Barbara Thornton Memorial Scholarship

2023 Recipient: Isabelle Douailly-Backman

Isabelle Douailly-Backman is a Montreal-based historical string player. Originally from Chicago, she moved to Montreal to pursue a degree in modern viola at McGill University. There she discovered a love for early music and has since completed a B.Mus in Baroque Viola and a M.Mus in Baroque Violin from McGill University under the tutelage of Hélène Plouffe and Olivier Brault.

Today, Isabelle frequently performs on baroque violin and viola with ensembles and festivals in Canada, including Ensemble Caprice, Arion Baroque Orchestra, Musique Royale, and Montreal Baroque Festival. She is also a specialist in the medieval fiddle and the co-artistic director of COMTESSA, an historically-informed ensemble who performs 11th to 14th century music on medieval period instruments. Isabelle also collaborates outside the early music scene with groups like the queer arts collective Sapphonix.

“With the Barbara Thornton Memorial Scholarship, I will be able to go to Europe and attend workshops and festivals centered around the study and performance of medieval music. I will also gain access to medieval manuscripts for study and the opportunity to perform and learn alongside with other medieval fiddle players. This experience will be forever valuable in the development of my career in the performance of medieval music.”