Galway Early Music Festival
22-24 May 2026
Celebrating 30 years of early music in Galway, this year’s festival - the third festival presented by Resurgam in its dual role of festival producer and host ensemble - focuses on public engagement through performing platforms for local choirs and ensembles, collaborative partnerships, participatory workshops, opportunities for audience participation and performances by internationally-acclaimed artists.
Festival Artists
As part of an array of national and international artists for GEMF’s 30th festival, Resurgam is teaming up with the English Cornett and Sackbut Ensemble (ECSE) and Galway’s new baroque instrumental ensemble Vespera.
ECSE will also share the stage with Galway’s St. Patrick’s Brass Band, and Vespera will perform its own programme in the festival. A Tenebrae series in the candlelit church will feature Resurgam tenors Christopher Bowen and Edward Woodhouse, together with Malcolm Proud, organ and Kristiina Watt, theorbo, performing Couperin’s Leçons de ténèbres in Tenebrae I; and harpsichordists Yonit Kosovske and Rachel Factor performing Bach’s masterpiece The Art of Fugue in Tenebrae II.
Galway’s Choristers and Collegium of St. Nicholas’ Schola Cantorum will perform with Resurgam, ECSE, violinists Claire Duff and Bogdan Sofei and organist Malcolm Proud in the opening concert A Measure of Time. Vox Orbis, an all-female voice choral ensemble based in Galway city, and festival favourites Galeon Ensemble will also return to celebrate our 30th anniversary.
Festival Programme
A Measure of Time: Celebrating 30 years of Galway Early Music Festival
Friday 22 May, 6:00pm
St Nicholas' Collegiate Church
featuring Resurgam, English Cornett and Sackbut Ensemble (ECSE), Claire Duff (violin), Bogdan Sofei (violin), Malcolm Proud (organ) and Collegium and Choristers of St. Nicholas’ Schola Cantorum.
This programme traces musical developments in central Europe over another 30-year period - the Thirty Years' War 1618-1648. Particular reference points are provided by composers including Heinrich Schütz, Johann Schein, Tobias Michael and Andreas Hammerschmidt, who wrote specific works engaging with the notable events of these three decades, from the Bohemian Revolt through to the Peace of Prague.
Festival Launch and 30th Anniversary Celebration
Friday 22 May, 8:00pm
St Nicholas' Collegiate Church
Join us to celebrate this exciting milestone in Galway's music scene.
Vox Orbis coffee concert
Saturday 23 May, 11:00am
St Nicholas' Collegiate Church
In collaboration with St. Nicholas’ Schola Cantorum, GEMF presents local artists Vox Orbis, an all-female voice choral ensemble based in Galway city and directed by Mark Keane.
Street music by Galeon Ensemble
Saturday 23 May
Throughout the festivities on Saturday, Galeon Ensemble will bring the music of the festival to the teeming streets of medieval Galway.
Dance workshop
Saturday 23 May, 1:00pm
St Nicholas' Collegiate Church
All are welcome to participate in this dance workshop! In collaboration with Galway's branch of the Society of Creative Anachronism (SCA), Cluain Oir.
Open workshop hosted by English Cornett and Sackbut Ensemble (ECSE)
Saturday 23 May, 3:00pm
St Nicholas' Collegiate Church and St Patrick's Primary School
All welcome to attend this educational open workshop, also featuring St Patrick's Brass Band.
Open workshop hosted by English Cornett and Sackbut Ensemble (ECSE)
Saturday 23 May, 6:00pm
St Nicholas' Collegiate Church
Following the education workshop that afternoon, ECSE and St Patrick's Brass Band will share the stage to present the fruits of their collaboration in concert.
Tenebrae I in Candlelight
Saturday 23 May, 9:00pm
St Nicholas' Collegiate Church
Resurgam tenors Christopher Bowen and Edward Woodhouse, together with Malcolm Proud, organ, and Kristiina Watt, theorbo, present Couperin's Leçons de ténèbres.
Reverie and Revelry
Sunday 24 May, 6:00pm
St Nicholas' Collegiate Church
The festival offers a platform to Galway’s new baroque instrumental ensemble Vespera under the direction of baroque violinist Claire Duff and including all four ConTempo members. To celebrate GEMF’s 30th anniversary, Vespera presents a programme of eighteenth-century music for string ensemble, with organist James Taylor, featuring:
Telemann's Ouverture, Burlesque de Quixotte, TWV 55:G10
Purcell's Sonata in 4 parts, no. 6 in G minor, Z.807
Vivaldi's Violin Concerto for two violins in A minor, op. 3/8
Corelli's Concerto Grosso no.4 in D major, op. 6
Tenebrae II in Candlelight
Sunday 24 May, 9:00pm
St Nicholas' Collegiate Church
In collaboration with Now and Then Media/H.I.P.S.T.E.R., harpsichordists Yonit Kosovske and Rachel Factor present Bach’s masterpiece The Art of Fugue in candlelight.