Madison Early Music Festival

press release: The University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of the Arts announces the 20^th annual Madison Early Music Festival (MEMF) Workshop and Concert Series “The Grand Tour: A 20^th Anniversary Celebration” from July 6–13, 2019 on the UW–Madison campus. Taking inspiration from “Coryat’s Crudities” (1611), an account of a five-month journey across Europe, with an unusual personal narrative, this ultimate gap year provides the inspiration for the 2019 MEMF Grand Tour, presenting music from England, France, Italy and Germany. MEMF is also presented in partnership with the Mead Witter School of Music.

Participants will experience a full week of music, history and culture from various parts of Europe through classes, lectures, dances and concerts taught and performed by some of the world's finest early music artists with a musical focus from the 16^th and 17^th centuries.

Evening concerts are preceded by a 6:30 pm lecture. All concerts and lectures take place in or near the UW–Madison Mosse Humanities Building (455 N. Park Street). Tickets to individual concerts are $22 for general admission and $12 for students. The Festival Concert Pass costs $90 and includes admission to all 5 evening concerts. Concert tickets are available at the Campus Arts Ticketing Box Office (Memorial Union, 800 Langdon St.), online, (608) 265-2787 or at the door. There will be a $4 convenience fee for phone and online orders.

Note: All MEMF Concert Series concerts and lectures are free for participants in the MEMF Workshop.

Saturday, July 6: Dark Horse Consort Wanderlust

Sunday, July 7: Alchymy Viols American at Versailles

Tuesday, July 9: HESPERUS The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Friday, July 12: Calmus Faith and Madness

Saturday, July 13: All-Festival Concert Musical Postcards from the Grand Tour

Dance Event and Free Concerts

Thursday, July 11: MEMF Dance Event “Grand Tour Dance Excursions," Great Hall, Memorial Union, 800 Langdon St. | 7:30 p.m. | $10

Friday, July 12: MEMF Participant Concert, Mills Concert Hall, 455 N. Park St. | 1:00 p.m. | Free (no lecture)

Saturday, July 13: Advanced Loud Band and Voice Intensive Concert, Morphy Recital Hall, 455 N. Park St. | 2:00 p.m. | Free

Participant registration for the 2019 Madison Early Music Festival (July 6-13), The Grand Tour: A 20th Anniversary Celebration of the Madison Early Music Festival, is now available.

Registration is easy for participants! There are two ways to register:

• Register online with a credit card. Please note: for registering online, we recommend you use laptops or desktop computers rather than iPads and mobile devices.
• Download and print out a MEMF 2019 Registration Form and mail in with check or money order.

The registration fee of $50 is waived for all who register before June 1. Work study and scholarship opportunities are available as well.  

We look forward to seeing you at MEMF 2019!