Esteban La Rotta

Esteban La Rotta is a Course Instructor (Coach, Early Music Ensembles) at McGill University's Schulich School of Music. Specializing in early plucked instruments, he holds a doctorate in performance (2008) from McGill, with further studies at the Civica Scuola di Musica di Milano and the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis. His expertise spans late medieval and Renaissance lute solo repertoire, Baroque Italian and French theorbo, and historical performance practices. He is a co-founder of the ensemble Pallade Musica and collaborates with renowned groups like Les Violons du Roy and Les Voix Humaines.

Education:

• Doctorate in Performance (2008), McGill University
• Studies at Civica Scuola di Musica di Milano (Paul Beier) and Schola Cantorum Basiliensis (Crawford Young, Hopkinson Smith)

Research & Performance:

• Focus on early music revival, including lute polyphony origins and Baroque guitar
• Regular performer at festivals like Festival Montréal Baroque, Boston Early Music Festival, and Tage Alter Musik (Regensburg)
• Broadcast performances on CBC and BBC; recordings on Atma, Recercare, and Passacaille labels

Labs/Teams: Co-founder of Pallade Musica (Canadian ensemble specializing in early music).

Grants & Awards: No specific awards listed, though recognized as one of Canada’s leading lutenists.