“Music is the universal language of mankind.”

― Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Our Mission

For forty-four years Early Music Seattle’s mission is to present outstanding early music, use early music to enrich cultural heritage via education and outreach, and engage new audiences through inclusivity and openness. Our one-of-a-kind concert experiences will turn everything you thought you knew about early music on its head, as we take you on musical journeys that explore new repertoire, challenge the limits of what you thought was possible, and find exciting ways to reimagine the classics.

About Us

Early Music Seattle has navigated the pandemic, but we are not out of the woods yet! Although we are over-joyed to be presenting live concerts again, people are making a slow return to the concert halls.  Because of the lingering effects of the pandemic, EMS now offers a virtual option for many of our performances.

Our 2021-22 season started with only virtual options to enjoy the music we all love. We learned so much during this time, discovering new ways to keep our audience engaged. The artists, staff, board, and audience all played their part as we experimented with presenting music outside the traditional concert hall. And we succeeded! Our virtual audience grew, artists were excited for the opportunity to perform, and EMS learned new skills and ways to present music. We are now offering live concerts as the restrictions of covid have eased with a virtual option for those still not ready to return.

One of our important goals is to model and support diversity, equity, and inclusion in early music in our region. We are hard at work creating platforms, partnerships, and programming for BIPOC artists to share their music, viewpoints, and stories. This work is ongoing and now an integral part of our mission. We see the importance and need to present programs that celebrate the rich musical heritage of the world’s many music traditions.

All of this is simply not possible without the generosity and support of people like you! Thanks to a multitude of early music enthusiasts in the Pacific Northwest who have embraced our online programs and sponsored our live concerts, we look forward to a bright future for Early Music Seattle in the seasons to come. Early Music Seattle will not be hosting an annual gala event for fundraising this year. Please make your donation instead through GiveBig. Thank you so much for your kind and generous support! No amount is too small to donate, every dollar matters.

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