La Dolce Vita

La Dolce Vita has been performing in North Florida since 1982. The ensemble specializes in music written before A.D.1750, and performs with voice and on a wide variety of instruments including recorders, viols, krummhorns, percussion, and harpsichord. La Dolce Vita performs professionally both in public and for private functions.

La Dolce Vita has performed everywhere from exclusive weddings and elegant private clubs to outdoor festivals seated on bails of straw, and in concert halls, churches, schools, art galleries, broadcast studios, country clubs, and national parks.

La Dolce Vita performs its own arrangements of music from the Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque. The performers are often attired in costumes reflecting the period of the music.

Whether our performance is a formal concert, music for a special event, or as background music, our audiences find the combination of ancient instruments, music and costume a captivating experience.

Robin Aronson (violas da gamba, harp, lute, recorder, crumhorn) started her career at the age of 14 as a street musician (accordion) in the annual St. Augustine 'Day in Spain' festival. She studied music at Jacksonville University and the University of North Florida, and studied viola da gamba with Julie Elhard in St.Paul, MN where she played with the Silver Swan Consort. She has degrees in education and computer science.

Ms. Bevis (vocals, percussion)holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Voice Performance from Jacksonville University. She also attended Florida State University where she was a member of "The Madrigals" and thus discovered her love of early music. Ms. Bevis is well-rounded having performed music ranging from Operetta in theaters in the Northeast, to Cabaret on a cruise ship in California, to Sacred Music at St. John's Cathedral, Jacksonville, to Musical Theatre in her hometown's own Alhambra Dinner Theatre. Dawn Marie is a "hopeless romantic" and loves early music because it allows her "to revel in the mysterious joys of the past."

Ms. Burton (violas da gamba) is a professional cellist whose engagements include the Seaside Musical Theatre. She holds a masters degree from the University of Florida in English with a concentration in early English literature. She began playing early string instruments in 1987 "better to capture spirit of early music."

DENNIS "The Hun" HUNSICKER (recorders, cornamuse, pipe and tabor, percussion) holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the Neupauer Conservatory of Music and is a professional accordionist. He served in the Navy as a member of the CINCLANT (NATO) Band. He is a composer and arranger and says he is fond of early music because he "really likes the costumes."

LISA McKENNA (Harpsichord, percussion) holds a Bachelor's of Science in Biology from Jacksonville University and is a practicing Environmental Consultant. She is a Registered Environmental Manager, Certified Hazardous Materials Manager, Certified Environmental Auditor, and a Certified Professional Environmental Auditor, but music is also Lisa's first love. She began playing piano at age four and continues to expand her keyboard scope. When Lisa was asked why she joined La Dolce Vita she responded "Join? I'm married to a lawyer - he coerced me into playing and before I knew it I was on stage playing with this wonderful talented group!"

Recorders, krummhorns, percussion. Holds the degree of Juris Doctor from Stetson University and is a practicing Attorney at Law, but music is McKenna's first love. He began playing recorders at age seven and continues to expand his musical scope. He composes and arranges music for the group. He is drawn to early music because "historical knowledge of early music is incomplete so you get to make up quite a lot as you go."

Call 904-683-4124 or e-mail robin@stellaceleste.com .