The Vocal Ensemble Tempus Floridum was founded in 1998 in Florence, Italy, under the Direction of Joan Yakkey, renowned composer and Director of the prestigious Children’s Choir of the Music School of Fiesole. The Ensemble performs throughout Europe presenting a varied repertoire of sacred and secular polyphonic works from Medieval to Contemporary times, including American Spirituals.  Recent concerts include invitations to the International Festivals of Octets in Basque Country, the 2005 and 2008 editions in Portugalete, and to the Festival of Choral Music in November 2006 in Pamplona. They also participated in the 24th Otono Musical Castreno in Castro Urdiales, Spain. In 2007 the ensemble performed the première of the female version of “Passione Popolare” an oratorio by Ivan Moody, rearranged by M° Yakkey and  “Requiem Crisalideo”, a work dedicated to the Ensemble by its composer Andrea Portera.

The group now consists of ten singers ranging in age from 21 to 32 years old.  Most have been singing together for over 20 years, all have an extensive background in Choral Music and have collaborated on numerous occasions with the Opera Theatres of Italy and abroad under the baton of conductors such as Zubin Mehta, Myung Wung Chung, Giuseppe Sinopoli and others.  With the addition of two talented new members, the ensemble is now complete and holds a superior level of musicianship and craftsmanship.  The Ensemble recorded two full length CDs, the first includes Madrigals, Gregorian Chants, Christmas Carols, Renaissance Sacred Motets and selections from the Contemporary a cappella repertoire; the second is a collection of songs recorded live during various concerts.  They will record a CD in early spring 2009 with new music inspired on the poetry by the American composer Canary Burton.