Giovanni Battista Tiepolo: “Apollo and Diana” (1757)

Aims of the Organisation

Early Music Vancouver  (the Vancouver Society for Early Music) encourages an appreciation and understanding of music in an historical context. Fundamental to the aim is the belief that music of any period is best understood when performed according to appropriate traditions and on appropriate instruments.

To further its aims, the Society sponsors performances and educational events, inviting participation of people from varying backgrounds. The Society seeks to interest and involve the public in early music and create opportunities for performers, teachers and instrument makers.

In all its activities, the Society strives for the highest standards.

The objectives of the Society are:

• the sponsoring of performances of early music;
• the fostering of a better appreciation of early music among the public;
• the acquisition of such musical instruments and equipment as may be necessary to affect the aforegoing objects; the acquisition of any other assets as may be deemed necessary to fulfil these objectives

The mandate of Early Music Vancouver is to foster an appreciation of early music, to interest and involve people from varying backgrounds in early music, and to create opportunities for performers, teachers and instrument makers. For this purpose, the organisation offers the following:

• Several concert series during the winter and summer season;
• Instrumental and vocal courses;
• Masterclasses & workshops for both advanced-level musicians and amateurs; Educational programmes for the public at large.

Early Music Vancouver maintains a collection of replicas of historical instruments.

In the performances it sponsors, the Society presents musicians from Vancouver, British Columbia and across Canada, as well as many of the world’s foremost artists and ensembles in the field. Where possible, preference is given to performances which offer local & regional musicians an opportunity to work in consort with world-renowned experts in the field — in particular during the Vancouver Early Music Summer Festival.

In recent years, Early Music Vancouver has continued its efforts to increase the opportunities for local musicians. We have been instrumental in the formation and nurturing of Pacific Baroque Orchestra, which has since established itself as an independent Society.

Early Music Vancouver also offers an Assistance Programme, to help young musicians organise and promote self-sponsored early music events.

As an extension of its educational activities, Early Music Vancouver has also been offering Lectures, and an ongoing series of well-attended Pre-Concert Introductions before our Main-Series and summer Festival concerts.