Alberta Music Festival Association

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Alberta Music Festival Association. (A.F.M.A.)

An organization formed in 1964 to co-ordinate the various local music competitions held throughout the province of Alberta, Canada. Founded by Florence Musselwhite of Calgary, Alan Walker of Drumheller, Ken Crockett and Cora Molstad of Edmonton, Seyward Smith of Lethbridge. Initial funding was provided by the Government of Alberta, which through its' Cultural Development Branch, continues to provide funding to this day.

The first Canadian Music Competition Festival was held in Edmonton on May 8th, 1908 initiated by the desire of the Governor General Earl Grey to encourage similar Music Festivals across Canada. This "provincial" festival was held annually in Edmonton until 1917, after which, local festivals began to emerge in Alberta, and the location of the provincial festivals were shared between Edmonton, Calgary, and Lethbridge. Lethbridge began its own festival in 1923, and Calgary followed in 1931. In 1953, the Kiwanis Clubs of Calgary became the official sponsors of the Calgary festival.

Many smaller communities in Alberta now hold annual competitions, with the A.M.F.A. acting as the formal federation of these individual groups. By 1990 it had 30 member festivals, each represented on the board of directors.

[edit] Bibliography

Musselwhite, Florence I. 'Encyclopedia of Music in Canada' 2nd edition (University of Toronto Press: 1992) Wodell, F.W. 'The Alberta musical competition festival at Edmonton,' Musician, 16, 1911 Moore, Louise A. deW. 'Progressive Alberta,' CanJM, Jul-Aug 1915 Coutts, George. 'Music festivals of western Canada,' CRMA, Oct 1943