In 1998, instrumentalists from the Mannes Collegium Musicum in New York City sought to learn more about the art of continuo (improvising accompaniments from figured bass) in the music of the early Baroque. After just two informal meetings, the growing number of interested musicians revealed the need for formal coaching, necessitating the creation of the New York Continuo Collective. Open to all, regardless of their level of experience and expertise, we now number more than thirty active participants, including singers, and instrumentalists. A central tenet of the Collective is that singer and player form an equal partnership in the realization of the music. Through public performances the Continuo Collective hopes to bring the audience into that partnership.