Douailly-Backman, Isabelle

Isabelle Douailly-Backman

Isabelle Douailly-Backman is a Montreal-based historical string player. Originally from Chicago, she moved to Montreal to pursue a degree in modern viola at McGill University. There she discovered a love for early music and has since completed a B.Mus in Baroque Viola and a M.Mus in Baroque Violin from McGill University under the tutelage of Hélène Plouffe and Olivier Brault.

Today, Isabelle frequently performs on baroque violin and viola with ensembles and festivals in Canada, including Ensemble Caprice, Arion Baroque Orchestra, Musique Royale, and Montreal Baroque Festival. She is also a specialist in the medieval fiddle and the co-artistic director of COMTESSA, an historically-informed ensemble who performs 11th to 14th century music on medieval period instruments. Isabelle is also the 2023 recipient of the Barbara Thorton Memorial Scholarship, a biennial scholarship awarded by Early Music America and members of Sequentia to “an outstanding and highly motivated young performer of medieval music.” Isabelle also collaborates outside the early music scene with groups like the queer arts collective Sapphonix.