Musica Angelica chooses director

In its determination to keep going after the death of founder Michael Eagan on Aug. 9, the local period-instrument group Musica Angelica has appointed Elizabeth Blumenstock as its new resident director. Blumenstock, the orchestra’s longtime concertmaster, is one of the leading lights of the early music movement. She is also a soloist and concertmaster for the San Francisco-based Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra and other period instrument ensembles. She teaches at USC.

“I’m very committed to this group, which I’ve been involved with for some seven years,” Blumenstock says. “For this year, we’re slightly in a holding pattern. I’m looking forward to seeing what plans can develop for the following season.”

In addition to participating in a performance today at UCLA’s Schoenberg Hall, Blumenstock will be featured with Musica Angelica throughout its current season. She will also lead nonsubscription performances of Purcell’s opera “Dido and Aeneas” in January.