professor of Shakespeare Studies)

“Obviously a group that will do well. And they deserve that success”

(St Martin's Chamber Music Competition 2015 Judge)

“K’antu came to St Endellion and blew us away! The rhythm and energy of their performance was infectious, making us all smile and want to dance in the aisles. The secrets of their success were their virtuoso playing, their tight ensemble, and the sheer joy of their music-making. We were treated to a rich menu of renaissance music from all over Europe, which included the serious and the humorous, the lyrical and the rhythmic, played and sung with great style and lightness of touch. K’antu’s concert was one of a season and all who came agreed that it was the best concert of the series.” (Ian Sandbrook, Chairman Endellienta)

"An equally extraordinary and entertaining evening, which ended with an enthusiastic applause and an encore." (Michael Caspar, Göttinger Tageblatt, Germany)

More Concert Testimonials:

“It isn't just the ensemble's considerable skill as specialist musicians, their versatility or inventive arrangements that makes them so special, although this is of course a large part of the delight: it's the feeling of becoming a privileged initiate into in the exciting creative process itself; of not just listening to the music but of being inside it. This is largely due to the leader and musical arranger, Ruth Hopkins, who invites the audience to come close, to experience, to imagine. The skilful blending of instruments and voices, the subtle changes of rhythms and moods then come to you as glorious evocations of lives and places that jump out of the past and chime effortlessly with the here and now. The music is joyful, it's earthy, sometimes wonderfully moody and the exuberance of the musicians is infectious. (Joanna Wallwork, Director, Bratton Clovelly Festival) 

"K'antu performed to a packed house. The expertise with which K'antu delivered its Shakespeare inspired programme was matched only by the passion and energy exuded by each individual performer. The audience was electrified and captivated in equal measure." (Nicholas Boyd-Vaughan, Concert Manager, St Martin-in-the-Fields) 

“A well thought our programme for our sight impaired clients. The musicians were excellent, full of confidence and all engaged fully with our elderly clients. Visually impaired clients appreciate the experience of live music.” (Mappin Street Centre, Sheffield)   

“A thoroughly enjoyable experience that took the audience on a ‘journey’ to times past. The music was played on replica instruments with both skill and ease. Informative and pleasing…you are guaranteed to return from this ‘journey’ with an uplifted spirit.”  (Heba El-Rafey, Director, Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Egypt) 

"My expectations of super repertoire and skilled musicianship on an array of instruments were amply fulfilled - but I had not anticipated that two standout voices would be so ably supported by the others to create a rich, vocal sound, nor the sheer joie de vie of these musicians, revelling in their music making. Kantu's concert was musically enchanting, fresh and fun - and an absolute delight. Highly recommended." (Jill Tomalin, Totnes Early Music Society) 

Workshop Reviews:

“You were really great….much better than Taylor Swift!”  (Olivia Year 2, Timbertree Academy, Cradley Heath) 

“This was a fantastic mind-widening experience for our children. If it wasn’t for K’antu, they just wouldn’t have been able to feast their ears on live medieval and Tudor music! Recommended without reservation.” (B Collard – Music Subject Leader – Reaside Academy)

“It was a really fun and interesting workshop. Ruth is a cool singer!” (Sam Friar Year 5, Reaside Academy) 

 "We all loved the performance! The children were engaged and had fun, which is what music is all about. The performers were excellent at working with all the students so they all had a chance to get involved. A number of children hadn’t been to anything like this performance before, and commented afterwards how much they had enjoyed it."    (Robert Ogden School, Rotherham)   

"Good interaction with students and good movement through the audience, with very different kinds of music to what students were used to.” (Hilltop School, Rotherham)   

“The session was pitched at exactly the right level, with enough hands on to keep everyone happy. A really good day! (Phillipa Storr, Linslade Lower School, Leighton Buzzard)   

“All the children joined in. They were so engaged. What an incredible session! Thoroughly enjoyed by all.” (Melissa Dillamore, Teacher)    

“The session really lifted the spirits of the children. What a fantastic day!” (Pam Edmonds, Teacher) 

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