Mezzo-soprano Maria Jonas has died.

Ars Choralis Coeln announced the news via social media stating, “With dismay, great dismay and deep sorrow we announce the sudden and unexpected death of our ensemble director, friend and mentor Maria Jonas. She was the center and heart of Ars Choralis Coeln and we can’t quite comprehend it at the moment. We tried to contact as many friends as possible in advance of this announcement. If so far we have not been able to do this in all cases, we sincerely apologize. We are also not aware of all the details of the circumstances in the picture. Once we have more specific information regarding the funeral services and condolences, we will announce those. In paradisum deducant te angeli.”

Jonas specialized in early, contemporary, and improvised music and was one of the members of the “Ars Choralis Coeln” ensemble.

She performed at many concerts and festivals worldwide including Adelaide and Melbourne Festival, Macau Arts Festival, Hebbel-Theater, MDR-Musiksommer, and Styriarte, among others. She also worked with such renowned conductors as Jordi Savall, Sir John Elliot Gardiner, and Roy Goodman. Jonas also appeared at the Teatro Regio di Parma, Teatro Communale di Ferrara, Teatro Real de Madrid, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Royal Albert Hall London, Teatro Camoes Lisbon, and Carnegie Hall.

Jonas was also well-known for her work as a lecturer at such institutions as the Colleges of Music in Belgrad, Rostock, and Tilburg, and the University of Zurich.