Lyra: Past, Present and Future

“I love to feel that I’m an instrument, a tool for the audience. I am very honored and humbled to be born a musician and follow this career. I think my [purpose] is to empower the audience and bring beauty. That is my humble goal. I never stop learning or practicing in order to reach out to the community and the audience.” -Cléa Galhano

Welcome to Lyra Baroque’s online campaign, “Past, Present and Future”! This campaign raises money for the Lyra Baroque Orchestra’s 40th anniversary season in conjunction with Minnesota’s Give to the Max holiday. Check back daily for exciting interviews and exclusive content, and help us reach our goal by donating on our Give to the Max page!

Cléa, originally from São Paulo, Brazil, moved to the Twin Cities 32 years ago where Lyra “quickly became her early music community.” She has played with the group since and has served on the board for the past year. She is a frequent concerto soloist with Lyra.

When asked what makes Lyra special, Cléa responded, “I think it’s the spirit of community. If you think about early music in the Twin Cities, throughout the years it expanded so much. In the center are the musicians from Lyra...There is this camaraderie.”

Cléa remembers a deeply special Lyra concert in which she was able to involve her young recorder students. “I did a concert with me and my students. It was so amazing because it was the younger generation playing with me. There are all these innovations throughout all these years and I’m honored to be part of it.” She also recounted her many solo appearances with Lyra fondly. She mentioned that once, Jacques Ogg, artistic director emeritus, programmed a double concerto by Pez. When Jacques came out on the stage, he brought a PEZ dispenser and clicked it open in front of the audience, Seinfeld-style. 

“[Lyra] gave me many opportunities to premiere concertos. Jaques commissioned a concerto for me. The composer was a violist from Orchestra of the 18th Century. Jacques commissioned this for me as a present. There were so many opportunities to premiere works here in Minnesota.”