Carlo Acutis and the Virginal
October 5, 2025, 5PM | New Church
Harpsichordist Micaela Schmitz is celebrating both the Blessed Carlo Acutis (saint from spring 2025) and a instrument baptism of her new Pentagonal Virginals (similar to a harpsichord). The program features pieces from the Renaissance related to Carlo’s devotion to the Virgin Mary, to the Eucharist, and to God. Composers include Byrd, Cabezon, Picchi, Frescobaldi, Rossi, Froberger, and more. It can be heard as a concert or treated as a meditation. Micaela will share information about the saint and the music as we journey with Carlo on his “Highway to Heaven”.
Dr. Micaela Schmitz specializes in early keyboard instruments, including harpsichord, fortepiano and clavichord. She earned her Doctorate of Musical Arts in 18th century keyboard music under Arthur Haas at the Eastman School of Music. This was preceded by a first degree in Music at U.C. Berkeley, and a Masters in Choral Conducting. She spent two years studying with Jacques Ogg and Bart van Oort at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague. As a soloist, she received acclaim for her performance of Bach’s Goldberg Variations, which features an entertaining pre-concert talk to help audiences appreciate the masterpiece.
Micaela has a special interest in original instruments. She regularly visits historic instrument collections and gives gallery talks as part of her research. In 2007 Micaela was awarded a Finzi Trust Scholarship to research 18th century English and Scottish Song, some of which she has performed with leading early music ensembles.
She has premiered works of the late Christopher Wood with Jeanne Dolmetsch and with Jacqui Robertson-Wade. As an educator, Micaela has inspired young people, especially through the Worcestershire Waits program, which she co-founded with Cathryn Dew and Andrew Watts, and which was later administered by Worcestershire Early Music. She launched the Worcestershire Baroque Orchestra and Vocal Course, and ran the Worcester Early Music Week from 2006-2018. As Education Officer for the Chipping Campden Music Festival, she ran a special program in 2012 commemorating the 400th anniversary of the Cotswold Olympicks, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. Since relocating back to the United States, she has become Orff certified and has taught K-8 music.
Heri et Hodie presents Meditations with Doctors of the Church
2026 Lent Series: March 25, 2026, 6pm Soup Supper & 7pm Concert | New Church
This beautiful meditative offering programs music inspired by (and in one case, written by) the four female Doctors of the Church: Teresa of Avila, Catherine of Siena, Thérèse of Lisieux, and Hildegard von Bingen. Through peaceful change and gentle organ accompaniment, the holy words of these great intellectual saints encourage and enlighten us in our desire to be closer to God. Bis orat qui bene cantat: who sings well, prays twice.
Canadian soprano and director Krista Cornish Scott earned her Masters of Music in Performance and Literature from the University of Western Ontario, where she studied with contemporary opera innovator John Hess and teachers Theodore and Irena Baerg. A past prize-winner at Canada’s national Eckhardt-Gramatté contemporary music competition, she continues to support and seek out new music as a singer, conductor, and as co-artistic director of the contemporary music ensemble Coro Volante. In 2020 she launched Heri et Hodie, an intimate women’s ensemble exploring medieval and modern music.
Krista is an active teacher, presenter, guest lecturer at high schools and colleges in both Canada and the U.S. Current recording projects include a CD of previously unrecorded works by R. Murray Schafer, and a recording of Hildegard texts set by women composers. Recent commissions include works by Ellen Harrison, Carlotta Ferrari, and Melissa Dunphy. As a contractor she connects Cincinnati-based artists with both solo and choral opportunities. Krista hires singers for such diverse places as Cincinnati Ballet, Trudell Productions (Josh Groban and other artists), the College-Conservatory of Music, and professional choirs small and large in the greater Cincinnati area.