Musical and Amicable Society in Concert

The original Musical & Amicable Society was founded in 1762 by James Kempson, who directed the choir at St Bartholomew’s Chapel, Birmingham. Together with fellow musicians from St Philip’s Church (now Birmingham Cathedral), Kempson and his singers gathered on a regular basis at Cooke’s tavern in the Cherry Orchard ‘for practice and recreation’!

In 2003, Kate Fawcett and Martin Perkins decided to revive this historic society as a collective of professional period-instrument specialists, performing in combinations ranging from small ensembles to full orchestra.

The group’s presiding ethos is one of chamber music – however large or small the formation – where each and every performer has a significant role to play. Rapidly in demand, the Society now performs regularly throughout the country, including an annual tour of Christmas concerti – as well as performing JS Bach’s Brandenburg Concerti 3-6 for WEM’s sell-out concert on 19 April 2026!

Individually, its members maintain successful freelance careers with some of Europe’s most prestigious period-instrument ensembles. Collectively, they delight in exploring Baroque and Classical repertoire, both familiar and forgotten, recreating the soundscape of an earlier era for a 21st-century audience. As well as researching and devising programmes, the group enjoys collaborating with enlightened choirs to breathe new life into choral masterpieces.