Martha Stiehl, harpsichord, is lecturer of organ, harpsichord and baroque performance practices at UW-Milwaukee.  She has appeared as soloist and ensemble player in many Midwest orchestras and chamber groups, including the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, The Milwaukee Chamber Orchestra, and the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra.  The New York Times has called her playing “an utter joy,” while other reviews have proclaimed her performances “firey and passionate,” as well as “intimate and soulful.”  She is the founder and artistic director of two Wisconsin based baroque ensembles, Bach Babes and Great Lakes Baroque.

As an ensemble player and coach, Martha has worked with Tafelmusik of Canada, The Baroque Institute of Longy in Boston, and the Madison Early music festival.  Baroque artists she has worked with include Elizabeth Blumenstock (violin), Jed Wedtz (flute), Paul Leenhouts (recorder), and Phoebi Carrai (‘cello).  She has also had the privilege to perform with conductors such as Nicholas McGegan, Zdenk Macal, Jeanne Lamon, and  Pinkas Zuckermann.

Martha studied with Arthur Haas, Marie Claire Alain, and Anton Heiller.  She has degrees from Millikin University, University of Illinois, and did her doctoral studies at Northwestern and U. of Kentucky.

Married to Milwaukee orthopedic surgeon, Dr. James B. Stiehl, Martha has lived in Wisconsin for twenty years.  They have three children: Dr. Amanda Stiehl (psychiatrist at Rush Presbyterian Hospital in Chicago), Kurt (a project designer with Apple Corp. in  Cupertino, California), and Hank (freshman at Washington University in St. Louis, Mo.).