The LINKS page has become OTHER FORA WEBSITES, the same information.  Do have a look at local fora websites for workshops and events!                                                                  (The site was last updated 4th August 2026) 

Future Workshops

Saturday 26th September. 
Saints and Angels, a workshop for singers with tutor Simon Harper.
 Our next workshop will feature some truly heavenly music.  Simon has planned the following repertoire of wonderful and varied motets:
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina Tu es Petrus - Richard Dering Factum est silentium - Peter Philips Cantantibus organis - Thomas Weelkes Gloria in excelsis Deo - Tomás Luis de Victoria Alma Redemptoris Mater (a 5) - Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck Gaude et laetare
The venue will be the historic Great Hall of the Bishop's Palace in Hereford, a favourite for BMEMF.
Full details and booking now available.  Click here to book.​

Photographer: Simon Lee

Torture, desperation and death with David Hatcher
What better way to celebrate a beautifully sunny day than by singing motets inspired by the prison writings of a monk being tortured before dying horribly?. The connecting thread between the three pieces we studied – Hellinck’s In te Domine speravi, and settings of Infelix ego by Lassus and by Byrd – was the Catholic cleric Savonarola who threatened the authority of the Catholic church with his outspoken criticism and was publicly executed.  Our guide through this grisly history was David Hatcher, who, as always, combined biography, early music theory and analysis of the pieces with deep love of the music. This was simply one of the most informative and enjoyable workshops I can remember, and if you weren’t there you missed something really special.

More workshops in 2027

Saturday 13th March 2027
An instrumental workshop with Lizzie Gutteridge.
Venue: St John's Church, Ludlow.
Organiser: Annita Wollen
Repetoire to be advised.

Saturday 24th April 2027
A workshop for voices with tutor Katy Silverman.
Venue:  Belmont Abbey nr. Hereford
Repetoire to be advised
Organiser: Robert Harris

Saturday 4th June 2027.  Workshop plus AGM
A workshop for voices and instruments.
Tutor: George Parris.
Venue:  to be confirmed, possibly Bishopswood Village Hall.
Repetoire: explore Heinrich Schütz
Organiser: Ellen Sarewitz​

About BMEMF

The Border Marches Early Music Forum, BMEMF, exists to promote the enjoyment of early music. It doesn't matter if you're a singer or an instrumentalist; very experienced or a beginner; amateur or professional - if you enjoy early music, BMEMF is for you. We publish three newsletters a year packed with news, reviews and details of forthcoming events.  ​

• We organise regular day workshops in Herefordshire and the surrounding counties of England and Wales.
• Our workshops cater for a range of interests and abilities.
• All our workshops are led by highly-regarded specialist tutors.
• You don't have to be a member - everyone is welcome.
• Find out more on our Facebook page.

We're welcoming, friendly and very, very enthusiastic! We hope that you will browse through our website and find an event to interest you. We look forward to seeing you at one of our workshops.

Registered Charity No 512160                We are members of 'Making Music'.
​Safeguarding: Applications to BMEMF events from young people under the age of 18 will be accepted only if a named, responsible adult will be with them for the whole of the event.
Please click here for a copy of our Data Protection Policy (revised August 2024)
Please click here for a copy of our Safeguarding Policy (May 2025)
Please click here for a copy of our Constitution (revised July 2022)
Please click here for a copy of our Annual Report for 2025-26
Please click here for our Annual Accounts 2025-26