Artistic Director

When Julie Harris returned to her native Calgary in 1999, she brought with her a desire to start a concert series dedicated to early music.  In the first year, she presented three Sunday afternoon concerts (each 1 hour long).  From that small start the Early Music Voices Concert Series has developed into a well-known venue for early music in Canada.  Today the series fields requests from agents and artists around the world. Over the years EMV has hosted ensembles from France, many groups from Montreal, and recently, countertenor Andreas Scholl from Germany.  Touring performers look for venues as they plan tours through the US and Canada, and Early Music Voices is happy when we are able to invite them to Calgary.

​

Early Music Voices has also organised and presented many concerts of local and regional musicians over the last two decades. Some of these have been co-productions, such as Purcell’s Ode on St. Cecilia’s Day with Red Deer Symphony Orchestra or Bach’s Mass in B Minor with the CPO. Increasingly, EMV has presented large projects, often exciting collaborations with Rosa Barocca (Bach’s Magnificat in 2018 and Handel’s Messiah in 2019). Over the years, EMV has played a significant part in the development of Calgary’s early music scene, proudly creating many professional musical opportunities for Calgary singers and players.

​