About the TCEMF
Early music specialists aim to recreate the sound-worlds of earlier times through the use of period instruments and techniques. We base our interpretations on the accumulated evidence of original instruments, manuscripts, first editions, and the remarks of theoretical and instructional treatises.
The Twin Cities Early Music Festival brings together singers and musicians from Minnesota and beyond who specialize in the performance of music from the Medieval through the Classical period.
While there are a handful of early music festivals in the US, they are mostly located in cities on either coast. The Twin Cities has a rich and active early music community, and it is natural that it takes its place as a center of early music in the Midwest.
Beginning in 2025 the Twin Cities Early Music Festival will become part of Early Music Minnesota, and hands-on management of the festival will be taken over by Tami Morse, and the base of operations will become Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Minneapolis.
The Twin Cities Early Music Festival was founded by Donald Livingston in 2014, and in 2024 the decision was taken to shift direction of the festival under the hands of Tami Morse, who will begin direction with the 2026 festival in June.
The TCEMF will present a variety of concerts which:
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employ musicians trained in early music performance and historically informed techniques, with an understanding of the cultural and historical contexts in which the music was written
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involve period instruments
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include both familiar and rarely-heard works of the Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque and Classical periods
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unify the arts and humanities and enriches the fabric of the Twin Cities musical community
We hope that you find here a new experience you had not expected, and a spirit of musical performances which enriches and expands your understanding and appreciation of music for years to come.
Tami Morse
Artistic Director, 2026
Donald Livingston
Founding Director