About Eya Medieval Music
Leading from the heart, Eya is an award-winning arts organization that reimagines medieval music through a feminine lens. Since its founding in 2010 as a performance ensemble, Eya has evolved into a dynamic organization dedicated to education, transformation, and empowerment. Through communal performances, innovative educational initiatives, accessible sheet music resources, and impactful outreach programs, Eya is pioneering a collaborative global presence that uplifts and inspires.
Eya (pronounced “EH-yah”) is a Latin exclamation of sacred joy.
Eya’s Vision
We believe that medieval music is a vehicle to empower people and their voice. Inspired by Holy Wisdom and the Sacred Feminine, our work aims to build a bridge between past and present, sacred and secular, divine and human. We want to pioneer new outlets of engaging with music with greater depth, meaning, and potential for transformation.
Through our innovative and multifaceted offerings, including communal performance and education projects, free sheet music library, and inclusive community, we want to foster a radical accessibility to music and ideas that help people thrive both creatively and personally.
About the Ensemble
“Remarkable… gorgeous… with precise ensemble, a strong sense of presence, and ringing vowels that reverberated to the farthest reaches of the cathedral.” –The Washington Post
As a professional women’s vocal ensemble, Eya has performed at renowned venues across the United States, including the Washington National Cathedral and The Music Center at Strathmore. The ensemble has also been featured in notable concert series as well as performances at colleges and universities nationwide. Eya’s collaborative spirit shines through partnerships with leading arts organizations, such as the National Gallery of Art, Dumbarton Oaks, and the Amra Project at Trinity College Dublin, among others.
Recognized for its excellence, Eya has been featured on Voice of America radio and NPR programs Millennium of Music and Harmonia Early Music. The ensemble was honored with the 2013 Greater DC Choral Excellence Award for “Best Specialty Group: Early Music” and has released two acclaimed recordings, including the U.S. premiere of The Three Marys (2018).
About the Director
Allison Mondel is a transformational voice coach, creative mentor, philosopher, speaker, scholar, and teaching artist whose mosaic career is unified by a deep commitment to artistry, wellness, and empowerment. Raised in the Philadelphia area, she earned her B.A. cum laude in Music from Lycoming College (PA) and an M.M. in Early Music Vocal Performance from The Longy School of Music (MA).
Allison’s artistic career has been marked by collaborations with prestigious institutions such as Harvard University, the National Gallery of Art, Trinity College Dublin, and Washington National Cathedral, as well as her role as a featured musical guest at the Inaugural Prayer Service for President Obama. Her passion for medieval music has been a cornerstone of her work; she is an expert in the music of visionary Saint Hildegard von Bingen (1098–1179), a guiding influence for over 25 years. Through lectures, workshops, and masterclasses at venues including the Irish World Academy, The Peabody Conservatory, Georgetown University, and more, Allison has shared her insights with audiences across the globe.
As the founder and director of Eya, Allison first envisioned the group as a performance ensemble dedicated to medieval music. Over time, Eya has evolved into a dynamic space for teaching and collaboration, fostering deeper engagement with medieval music through accessible resources and creative partnerships. This shift reflects her dedication to connecting with a global community of learners and performers, a mission embodied in the Symphonia Series, which provides free, high-quality resources for interpreting Hildegard’s profound and challenging repertoire.
In her parallel role as a voice educator, Allison developed The Centered Voice, a transformative vocal framework that integrates singing with personal wellness, inspired by her own journey of healing and liberation. Now based in Metrowest Boston, she recently founded Revolutionary Voice, a community singing school focused on cultivating personal wellness.
Beyond her work in music, Allison is also a creative mentor and philosopher, developing a framework for “creative individuation” to help others discover and express their unique vocations. She is preparing to launch an online wisdom school to guide others on this transformative path.
Discover more about Allison’s work and insights on her Substack, Symphonia Vitae.