About

WEM aims to promote the enjoyment and understanding of music composed before 1800.

Annual Concert Season

Our concert season features artists who have been trained in historically informed performance. They contextualise their music through their research into documents and letters as well as linking with other art forms, including dance, visual arts, poetry and literature.

Ensemble Hesperi performed a programme entitled “A gift for your garden” for us in October 2023, drawing links from the 18th century plant collecting culture.

Workshops

WEM offers opportunities to sing, dance or play music composed before 1800.

Apollo’s Revels gave a performance in January 2022 of Baroque Dance entitled “The European Tour” following a successful workshop for people to learn some of the dances of the period.

Music Education opportunities

Through our connections with Birmingham Conservatoire and the Elgar School of Music we are able to offer opportunities to students and families.

In October 2022 Tabea Debus gave a masterclass to students from Birmingham Conservatoire.

Free Entry to all concerts for students

Students under the age of 18 are offered free entry to all our concerts and events.

Who’s who in WEM?


Barbara Dunn

Barbara Dunn

Barbara trained as a teacher and worked for most of her career in Primary Education, eventually serving as a headteacher in Reading and then in Worcester, before taking early retirement.

She has been involved with Worcestershire Early Music from its beginning, delivering workshops and organising concerts and the Pride and Prejudice Ball. Barbara is an enthusiastic amateur musician, playing regularly in many different formal and informal gatherings.


Claire Horacek

Local artist and musician Claire Horacek brings her artistic skills to design marketing brochures, bookmarks and posters. She plays viol in the Linarol Consort of viols and teaches a Baroque Course at the Elgar School of Music in Worcester.


Ross Workman


Ross is our ever-efficient and diligent Treasurer who can usually be spotted on the ticket desk at our concerts .


Philip Davies


Phil is our Secretary and takes our meeting minutes as well as helping out at concerts.


Martin Perkins

Martin is Head of the Historically Performance department at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire; he performs regularly with local artists and is a co-director of The Musical and Amicable Society. He brings musical expertise and invaluble support to our organisation.