Baroque violinist Lindsey Tootle captivates audiences with dynamic, boundary-pushing interpretations of early music, complemented by signature onstage charisma and warmth.

Lindsey has appeared as a soloist, teacher, and orchestral musician globally and has been featured multiple times since 2023 as a soloist with Seven Hills Baroque (7HB). She has also performed with Harmonie Universelle (USA) and with members of the Atlanta Baroque Orchestra and New Trinity Baroque, as well as alongside members of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra on modern instruments in the Bach Ensemble at St. Thomas.

On the way to her first violin lessons at age three, Lindsey’s parents - though not musicians themselves - played a cassette tape of J.S. Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 performed by Ton Koopman and the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra. Enthralled with the sound of the harpsichord and the warmth of gut strings, Lindsey developed a childhood obsession with early music, which only grew with time. To this day, early music remains the North Star of Lindsey’s musical journey.

Artistically, Lindsey divides her time between her current base in Cincinnati, Ohio, and her home state of Alabama, where she grew up in Huntsville. In Cincinnati, she is the principal Baroque violinist and serves on the leadership team at Seven Hills Baroque (7HB), and regularly performs on Baroque violin in concerts, productions, conferences, and special events across Greater Cincinnati. In Alabama, she is dedicated to helping expand and energize the early music community across the state and region. In 2024, she and colleague Dr. Michael Delfin co-founded the early music ensemble Bama Baroque in Tuscaloosa, and also launched the Southeastern Early Music Community (SEMC) Facebook group. Since its inception, the SEMC has gained nearly 200 members and has arranged and promoted events across the Southeast. Nationally, Lindsey is gaining recognition as a new young leader and visionary in historical performance; since 2024, she has served on Early Music America’s Emerging Professional Leadership Council (EPLC).

Lindsey studied pre-college violin with Jeffrey Dortch and earned a Bachelor of Music in Performance, cum laude, on full scholarship from the University of Alabama. Her teachers included Gesa Kordes (Baroque violin), Jenny Gregoire (modern violin), and Dr. Don Fader (historical performance practice). In recent years, she has been especially grateful for the mentorship of Edwin Huizinga and the unwavering support of her 7HB colleagues, all of whom facilitated her return to the stage after a six-year hiatus.

During the week, Lindsey enjoys her longstanding career as a paralegal. After starting in criminal defense and family law, she transitioned to immigration law, where she now guides clients worldwide on their journeys to the U.S. In her free time, she enjoys running, exploring the outdoors, cooking, and spending time with loved ones. A lifelong history enthusiast, Lindsey especially loves reading about U.S. history and visiting historical sites across the country. And, as any Southerner should, she loves football. Born an Alabama Crimson Tide fan, she never misses a chance to cheer for her alma mater on autumn Saturdays.

Lindsey plays a 2010 Jay Haide Baroque violin, a 2025 Baroque bow by Antonino Airenti, and a 19th-century French transitional bow attributed to the workshop of Dominique Peccatte. She lives in Cincinnati with her husband, John, and their very silly cat, Pepper.