Founded in 2023 by Dominic Giardino and Dr. Chris Troiano, Music of the Regiment (MotR) is a versatile ensemble of period-instrument specialists dedicated to performing 18th- and 19th-century martial music as it was heard in the time of Washington and Mozart. Equally at home on the parade ground and in dance and lecture halls, the ensemble has been featured in events hosted by The Museum of the American Revolution, Friends of Music West Virginia, Historic Gunston Hall, the Fredericksburg Sister Cities Association, and the Office of Historic Alexandria. In season 2025–2026, MotR will perform programs presented by Gotham Early Music Scene, the St. Mary’s County Museum Division, the Virginia Museum of History & Culture, Friends of Music West Virginia, Friends of Happy Retreat, and Tempesta di Mare. MotR is a 2025 Alexandria History Society Golden Grant recipient.

Elise Bonhivert enjoys dividing her time between making, restoring, studying, and playing historical clarinets. She began her education by studying clarinet at Indiana University. In Bloomington, she also studied instrument construction and historical clarinets. After completing the band-instrument repair course in Renton, WA, she furthered her education at the Royal Conservatoire of The Hague. While in Europe she performed in numerous festivals such as the Utrecht Early Music Festival and won “selected promising ensemble” at the AMUS in Belgium. Elise regularly appears with Teatro Nuovo (NY), Philharmonie Austin (TX), and Mercury Baroque Orchestra (TX). 

Christopher Caudill began playing the horn at age ten while living in London, England, with his family. Piano and violin lessons had failed to do the trick, but a London Symphony concert featuring famous soloist Barry Tuckwell led him to the horn. Chris has performed as a member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, the New World Symphony in Miami (where he met his horn duet partner, Rachel Niketopoulos), and the North Carolina Symphony. He has performed on natural horns with the Atlanta Baroque, North Carolina Baroque, Apollo’s Fire (OH), Brussels Chamber Orchestra, and Bach Akademie Charlotte.

Dominic Giardino enjoys a varied professional life as a performer, administrator, and researcher. As a clarinetist specializing in 18th- and 19th-century instruments, Dominic performs and teaches throughout North America and currently serves as Instructor of Historical Clarinets at the University of North Texas. His research on 18th-century American military bands—published by Early Music America—can be read digitally and in print. Dominic studied historical clarinets at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague as a 2016 Fulbright grantee. He currently serves as Membership Manager for the Sons of the Revolution℠ in the State of New York.

An accomplished performer on contemporary and historical instruments, bassoonist Aaron Goler has played with ensembles across North America, including Boston Baroque, Twelfth Night, L’Orchestre Philharmonique des Musiciens de Montréal, the Oregon Bach Festival Orchestra, and the St. Cloud Symphony. Aaron studied bassoon and contrabassoon at the University of Minnesota and McGill University, and first played a historical 8-key bassoon while researching the music of François Devienne at l’Université de Montréal. Its expressive vocality was instantly mesmerizing, and he’s been hooked on historical instruments ever since. Aaron holds a Master of Music in Historical Performance from The Juilliard School.

Growing up in a house full of art, music, books, and bicycles in Iowa, Rachel Niketopoulos began her musical studies with piano as soon as she could climb onto the bench. She did her formal musical training in the midwest before winning jobs with both the Virginia Symphony and North Carolina Symphony. Rachel has performed on natural horns with the Atlanta Baroque Orchestra, Apollo’s Fire (OH), Bach Akademie Charlotte, Brussels Chamber Orchestra, and the North Carolina Baroque Orchestra. She teaches horn and chamber music at UNC-Chapel Hill, Duke University, and Alexander Technique to dance, theatre, and music students at UNC-Greensboro.

Historical bassoonist Kelsey Andrew Schilling regularly performs with the East Coast’s premiere period-instrument orchestras, including the Atlanta Baroque Orchestra, North Carolina Baroque Orchestra, Washington Bach Consort, and the Washington National Cathedral Baroque Orchestra. Season 2024–2025 marks debut performances with Piffaro, the Smithsonian Chamber Orchestra, and Music of the Regiment. He is a founding member of the Renaissance wind ensemble Forgotten Clefs, where he performs on shawms, dulcians, crumhorns, and recorders. Kelsey has recorded for Dorian, Sono Luminus, IU Press, and Naxos, and holds degrees in Early Music and Germanic Studies from Indiana University.