NATIONAL CENTRE FOR EARLY MUSIC - United Kingdom

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Welcome to the National Centre for Early Music (NCEM). The NCEM is based in the medieval, Grade I listed, converted church of St Margaret’s which stands in the heart
of the City of York in an attractive and spacious church garden. It was converted in 2000 thanks to a National Lottery grant, which transformed the building into a stunning setting for concerts. We are an accessible, flexible and intimate music venue that seats audiences of up to 180.

Our aim is to involve as wide a range of people as possible in the pleasure, enrichment and inspiration that music and music-making can offer, and we promote NCEM as a national and international exemplar of the highest possible standards of creative practice, artistic performance and public engagement. All our work is guided through our core values which are: welcoming, excellence, integrity, authenticity, quality and ambition.

Our Mission is to:

Promote NCEM York as a national and international exemplar of the highest possible standards of creative practice, artistic performance and public engagement;
Engage with a culturally diverse artistic base in order to run a season of varied and inspiring performances across a wide range of musical genres;
Offer flagship festivals celebrating early music in particular;
Strive constantly to widen our audience base through innovative engagement activities and creative evolution of our digital channels;
Enhance the wellbeing of individuals and communities through music;
Share understanding and enjoyment of all forms of music, and early music in particular, through exemplary learning and participation activities that tackle historic and systemic inequities in creative ways;
Inspire young people to study, perform and enjoy music;
Support career access and progression at all levels and in all spheres of music-making and artistic management, with a special focus on performers specialising in early music;
Continue to build a network of local, regional, national and international partners who share our values, offering them support, inspiration and leadership;
Ensure that St Margaret's continues to be a source of joy for future generations.

NATIONAL CENTRE FOR EARLY MUSIC
St. Margaret's Church Walmgate, York YO1 9TL, United Kingdom

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2024 York Early Music Festival

United Kingdom

In 2024, the NCEM are celebrating this wealth of musical creativity through the human voice and song, the combination prized for its power to communicate with us most directly; and through metamorphosis, the inspiration behind the creation, reimagination and reconstruction of music across time.

Guests this year include vocal ensembles The Gesualdo Six, Concerto Soave, Vox Luminis and Cappella Pratensis, while other highlights including a series of chamber concerts curated by BBC New Generation Artist and Festival Artistic Adviser Helen Charlston and her guests, who include the Consone Quartet, harpsichordist John Butt and mezzo soprano Rebecca Leggett. As for reimagination, guest artists including The Sixteen, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and Gawain Glenton’s Ensemble In Echo will be revealing how much, how often and how many composers have borrowed from each other and themselves.

We are particularly delighted to welcome a new collaboration with artists and colleagues based in Flanders with support from the Alamire Foundation, AMUZ in Antwerp and the Flanders Government, and to host young ensembles from across Europe once again as they join us for our Young Artists Competition