• EMSI 2025/26 Concert Season

    From Scandinavia to Persia, and Galicia to Bohemia,
    travel through the Medieval and Baroque eras with EMSI!

    Concert DetailsTickets available now

  • Join us for our next concert "Bach and Khayyam" with Constantinople


    More on this concert

  • Preview our 25/26 season!


    Click here for videos

  • Celebrating Victoria’s own talented artists!

    An initiative from EMSI to support our local amateur and professional musicians.

    more information

  • Read about our audience’s experience in their own words:

    “Great to witness the pure joy and artistry of the performers.”
    – Geoffrey Espin

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Upcoming Concerts

  • Jan 31 | Constantinople (CANADA)
    • Constantinople (CANADA)

    • Bach and Khayyam The ever-popular, ground-breaking ensemble Constantinople examines two great musical geniuses, presenting arrangements of some of the most beautiful spiritual songs and arias of JS Bach in dialogue […]

    • Read More
  • Feb 28 | Ruckus (USA)
    • Ruckus (USA)

    • Strawberry Fields This dynamic Baroque ensemble is indeed creating a ruckus, with their visceral and playful approach to early music. Featuring two brilliant soloists, flutist Emi Ferguson and violinist Rachell […]

    • Read More
  • Mar 14 | Ensemble Caprice (CANADA)
    • Ensemble Caprice (CANADA)

    • Vivaldi on Fire Back by popular demand, Ensemble Caprice, under the direction of dynamic Artistic Director Matthias Maute, returns to Victoria. A whirlwind of fiery passion and dazzling virtuosity, Vivaldi […]

    • Read More
  • Apr 17 | ARTEK Early Music
    • ARTEK Early Music

    • SPECIAL EVENT Artemisia – Light and Shadow Two nights: Friday, April 17, 2026 and Saturday, April 18, 2026 With the success of our opera and dinner production last September, we […]

    • Read More
  • Apr 18 | ARTEK Early Music
    • ARTEK Early Music

    • SPECIAL EVENT Artemisia – Light and Shadow Two nights: Friday, April 17, 2026 and Saturday, April 18, 2026 With the success of our opera and dinner production last September, we […]

    • Read More
Next concert

Constantinople (CANADA)
January 31

Bach and Khayyam The ever-popular, ground-breaking ensemble Constantinople examines two great musical geniuses, presenting arrangements of some of the most beautiful spiritual songs and arias of JS Bach in dialogue […]

Read More
Past Concerts Get Tickets

Welcome

to The Early Music Society of the Islands!

Founded in 1985 and based in Victoria BC, the Early Music Society is a non-profit, charitable society dedicated to offering accomplished performances of music composed prior to 1800.

EMSI embraces the idea that early music deserves to be heard with close to its original intent. To that end, our concerts feature period instruments, accurate scores, and historical performance practices.

Renowned artists, both international and homegrown, have graced our stage.

We acknowledge and respect the Lǝḱwǝŋǝn peoples on whose traditional unceded territory EMSI presents concerts, and the Songhees, Esquimalt and WSÁNEĆ peoples whose deep relationships with the land continue to this day.

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EMSI News

Interview with Brandon Chui of Tafelmusik (concert Nov 14, 2025)

Here is an interview by EMSI Associate Artistic Director, Farrah O'Shea, with Tafelmusik Artistic Co-Director, Brandon Chui Don't miss the concert. More information . . .
Read more

Treasure Trove – Cantigas de Santa Maria

by Bill Jamieson, Executive and Artistic Director, EMSI and member of Bourdons medieval ensemble The Cantigas de Santa Maria, featured in our upcoming concert on October 25 are truly a treasure trove of medieval music: over 400 songs with…
Read more

Amanda Forsythe – a mix of old and new

By Farrah O'Shea, Ph.D., M.M  (Director, EMSI) We at EMSI are busy preparing for our season opening concert, “Amanda Forsythe Sings Handel,” a celebration of Handel’s tuneful arias and music both old and new. In this concert, Forsythe,…
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