How to apply

We are now fully programmed for 2024 with the theme of Connections – something that is at the heart of much of what BREMF does and stands for.

We are currently gathering programme ideas for the 2025 Festival which will explore the theme of Love in all its forms.

BREMF's programming ethos

We are currently planning our theme for 2025 as Love – exploring the richness and diversity of love in all its forms.

The ancient Greeks defined the major forms of Love as:

  • Storge (affection, fondness, familiarity, parental love)
  • Philia (platonic, friendship, shared interests)
  • Eros (romantic/erotic love)
  • Agape (divine love)
  • Xenia (love and hospitality to strangers)

But there was also awareness of less beneficial types of love such as Narcissism or self love, and throughout history both Eros and Agape appear frequently in grossly distorted versions, fused with hate, intolerance, greed and jealousy. Love of the divine is hard to see in religious extremism of any sort and the commercialisation of Eros has often reduced it to the purely erotic, and often exploited.

Yet despite this, Love is all around us and it would be good if festival proposals can add some broader interpretations as well as looking at less represented forms of this highly complex single word. See below for more inspiration.

We love proposals that seek out the unexpected and shine new light on the more familiar, but we also love them to be fully costed as far as is possible.

Some inspirations around the theme of LOVE

  • Agape: To see the Divine in nature itself. There have been countless religions and dogmas from pantheism onwards, but many of us who follow no religion can still feel awe, wonder and the deepest love for the extraordinary and infinite universe of which we are a part.
  • When Agape and Eros meet beautifully. Texts like the Song of Songs are not contradictory, despite the narrow prudishness which so often sought to reinterpret the pure poetry of rounded yearning.
  • We hear a lot about xenophobia these days, but less about xenophilia; however it has always been quietly there among the modest people who welcome strangers. This can also be seen widely in music, when unfamiliar musicians and musical styles have been lovingly embraced and acknowledged with gratitude.
  • Exploring more specific forms of romantic love with strong musical connections, to include: courtly love, unrequited love, love and humour – many texts that can smile gently at some of the foolishness of love.
  • Love of music itself. Why it has always been used to heal, comfort, fortify, give vent to pent-up feelings and unite people. This can include beautiful laments, music of mourning and remembrance etc. as well as music that inspires joy.

Applying to perform at BREMF

  • The Festival takes place across three weekends in mid to late October each year.
  • We programme around specific themes for each Festival.
  • Our programming aims to create new audiences for early music. Applicants who take this into account are more likely to be successful.
  • We only programme young artists through our annual auditions for our Early Music Live scheme
  • We are less likely to take off-the-peg programmes unless they are part of a funded tour and can work within our theme. We often collaborate with ensembles to build programmes that will resonate with our themes and stimulate new ways of presenting and contextualising music.
  • With no core funding, we are always operating on a tight budget and can rarely afford to programme ensembles from abroad unless they are offering a concert that is subsidised or part of a funded tour that coincides with our festival dates.
  • Please make initial enquiries about performing at BREMF by email and please don’t send a CD unsolicited. Please do include links to performances on YouTube, SoundCloud etc. in your email and do also indicate the range of fees involved, and let us know if this includes transport and accommodation if required.

How to get in touch

Please note that we are only interested in programmes that work closely with our annual theme and combine good scholarship with imaginative, fresh and engaging approaches. Enquiries about performing can be sent at any time of year, but we are likely to be fully programmed by each January.

Initial enquiries should be sent to cathy@bremf.org.uk

Send Email Enquiry