For over 25 years, Debbie and Peter Hunter have filled the Charlottesville community with their voices as they sing folk-rock, medieval, and renaissance music and songs from the celtic traditions. Their obvious joy in making music may be the most prominent quality of their performances, and many of their audiences are left with that same sense of joy and wonder.

Debbie Hunter is very multi-faceted. She is a performer, writer, teacher, director, arranger, singer, player, and scholar. She sings, plays guitar, piano, organ, harp, fiddle, viola de gamba, mandolin, flute, recorder, accordion, and hammered dulcimer. She works within the genres of folk-rock, traditional, sacred, medieval, renaissance, and original music.

Folk-Rock
Loving both traditional and early (medieval/renaissance) music, Debbie was immediately drawn to folk-rock, particularly that of the English folk rock bands, and began playing in the style early in her career with the band Mandelay.

Original Music
Composition has long been an important part of Debbie's life, and she writes music in many genres in which she performs, including, but not limited to folk-rock and choral.

Medieval
Debbie completed her degree in Medieval Studies with an emphasis on music. She has given many performances of medieval repertoire, notably concerts of Dufay and Machaut, as well as a number of concerts and lectures at area schools and colleges. Under one of her mentors, Dr. Fletcher Collins, she began working with the medieval church drama, a liturgical musical form. She performed in many and directed several as well. She did her senior thesis on the “Play of Herod,” transcribing, translating, and producing the 13th century play into performable English.

Renaissance
Debbie's recently-formed chamber group MIRA performs works primarily from the Renaissance period. Through her work in the church in which she played organ, planned the music program, wrote music, and directed three choirs, Debbie expanded her knowledge and use of the repertoire of sacred Renaissance vocal music. She also directs and performs in the early music group Greenwood, which specializes in Medieval and Renaissance music. Debbie has worked with Custer LaRue of the Baltimore Consort, Peter Phillips and the Tallis Scholars, and was an original member of the 12-voice ensemble Canticum Novum, which performed many concerts of Renaissance music throughout Virginia. Debbie has given many lectures and concerts on early church music in area colleges and churches. She continues to pursue music as a sacred expression and is continually searching for a deeper understanding of and facility for the using the power of music to enlighten and heal.

Sacred Music
Debbie worked within the Episcopal church as a music director for over 20 years, deepening her understanding and use of sacred music throughout her life. She considers her work with music in the church as aesthetic augmentation; in fact, more of a teaching of sacred principles.

Choral
Debbie has built choral programs in church and school situations, and offers workshops and vocal coaching for choirs and vocal ensembles. She's produced several choral recordings and has been a part of several others.

Children's Music
Having taught a number of children privately, in the classroom, and as part of the youth choir work in the Episcopal church, Debbie has written and arranged a body of children's songs that she plans to publish in the near future. She has also worked with youth drama/music productions and has given a variety of special programs in schools for classes and assemblies.

Traditional Music
Debbie grew up during the folk-revival, listening to and learning many folk songs, both American and English. She has accumulated a large repertoire of America, English, Irish, and Scottish songs and tunes, performing them solo or with her husband Peter, who sings and plays the hammered dulcimer and concertina. She plays in a local folk-rock group, Fearless Leader, who recently opened for Fairport Convention and are currently beginning work on a recording of their original and traditional material.