Femke Bergsma

I grew up in a small town in the east of the Netherlands, and moved to Montreal because of love and curiosity. 

I studied recorder at the Utrecht conservatory, but was dabbling in cello and ended up learning the medieval vielle and singing because it allows me to do more medieval things. And I finally did a masters in environmental studies at Sherbrooke University, because.

My activities as a professional recorder player have somewhat declined to make room for more medieval ensemble involvement, but I also work as a coordinator at a local non-profit environmental organization.

Shortly after arriving in Montreal, I got a job playing school concerts with a lutenist, and it was a medieval and renaissance program. He asked me if I would like to learn the vielle. This was quite the discovery, and I really loved exploring modes and all this unknown repertoire. It stuck!