Candace Smith

**Candace Smith** is a mezzo-soprano born in Los Angeles who dove into Europe's early music scene after earning her Bachelor's in music from CSUN in California—she's called Italy home since 1978. She honed her skills in medieval music at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis with Andrea von Ramm, studied and performed alongside the legendary Cathy Berberian, and later grabbed a vocal pedagogy diploma from the Rabine-Institut in 1994.

In 1991, she founded the all-women (mostly!) ensemble **Cappella Artemisia**, shining a light on stunning 16th- and 17th-century music from Italian convents by nun composers like Raphaella Aleotti, Isabella Leonarda, and Chiara Margarita Cozzolani—check out their releases like *Call for the Wailing Women* or *Leonarda: A Portrait*. Teaming up with her husband, cornettist Bruce Dickey, she co-launched Artemisia Editions in 1997 to publish this hidden gem of a repertoire, and she's still teaching voices at places like Bologna's Bernstein School of Musical Theater.

Genres

Renaissance

Early Music

Baroque

Folk

Classical

Chamber Music

Opera

Medieval

Latest Release

Call for the Wailing Women, Laments and Lamentations in Italian Convents

Candace Smith•

Cappella Artemisia

Album - 10 Tracks - Released January 26, 2026