Besides their ongoing relationships with the University of Chicago and Northwestern University, Douglass and friends are now artists-in-residence at St. Clement Church, a sonically splendid Romanesque church in Lincoln Park. “That relationship will allow us the proper setting for sacred music that hasn’t been a part of our programming,” says Douglass, a specialist in playing period stringed instruments and a core member of the ensemble since its founding in 1982 by the now-retired Springfels.

Since vocal music accounts for a large percentage of the group’s Renaissance and Baroque repertory, Douglass has formed an adjunct vocal ensemble, the Newberry Consort Singers, which will debut at the weekend shows. Joining will be The Whole Noyse, a period brass quartet from the San Francisco Bay area. “Their sound is glorious,” says Douglass of the quartet.

“In that church space they will sound especially beautiful.” This season, the storytelling motif carries through every program the Newberry Consort is presenting. Just in time for Valentine’s Day, the group will devote its Feb. 14-17 concerts to a semi-staged recreation of history’s first romantic musical comedy, “The Play of Robin and Marion” by the 13th Century French troubadour Adam de la Halle.

The season will conclude April 10-13 with “Espanoletta,” a rare look at the seductive Spanish dances that set all of Europe aflame in the 17th Century. Dancers in full Baroque costume will spin tales of love and longing through tarantellas, canarias, folias and other period dances. The Chatham Baroque will accompany them. It’s all part of Douglass’ plan to pull more audience members into the early music orbit by giving them stylish, high-quality performances that delight both the eye and ear.