For information and tickets please see https://www.earlymusicworcs.org/

WEM aims to promote the enjoyment and understanding of music composed before 1800. We achieve our aims through:

An annual Festival and concerts and other events during the year

We promote historically informed performances offering the history and social context of the music performed on authentic instruments. Our audiences enjoy the intimate and sociable atmosphere and the opportunity to ask the performers questions.  In 2018 we were delighted to welcome the internationally renowned violinist Rachel Podger to our Festival; we also enjoyed renaissance wind music from Blondel, and the gentle sounds of the early viol with David Hatcher and the Linarol Consort of Viols.  Our 2019 Festival ran from Friday 31 May to Sunday 2 June with concerts from the Musical & Amicable Society, Fontanella, Dowland Works with Emma Kirkby and the Emily Askew Band.

Tickets for our 2020 Festival, running from 29 to 31 May, are now available - book before 1 May for Early Bird reduced prices.

Outreach programmes

We offer the opportunity to experience music making in an early music context through song and dance activities with our ongoing programme of outreach in schools and day care centres.  Our first singing workshop, with Deborah Roberts, in August 2018 was a great success and was followed by a highly enjoyable day with Robert Howarth and Lisa Wilson in 2019.

Come and hear various kinds of early music on European Early Music Day, 21 March, and on Make Music UK Day (21 June).  And if you play or sing, join us at our Baroquathon, run in conjunction with the Elgar School of Music (Friday 8 May 2020).

The Pride and Prejudice Ball

This popular annual event takes place in Worcester’s beautiful Guildhall. Dances from the many editions of John Playford’s Dancing Master (1651-c1720), and similar collections of the time (up to 1800) are danced by participants who also enjoy the opportunity to dress in period costume.  Encouraged by the continuing popularity of our summer Ball - on Saturday 16 May 2020 - we are also organising a regular January afternoon tea dance at the lovely Lion Ballroom in Leominster.  Tickets are available now on Eventbrite for Sunday 12 January 2020.