The History of SoHIP

Over the years, countless harpsichords have been tuned, hundreds of music stands placed onstage, and thousands of audience members have embraced the talent and grace of SoHIP’s summer series musicians.  In 2010 we celebrated our milestone 25th season, having presented 485 concerts by 85 different ensembles in those two and half decades.

SoHIP grew out of the local early music community’s response to the Boston Early Music Festival in the mid 1980’s.  While there was revitalized enthusiasm for early music, thanks in large part to BEMF, there remained limited opportunities for all but a very few of New England’s finest players to perform. To expand the performing possibilities for early musicians in the Boston area, members of seven ensembles collaborated on a summer concert series in 1987, endeavoring to share in the work, and later to give a helping hand to other groups that were trying to get a start in the field.

The SoHIP Summer Concert Series has become a beloved tradition which continues to provide exposure and performance opportunities for local musicians.

SoHIP looks ahead to many more years of uniting inspired audiences with beautiful music.