Innovative support for local early music performers

Do you have an early music project that needs support? We are here to help!

The Early Music Community Connection (E=mc2 ), can support your project in a variety of ways:

  • protection against financial loss
  • no-charge instrument loans
  • no-charge online promotion and ticketing (subject to modest credit card fees)
  • venue liability insurance
  • low-cost use of recording equipment and sound engineer
  • practical and artistic advice
  • co-ordination of volunteer assistance for front-of-house and other logistics

The Early Music Society of the Islands has created this unique new program with the goal of encouraging and supporting local musicians and musical organizations mounting early music concerts and other events.

Professional and amateur musicians on southern Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands are invited to apply.

To qualify for support, you must be planning a public event that features music from the Middle Ages, Renaissance or Baroque periods. No audition is required. We want to encourage musicians of all levels and experience.

Financial assistance will be limited to an annual (June through May) funded total, and granted on a first-come-first-serve basis (see details in the documentation package).

We welcome applications all year round. Please contact us to request a documentation package:

emc2@emsivictoria.ca

Upcoming Events

Contrasto Armonico in the Art of Baroque Sonata

Sunday, July 10, 7pm  at St. Barnabas Anglican Church (Belmont and Begbie)

PURCHASE TICKETS

EMSI is proud to be sponsoring a concert in the evening of July 10, by Contrasto Armonico at St. Barnabus Anglican Church in Victoria.

The concert features musicians, Paul Luchkow, violin, Marta Semkiw, cello and Marco Vitale.

The word ‘sonata’ comes from the Italian language and it literally means ‘played’. During the Baroque period the term was referring to a piece to be ‘played’ rather than ‘sung’ (cantata).There was no set form or number of movements.

The sonata flourished in Italy but it quickly became a musical form present in all Europe. Contrasto Armonico will explore the world of the baroque sonata performing music by Veracini, Scarlatti, Corelli, Vivaldi, Bach and Leclair.

Contrasto Armonico was born in 2004 out of an idea of Marta Semkiw and Marco Vitale (musi­c direc­tor). Its inauguration was cel­e­brated in Delft (NL) with two pro­duc­tions of Han­del operas: “Siroe, Re di Per­sia” and “Lotario”. Con­trasto Armon­ico has per­formed in prestigious con­cert halls and festivals such as the Con­cert­ge­bouw Ams­ter­dam, the Utrecht Early Music Festival, and Styriarte Graz, and is now based in Victoria, BC.

Come out and support this fine new organization in the Victoria early music scene.

Recent Events

The Salt Spring Baroque Music Society presented two sold-out performances of Summer Baroque in the Trees in August 2021, with Carolyn Hatch (baroque violin), Edgar Bridwell (baroque violin & guitar), Kerry Graham (baroque bassoon & recorder) & Anne Duranceau (viola da gamba & hackbrett).

The Baroque Ensemble of Salt Spring Island presented their inaugural concert, recorded at Beaver Point Hall, in April 2021. The program, featuring music by Telemann, Matteis, Vivaldi, Boismortier and Loeillet, is still available on the Salt Spring Baroque Music Society website.