The professional vocal early music ensemble APERI has quickly drawn the attention of early music enthusiasts and organizations across the United States. From its founding in 2017 by performer-scholar Daniel Koplitz (dir. 2017–21), APERI has been praised for its ensemble precision, full-throated vocals, emotional expressivity, and innovative programming.

The ensemble is composed of vocalists, teachers, composers, and scholars who call the greater Milwaukee area “home.” Members have experience performing across the city and country, including engagements with Haymarket Opera Company, Milwaukee Opera Theatre, Skylight Music Theatre, Madison Early Music Festival, Boston Early Music Academy, and Amherst Early Music Festival. APERI has collaborated with Milwaukee Opera Theatre, Cadance Collective, St. John’s Cathedral Choir, Camerata Milwaukee, MARS SMITH, Danceworks, and Early Music Now. APERI has opened for the world-renowned Flanders Recorder Quartet and worked in a masterclass setting with The Queen’s Six (London), Calmus Ensemble (Leipzig), Dana Marsh (Washington Bach Consort, Historical Performance Institute at Indiana University – Bloomington), and Grant Herreid (Piffaro, Yale University).

APERI’s repertoire spans from plainchant to twenty-first-century works, but focuses primarily on sacred music from the Renaissance, mainly that of the English school. While careful attention is given to historically informed performance practice, the ensemble emphasizes the meditative and reflective atmosphere that can be manifested through thoughtful and mindful performance of this music.

The ensemble currently holds residency at All Saints’ Cathedral in Milwaukee.