Welcome to the South West Early Music Forum (SWEMF) website. There’s lots of information here about us and what we do, from early music workshops and concerts to instruments for sale or wanted.
The area we cover extends from Gloucstershire to Cornwall, including Devon, Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire, and we offer opportunities for playing and singing throughout the year to all our members and interested non-members alike.
Click on the tabs below for general information, or dive straight in using the menu above.
The South West Early Music Forum (SWEMF) is a charitable organisation promoting all aspects of early music in the South West of England. SWEMF brings together amateur and professional musicians, musicologists, teachers and pupils, instrument makers, and early music enthusiasts. The SWEMF region includes Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, Bristol, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire. Click here to view the SWEMF Constitution.
Throughout the year a series of workshops and playing and singing days are organised within the region where members have the opportunity to study works under the guidance of early music specialist tutors. These activities include Baroque chamber music playing days, singing days focusing on particular composers or periods, and workshops preparing larger scale works for both voices and instruments etc.
An Annual General Meeting is held each summer. This provides an opportunity for members to voice their views and suggestions on the future operations of the Forum.
SWEMF is one of ten regional Fora, which cover most areas of the UK, and are affiliated to the National Early Music Association. There is a UK Early Music Fora joint Facebook page here.
SWEMF is on Facebook here.
Members are entitled to reduced rates for SWEMF and other EMF events, and also receive a monthly emailed newsletter announcing future SWEMF activities and other news. Paper-based (pdf format) and online forms for forthcoming SWEMF events are available on the website too.
Subscriptions are due annually on 1st April. Membership forms can be printed from the website or filled in online. For further details see the admin page.
A Membership Directory (which can be accessed via the members’ area – password required) gives information concerning members’ particular interests, instruments played, voices sung, geographical area, etc. so that they may arrange joint activities outside those organised directly by SWEMF – it is not to be used for any other purpose.