José Verstappen has spearheaded the renewal of early music in British Columbia and greatly contributed to its vitality across Canada. For three decades, he has served as head of Early Music Vancouver. His efforts have preserved the early music genre during periods of relative obscurity and helped raise it to prominence. Through a vibrant program of workshops, performances and concert series, he has also worked to integrate Canada into the international early music scene, inviting renowned musicians to Vancouver and showcasing Canadian talent to international audiences.