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Early Music Guild 

Description

The Early Music Guild (EMG) is Seattle's largest presenter of early music and related educational programs. Its mainstage events include the International Series and Seattle Baroque Orchestra at Town Hall and Baroque Opera at the Moore Theatre and other venues. 

EMG also presents a wide range of outreach and educational activities for students, adult participants, families, and new audiences. They include the Community Collegia program for adult amateur musicians, Early Music Fridays concerts at Northlake Unitarian Church in Kirkland, First Tuesdays concerts at Trinity Parish Church, Early Music Discovery for families at Town Hall, and the School Program in area elementary schools.

Mission Statement
The Early Music Guild of Seattle seeks to awaken contemporary audiences to the vitality of music from the Middle Ages through the 18th Century. Through historically informed performances, recordings, support and education, we foster awareness and appreciation of this music, which not only illuminates past eras, but also provides a unique lens through which to view our own.
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Early Music Guild
2366 Eastlake Ave E Ste 325 
Seattle 
WA
98102-3399 
(206) 325-7066 

August Denhard 
Executive Director 

Programs

Early Music Guild Programs

Early Music Guild's five-concert International Series has presented the world's greatest early music performmances to Seattle audiences for 35 years. The series is in residence at Town Hall Seattle.

The Early Music Guild presents the Seattle Baroque Orchestra, directed by violinist Ingrid Matthews and harpsichordist Byron Schenkman, in five concerts annually at Town Hall. Seattle Baroque Orchestra merged with the Early Music Guild on July 1, 2010 and is now a program of the Early Music Guild. The series is in residence at Town Hall Seattle.  

Early Music Guild's First Tuesdays concerts and Early Music Fridays concerts present 16 concerts annually by the Pacific Northwest's community of professional early music performers. Concerts are presented in partnership with Trinity Parish Church at 8th and James in Seattle (First Tuesday) and Northlake Unitarian Church in Kirkland (Early Music Fridays).

Recent Successes and Current Challenges

Recent Success
On July 1, 2010, the Early Music Guild merged with the Seattle Baroque Orchestra, one of only a few non-profit arts mergers in recent history in this region. The merger has been an unqualified success, with board members, artistic directors, staff, audiences, and contributors working together to present great performances of early music in Seattle and the broader region.    

Current Challenge
After 20 years, the co-founding directors of Seattle Baroque Orchestra, Ingrid Matthews and Byron Schenkman, will retire at the end of the 2012-13 season.  Early Music Guild will launch a search to replace them in March 2013. 

Evaluation


Early Music Guild (EMG) presents early music and related educational programs.

Access
Based on the success of their First Tuesdays series at Trinity Parish Church in Seattle, in October 2010 they created a new early music series on the same model – Early Music Fridays at Northlake Unitarian Universalist Church in Kirkland. Attendance has equaled that of the more established First Tuesdays series. The series is developing a new audience for early music on the Eastside.

Collaboration
EMG is partnering with Seattle Theatre Group, Pacific Musicworks, and Spectrum Dance
Company to present a baroque opera created to emphasize the strengths and talents of the artists in our region.

Sustainability
EMG merged with Seattle Baroque Orchestra on July 1, 2010. The combined board is reenergized and the artistic goals are aligned. There is a loyal audience and donor base that have come together to support this merger. The merger has diversified their artistic offerings, broadened their audience both numerically and demographically, and introduced new opportunities for artistic growth.

Their board does need to develop their expertise and leadership skills to serve an organization that has expanded quickly. They need to write grants, develope corporate support, fundraising events and individual support to meet their goals.

Financial Health
Their annual budget has nearly doubled to $606,000 with the merger with Seattle Baroque Orchestra. Their current (2010-11) season is on track for both income and expenses and they expect to end the year with a balanced budget.

Grant History with The Seattle Foundation:

Grants Awarded through The Seattle Foundation Grantmaking Program:

DateAmountPurpose
6/10/2010 $12,000.00support general operating expenses.
12/10/2008 $10,000.00support general operating expenses.
10/5/2006 $10,000.00support general operating expenses.
9/16/2004 $10,000.00support general operating expenses.

Financials

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