Based in Victoria, BC, the Early Music Society of the Islands (EMSI) is a non-profit, fully volunteer society founded in 1985 to present concerts featuring internationally renowned soloists and ensembles.  EMSI also presents early music concerts by accomplished local musicians.

EMSI is committed to the idea that artistically successful performances of early music are historically informed.  All of the Society’s concerts feature original instruments, historical performance practices and accurate scores.

The list of soloists and ensembles presented by EMSI in Victoria is a who's who of the international early music scene: Anonymus 4, Nancy Argenta, Ensemble Anonymus, Julianne Baird, the Baltimore Consort, Camerata Köln, Marc Destrubé, John Holloway, Monica Huggett, Ton Koopman, La Venexiana, London Baroque, the Orlando Consort, Andrew Manze, Ronn McFarlane, Paul O'Dette, Simon Standage, Tafelmusik and many others have appeared in Victoria under the Society’s auspices.