Mission & Vision

MISSION STATEMENT

EMG presents and promotes early music in Seattle and throughout the Puget Sound region. Its musical performances capture the excitement of music from the Middle Ages through the 18th Century.

VISION STATEMENT

The Early Music Guild will be a vital member of the regional cultural community, expanding its influence beyond the city of Seattle, and fostering relationships with other arts and cultural organizations and educational institutions. Early music performed on period instruments in historically-informed styles will no longer be considered a specialized niche in the world of classical music, but a widely accepted and practiced form of musical performance. The Seattle area and surrounding region will become a major center for early music in the United States.

Goals from EMG's Five-Year Plan:

1. Continue to raise the profile of the International and Recital Series by maintaining EMG's position as the premier presenter of internationally acclaimed early music performance ensembles. Concert sponsorship opportunities have been established to assure EMG's ability to present highly esteemed and innovative performers for the International Series in Town Hall and the Recital Series in Nordstrom Recital Hall at Benaroya Hall.
   
2. Expand EMG's musical repertoire to include early opera. Rarely appearing on the modern stage are the operas of Monteverdi, Handel, and Rameau. Collaborations have commenced to provide our audiences the opportunity to experience these rich musical and dramatic performances.
   
3. Formally establish a Seattle early music institute directed by internationally acclaimed pedagogue and performer of early music, Margriet Tindemans. The institute will focus on developing early music professionals capable of both performing and teaching early music skills at the highest level.
   
4. Commence the establishment of a Seattle early music festival in collaboration with Seattle-based early music organizations. The week-long festival will be held in the summer. The festival will include local and out-of-town artists with the goal of becoming an internationally recognized venue for musicians to display their talents.
   
5. Continue support of Seattle-based artists through the EMG Concert Assistance Program and the Professional Affiliate Program. The Concert Assistance Program provides artistic fee subsidies and administrative assistance including nonprofit rate mailings and ticket sales. The Professional Affiliate Program provides the EMG nonprofit umbrella for fundraising and technical assistance for newly established early music groups.
   
6. Enhance and sustain a dynamic EMG Educational Program. This program includes pre-concert lectures, school programs featuring early musicians in the classroom, family concerts, and workshops for student and amateur musicians through the Northwest Center for Early Music Studies, a division of EMG.
   
7. Continue to maintain the EMG Operating Reserve at a minimum 25% of its annual operating expenses. Resources from the reserve may be used for new artistic initiatives and they must be replenished within two years.

Learn how you can help the Early Music Guild realize its mission and achieve its goals. Contact EMG by phone: 206-325-7066 or email: emg@earlymusicguild.org.