Allison Monroe

Allison Monroe is a Lecturer in Music and Faculty Director of the Five College Early Music Program at Mount Holyoke College. A specialist in historical performance, she plays Renaissance, Baroque, and Classical violin/viola, along with viols, vielle, rebec, and medieval harp.

• D.M.A. in Historical Performance Practice, Case Western Reserve University
• M.M. in Performance, Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama
• B.A. in Music, University of Maryland, College Park

Her research focuses on medieval song accompaniment, self-accompaniment using the lira da braccio, and early seventeenth-century English violin bands. She co-founded the medieval music ensemble Trobár, directing programming and collaborating with groups like Newberry Consort and Boston Camerata.

Recent publications include curating and performing on Trobár's critically acclaimed album *Il Dit Elle Dit: Love & Dialogue in the World of Christine de Pizan* (2024) and contributions to Les Délices' *SalonEra* podcast (2023). Her work bridges performance, scholarship, and community engagement, with accolades for both artistic innovation and educational impact.

• Favorable review in Early Music America Magazine (2024)
• Accolades for violin performance in Les Délices' *The Mermaid* (2025)
• Recognition for community-focused initiatives like Trobár's MuckAbouts (2024)

As Artistic Director of Trobár, she has co-curated performances with leading ensembles and contributed to the modern revival of historical works, including the world premiere of a rediscovered cantata by Maria Theresia Paradis (2024). Her practice integrates hands-on archival research with accessible, collaborative music education.