Antoine Plante - Conductor, Viola da Gamba
Praised by audiences and musicians alike for his conducting verve and innovative programming, Antoine Plante is a young conductor who has garnered accolades for bringing Baroque music to life. “Plante led with his usual gusto and the performances were full of character,” said Charles Ward of the Houston Chronicle; “He got a fast, effective and vibrant response from the orchestra," Was reported in El Comercio, Quito, Ecuador.

Plante is a founder of Mercury Baroque, a Houston, based orchestra that has experienced remarkable audience growth over its seven-year history. In that capacity, Plante has become known for his deftness in balancing a repertoire of great works with lesser-known and reconstructed pieces. His exciting musicality has made him an audience favorite, as evidenced by Mercury’s subscription renewal rate of over ninety percent and the orchestra’s need to move to ever-larger halls. 

Equally important, Plante has earned a reputation for coaching musicians in period performance technique.  Musicians that have worked with him form the core of a burgeoning early music performance scene in Houston.  He is also a passionate supporter of classical music education and has led Mercury’s educational outreach program – a significant effort that includes classroom music education in under-served elementary schools, master classes for school orchestras, and performances for schoolchildren.   Plante recently created a series of lectures on Baroque music, which he inaugurated at the Women’s Institute of Houston.

Plante is experienced in directing orchestral pieces as well as works for voice, and has conducted several operas and ballets.  He worked with Dominic Walsh Dance Theater to create a score for the Dominic Walsh ballet Romeo and Juliet.  Recently, Plante has conducted Handel’s complete Messiah and Water Music, as well as Caldara’s Missa Commemorationis.  His opera repertoire includes Rameau’s Pygmalion and Handel’s Acis and Galatea.  His experience is not limited to Baroque pieces, however, and his repertoire includes Classical works such as Mozart and Haydn symphonies. In addition to his work with Mercury, Plante has conducted the National Symphony of Ecuador and Atlanta Baroque. 

Jonathan Godfrey—Baroque Violin
A founding member of Mercury Baroque, violinist Jonathan Godfrey has served as Concertmaster and violin soloist since its inception. Mr. Godfrey has performed with many fine ensembles, including the Houston Symphony, Houston Grand Opera Orchestra, Houston Ballet Orchestra, The Grand Teton Music Festival Orchestra, and the IRIS Chamber Orchestra. He has also served as Concertmaster of numerous orchestras, including the Sinfonietta Cracovia, The Houston Grand Opera Orchestra, The American Radio Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra X, and the Pacific Music Festival Orchestra. In addition to his work with Mercury Baroque, Mr. Godfrey currently holds the position of Assistant Concertmaster of the Houston Grand Opera Orchestra and is on the faculty of the Bridges Academy of Fine Arts. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music, and a Master of Music degree from Rice University.

Ana Treviño-Godfrey—Soprano
Captivating and versatile soprano Ana Treviño-Godfrey is a founding member of Mercury Baroque and has sung with the ensemble since its inception performing concerts and operas in both the US and abroad, including performances at the 2003 Cervantino International Music Festival in Guanajuato and León, Mexico. Equally proficient with other styles of music, Ms. Treviño-Godfrey was a featured soloist with both the Houston Chamber Orchestra and Orchestra X. She has also sung on numerous occasions with the Houston Chamber Choir. Originally from Monterrey, Mexico, she has won numerous vocal competitions, including the National Opera Competition, the Tuesday Night Musical Club of Cleveland, and the National Association of Teachers of Singing competitions. Her opera roles include Galatea from Acis and Galatea, Colette from Le Devin du Village, Serpina from La Serva Padrona, Grisostomo from Don Quixote, Gasparina from La Canterina, Adele from Die Fledermaus, Adina from Elisir d’ Amore, Zerlina from Don Giovanni, Susanna from Le Nozze di Figaro, Despina from Così fan Tutte, and Belinda from Dido and Aeneas. Ms. Treviño-Godfrey is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts at Rice University where she is researching Mexican Baroque Music.