Vision
Céleste Music inspires musicians and audiences to embrace a vibrant, diverse, creative approach to interpreting Classical music.
Mission
Céleste Music assembles a unique historical keyboard instrument collection in Canada made available to musicians of all ages for:
Performance
The Céleste Music Salon is a classical music series that uses historical keyboards in solo and chamber settings, vocal and instrumental.
Research
The Céleste Music Artist in Residence is a program that collaborates with professional musicians to create unique musical projects. The instruments are made available to artists during longer-term musical residencies for practice and performance.
Recording
The Céleste Music recording label enables professional musicians to disseminate their work to an international audience.
Education
The Céleste Music Prize is an annual early keyboard competition that provides performance opportunities and scholarships so that students can further their study of historical performance.
Outreach
The Céleste Music Academy holds frequent workshops, masterclasses, and student recitals that provide numerous opportunities for beginner and experienced students to interact with the instruments and enrich their playing experience of contemporary repertoire.
Céleste Music is dedicated to creating a space where artistry, education, and innovation meet to inspire the Classical music community.
Instrument Collection
Céleste Music is proud to showcase an exceptional collection of historical keyboard instruments, each with its own distinct character and charm. These instruments serve as the heart of our performances, residencies, and educational programs, offering musicians and audiences an unparalleled opportunity to experience Classical music. Each instrument invites exploration, offering musicians a gateway into the artistic traditions and sonic worlds of the past.
Early 17th Century Venetian Harpsichord (Copy by David Jensen, 2003)
This lightweight continuo harpsichord, constructed in cedar and weighing only 40 lbs., is a quintessential example of Early Baroque craftsmanship. Featuring 2x8’ registers, it boasts remarkable resonance and portability, making it ideal for Italian Baroque and Virginalist repertoire. While traditionally housed in ornate outer cases (which we plan to add soon!), it currently serves as a pure, elegant continuo engine.
5-Octave Clavichord by Friederici (1774, Copy by Renée Geoffrion)
Inspired by an original housed in the Musée de la musique in Paris, this walnut clavichord is both visually stunning and musically intimate. With its unfretted design and beautiful decorative roses, it spans five octaves, accommodating repertoire from early clavichord works to late-Classical masterpieces. Revered for its ability to demand precision, this instrument is a true teacher, refining the player’s touch and technique to produce its delicate, expressive sound.
Fortepiano by Conrad Graf (1835, Restored by Edwin Beunk)
This original 1835 fortepiano by Conrad Graf is a masterpiece of Romantic-era design. Constructed from cherry wood and featuring 6.5 octaves (CC-G) with four pedals—damper, una corda, moderator, and double moderator—it offers a rich palette of tonal colors and expressive possibilities. Perfectly suited for works by Schumann, Chopin, and other Romantic composers, its deep bass register and tone-altering pedals create a lush, dynamic soundscape that also complements later Romantic repertoire beautifully.
Mid-18th Century Hemsch Harpsichord (Copy by Marc Ducornet, 2025)
This double manual French harpsichord is made in the style of the instruments of Henri Hemsch, a German craftsman that made his career in France. This mid-eighteenth century French harpsichord model features a lush, rich sound perfectly attuned to 18th century keyboard music, especially French composers. The range of the instrument is (FF-g''') encompassing the most expansive 18th century repertoire. An additional decorative feature of the harpsichord are the curved Louis XV legs. This instrument is in the process of being built and we can't wait to welcome this new addition to our collection!
A Tradition Renewed
Imagine attending the concert premiere of a great new Concerto: Mozart himself sitting at his own keyboard playing and improvising as he performed for his audience. What did this music sound like on a 5-octave “Hammerflügel”, the latest technology in piano building? What did Mozart add to the score as he improvised? How can we convey the freshness of this original performance? Céleste Music enables musicians and audiences to experience a range of early keyboards, renewing the sounds and practices of the past in all their vitality and diversity.
Classical music was created within a vibrant culture of composers, performers, patrons, audiences, craftsmen, and musical instruments. The Céleste Music instrument collection gives audiences the opportunity to delve into the history of early keyboard instruments throughout the centuries, their beauty and variety. Each early keyboard in the collection, whether an original antique or a newly-made historical replica, is an exquisitely hand-crafted instrument, unlocking the door to a rich and diverse musical culture. No two instruments are exactly alike – just as no two performances should ever be.
The instruments themselves are stunning vehicles to interpret the music. Each instrument reveals breathtaking artistry, with its own individual flavour, and expressive personality. Our collection includes a variety of keyboards from the harpsichord and clavichord to the developing models of early pianos. Pairing these special instruments with musicians attuned to their unique qualities makes for an extraordinary concert experience.
Céleste Music is one of few organizations in the world that seeks to preserve and showcase these instruments, creating a living collection to be heard and experienced. Our performances seek to revive the salon concerts of the 18th and 19th centuries through smaller venues and more communication with the artists. Audience members have the opportunity to view the instruments up close, engage with the musicians, and ask questions. It is our hope that our audiences will forge personal connections with us and experience a more intimate connection to the works performed.
Our Team
