HISTORY & MISSION
Women’s Antique Vocal Ensemble was founded by Cindy Beitmen in 1999. WAVE is a chorus of women who are dedicated to the music of the medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque periods. From its inception, WAVE’s mission has been to communicate the heart and soul of this incredibly rich musical heritage with authenticity and excellence. WAVE presents concerts in the greater San Francisco Bay area and also presents public service concerts and outreach programs for those in need. WAVE has performed in hospitals, at senior residences, in support of AIDS research, for the inmates at Santa Rita Jail, and has given concerts to benefit the restoration of California missions.
SINGERS
- Allison Balberg
- Julie Campero
- Tanya Drlik
- Grace Erny
- Sue Jones
- Barbara Miller
- Elise Mills
- Allegra Mitchell
- Susan Russell
- Vicki Sung
- Melanie Spiller
- Pamela Sawyer
- Hannah Tandeta
- Carol Terry
- Alison Thomas
- Madelyn Weiss
- Barb Westree
- Charlene Woodcock
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Caroline Jou Armitage, well-known performer and conductor in the Bay Area early music scene, will be the artistic director of the Women’s Antique Vocal Ensemble (WAVE), beginning Fall 2026.
As a multi-instrumentalist, Caroline occasionally appears in performance on vielle (medieval fiddle), viola da gamba, harpsichord, and pipe organ. On the Baroque violin, she performs with Jubilate Baroque Orchestra, Albany Consort, Nash Baroque, Berkeley Baroque Strings, and LA Baroque. On the fiddle, she plays for the Bay Area Country Dance Society.
She has also appeared as a Baroque dancer at the Amherst Early Music Festival in several operas, and most recently, in a showcase in Japan. In her early days, Caroline’s focus was choral conducting. She has directed the Oratorio Society and Renaissance Singers at Cal State East Bay, the Montclair United Methodist Church choir, Piedmont Children’s Choir, Golden Gate Boys Choir, and Tactus SF.