Skye Consort was formed in 1999 with the goal of bringing an art-music aesthetic to the folk music of different world traditions. Skye Consort’s contemporary arrangements bring fresh life to seldom-heard vocal and instrumental pieces from English and French Canada, France, Scandinavia, and the Celtic nations. Core members Seán Dagher (cittern), Alex Kheler (violin, nyckelharpa) and Amanda Keesmaat (cello) are joined on this project by Pierre-Alexandre Saint-Yves (recorder, chalumeau, and rauschpfeife).
In the past two decades the group has performed across eastern and central Canada and has put together a diverse discography. Skye Consort’s recordings include Traditional Celtic Melodies with counter-tenor Matthew White (ATMA 2000), Grands succès du deuxième millénaire (ombú 2004), The Irish Heart with tenor Michael Slattery (independent 2005), Courting Stories with Miranda Mulholland (ombú 2008), and Wales – Land of Song with soprano Shannon Mercer (Analekta 2009). Chansons d’amour d’Acadie et de France with the Louisbourg Choir is the consort’s latest project.