EARLY MUSIC VOICES CONCERT SOCIETY IN ELBOW PARK

Early Music Voices Concert Society in Elbow Park (EMV), a not-for-profit organization, was formed under the Societies Act of Alberta in June 2000. EMV is a registered charity under the Income Tax Act, and, accordingly is exempt from income taxes provided certain requirements of that Act are met.

EMV's Vision is "a vibrant cultural community nourished by Early Music".

EMV's Values are:
Artistic Integrity: Presenting outstanding historically-informed performances by Early Music specialists.
Community: Creating community through live performances of Early Music.
Education: Expanding knowledge and appreciation of Early Music.
Sustainability: Maintaining financial, operational and governance systems that efficiently support our Vision.

During the last twenty-one years, the concert series presented by EMV (commencing with 3 concerts in the first year, and 4 concerts (generally) thereafter until the 2018-2019 season and thereafter, when 5 concerts have been held) has developed into a well-known venue for early music in Canada. EMV now fields requests from agents and artists from around the world, given that touring performers seek opportunities when planning tours through the US and Canada. EMV is happy to offer them a venue in Calgary.

As well as providing opportunities for touring performers, EMV also engages local professional musicians and singers. It has been involved several times with co-productions with other groups, such as the Red Deer Symphony Orchestra and, more recently, Rosa Barocca (a relatively new period instrument ensemble in Alberta), for pieces such as Purcell's "Ode on St. Cecilia's Day", Bach's "Magnificat", Handel's "Messiah" and Monteverdi's "Vespers of 1610".

Over the last two decades plus, EMV has played a significant part in the development of the period instrument scene in Calgary, offering professional musicians the opportunity to gain experience, particularly in the baroque style. And, from the beginning, local professional singing opportunities have been created in a landscape that offered very few such opportunities in the world of early music in Calgary before the series began.

For the 21st season that concluded in March 2020, EMV presented a variety of concerts - large and intimate - with local and visiting artists. The first concert in October 2019 was of music by John Dowland and featured Montreal's renowned viol consort, Les Voix Humaines, as well as exquisite lute solos under the masterful hands of Nigel North. At Christmas, EMV once again presented Handel's "Messiah" on period instruments in the intimate setting of Christ Church Elbow Park, the venue in which most of EMV's concerts are performed. The following day a "Sing Along Messiah" was presented in a larger venue, Knox United Church, utilizing emerging artists who were given the opportunity to sing some of the solos. They were enthusiastically accompanied in the choruses by the audience. In the February 2020 concert, La Nef explored music of the sea, including capstan shanties, halyard shanties and laments, in a program entitled Sea Songs and Shanties. Unfortunately the final concert of the year at Christ Church Elbow Park had to be canceled, due to the impact of Covid-19; however, the program entitled The Althorp Virtuosi was recorded and presented over the Internet at the same time as the originally-scheduled concert. The Luchkow-Stadlen-Jarvis trio, made up of Paul Luchkow, baroque violin, Michael Jarvis, harpsichord, and internationally acclaimed viola da gambist, Sam Stalen of Fretwork (London, UK) recorded the concert at Christ Church Cathedral in Victoria BC. Music presented was of the late 18th century viola da gamba revival, and was written for the English aristocracy in a daring virtuosic style. Needless to say, the patrons of EMV very much appreciated the fact that this concert was available to them.