Alberta Music Festival Association

The Alberta Music Festival Association (AMFA) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1964 to coordinate and promote music and speech arts competitions across the province of Alberta, Canada. The association was established with the goal of uniting various local music festivals and fostering a platform for performers to develop their skills through adjudicated performances and workshops.

History

The concept of music festivals in Alberta dates back to 1908 when Edmonton hosted the first regional music festival in North America, featuring 100 musicians competing in 11 classical categories. This early event was significant, as it laid the groundwork for subsequent festivals. By 1918, Calgary, Edmonton, and Lethbridge began rotating the provincial festival among their cities, using a common syllabus to standardize competitions.

Purpose and Activities

The AMFA's mission is to promote and develop music and speech arts across Alberta through performance and workshop-style adjudications. The organization supports 37 local member festivals, each of which sends top performers to compete in the annual Alberta Provincial Music Festival. This event encompasses a range of disciplines, including voice, piano, speech, and various instrumental classes.

AMFA also provides assistance to local festivals by publishing an annual syllabus, which outlines competition categories, rules, and guidelines. Additionally, the association plays a pivotal role in coordinating and presenting the Provincial Festival, offering a platform for local festival winners to compete at a higher level.

Governance

The AMFA is governed by an elected executive composed of representatives from member local festivals. This leadership structure ensures that decision-making processes are distributed among its member organizations, allowing for collaborative management and development of music and speech arts initiatives.

Funding and Support

Initial funding for AMFA was provided by the Government of Alberta, and the organization continues to receive support through the province's Cultural Development Branch. This government backing is crucial in sustaining AMFA's activities and fostering the growth of music and speech arts in Alberta.

Founders

The Alberta Music Festival Association was founded by a group of dedicated individuals, including Florence Musselwhite of Calgary, Alan Walker of Drumheller, Ken Crockett and Cora Molstad of Edmonton, and Seyward Smith of Lethbridge. Their contributions helped establish a robust network of festivals across Alberta, enriching the province's cultural landscape.

Business Registration

The Alberta Music Festival Association is registered under the business registration number 119211696RR0001, marking it as a formally recognized entity in Canada.

Overall, AMFA plays a vital role in promoting and developing music and speech arts in Alberta, providing opportunities for performers to grow and compete at various levels through a network of local and provincial festivals.