About
Biography
Known for her musical storytelling, warm stage presence, and imaginative interpretations of early music, Baroque violinist Lindsey Tootle captivates audiences with performances that are as vibrant as they are historically informed.
Lindsey has appeared as a soloist, teacher, and orchestral musician internationally and has been featured multiple times since 2023 as a soloist with Seven Hills Baroque (7HB). She has also performed with Harmonie Universelle (USA) and with members of the Atlanta Baroque Orchestra and New Trinity Baroque, as well as alongside members of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra on modern instruments in the Bach Ensemble at St. Thomas.
On the way to her first violin lessons at age three, Lindsey's parents, though not musicians themselves, played a cassette tape of J.S. Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 performed by Ton Koopman and the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra. Enthralled with the sound of the harpsichord and the warmth of gut strings, Lindsey developed a childhood obsession with early music, which only grew with time. To this day, early music remains the North Star of Lindsey's musical journey.
Artistically, Lindsey divides her time between her current base in Cincinnati, Ohio, and her home state of Alabama. In Cincinnati, she formerly served as principal Baroque violinist and a member of the leadership team at Seven Hills Baroque (7HB), and continues to perform on Baroque violin with 7HB and other professional early music ensembles such as Ars Perpetuum in concerts, productions, conferences, and special events across Greater Cincinnati. In Alabama, she is dedicated to helping expand and energize the early music community across the state and region. In 2024, she and colleague Dr. Michael Delfin co-founded the early music ensemble Bama Baroque in Tuscaloosa, and also launched the Southeastern Early Music Community (SEMC) Facebook group. Since its inception, the SEMC has gained over 250 members and has arranged and promoted events across the Southeast. Nationally, Lindsey served on the Emerging Professional Leadership Council of Early Music America from 2024 to 2026.
Originally from Huntsville, Alabama, Lindsey studied pre-college violin with Jeffrey Dortch and earned a Bachelor of Music in Performance, cum laude, on full scholarship from the The University of Alabama. Her teachers and mentors included Gesa Kordes (Baroque violin), Jenny Gregoire (modern violin), and Dr. Don Fader (historical performance practice). In recent years, she has been especially grateful for the mentorship of Edwin Huizinga and the unwavering support of her colleagues at 7HB, all of whom facilitated her return to the stage after a six-year hiatus.
During the week, Lindsey enjoys her longstanding career as a paralegal. After beginning her legal work in criminal defense and family law, she transitioned to immigration law, where she now guides clients from around the world on their journeys to the United States. A lifelong history enthusiast, Lindsey is especially drawn to U.S. history and spends much of her free time reading, researching, and visiting historic places across the country. She is a dedicated and experienced runner, having completed races in multiple states ranging from a few hundred feet to a full marathon. And, as any Southerner should, she loves football: born an Alabama Crimson Tide fan, she never misses a chance to cheer for her alma mater on autumn Saturdays.
Lindsey proudly performs on a 1730 Baroque violin by Peter Wamsley of London, using Baroque bows by Antonino Airenti and a 19th-century French transitional bow attributed to the workshop of Dominique Peccatte. She lives in Cincinnati with her husband, John, and their very silly cat, Pepper.
Education:
Bachelor of Music in Performance, cum laude, The University of Alabama
Professional Memberships and Affiliations:
Early Music America (Member; Former Board Member - Emerging Professional Leadership Council)
Viola da Gamba Society of America (Member)
American Historical Association (Member)
