Deirdre Dowling

With the aid of grants from the Australia Council and the Ian Potter Foundation, Deirdre moved from her hometown of Melbourne to The Hague in 2001 to undertake postgraduate and Master’s degrees in period instrument performance. In 2006 she moved to Paris, where she is still based. Deirdre is principal violist of Philippe Herreweghe’s Collegium Vocale Gent (BE) and The Netherlands Bach Society (NL). Past principal viola positions include Ton Koopman’s Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra (2012 –2017), and Cecilia Bartoli’s Monaco-based orchestra, Les Musiciens du Prince (2016-2024).

Deirdre is also a core member of the Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century (NL). In France, she regularly works with Les Arts Florissants (William Christie), and Les Musiciens du Louvre (Marc Minkowski), with whom she has toured much of the world performing repertoire ranging from Monteverdi to Berlioz, recording many CDs along the way. An avid chamber musician, Deirdre is a member of Damien Guillon’s ensemble, Le Banquet Celeste and has performed and recorded with the Edding string quartet, Northern Light and Café Zimmermann.

An avid chamber musician, Deirdre is a member of Damien Guillon’s ensemble, Le Banquet Celeste and has performed and recorded with the Edding string quartet, Northern Light and Café Zimmermann.