Festival City Winds Music Society

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

History

Festival City Winds came into being in the fall of 1995 when band members approached Alberta College for the use of facilities and invited Wendy Grasdahl to be their conductor. Within a year, there were two full concert bands, Intermediate and Advanced, and Wendy also directed a beginner class which became the core of the Novice Band. In the following year, the beginner class was taught by Eila Peterson, and Wendy conducted all three bands, Novice, Intermediate and Advanced, bringing in Steve Williams as an apprentice conductor with the Intermediate Band. Since then, associate instructors have included Sheryl Bowhay, Jamie Burns, and Taina Lorenz. All the Festival City Winds conductors have maintained a strong educational focus in their work with the bands.

The organization soon became well enough established to apply for non-profit society status. A board of directors was struck and the bands moved to more community-based facilities, with the Advanced Band housed at First Presbyterian Church in downtown Edmonton, the Intermediate Band at McNally High School, the Novice Band at Westlawn Junior High, and the beginner class through Edmonton Public’s Continuing Education department, later to become Metro Community College. It wasn’t long before the Novice Band and beginner classes also moved to First Presbyterian Church, with the beginner class run through Festival City Winds rather than an external organization. Because of the Festival City Winds focus on music education through performance, a partnership was established between Festival City Winds Music Society and Concordia University College. This brought the Intermediate Band rehearsals to Concordia’s Tegler Centre, and allowed Concordia students to receive large ensemble credit by playing in one of the bands.

Prior to the 2024-2025 season (its 30th) the Intermediate and Advanced Bands acquired the new designations of Concert Band, Symphonic Band, and Sympmonic Wind Ensemble. Currently, Wendy Grasdahl, as artistic director and principal conductor, conducts all three of these groups. Eila Peterson conducts the Novice Band and the beginner class. Festival City Winds Music Society has achieved charitable status and is looking forward to expanding its profile in the Edmonton area. Each year, three chamber workshop recitals are held to showcase soloists and small ensembles from within the membership, and brass and woodwind choirs have participated in special events at First Presbyterian Church. Band performances to date have included: 2 formal concerts per year, plus community league events, joint concerts with other community ensembles, Edmonton’s First Night Festival, school concerts, seniors’ homes, City Hall concerts, the Great Human Race, and Canada Day events both in Millwoods and at the Legislative Grounds.

Past Concerts and Events 1995-2023

The Festival City Winds performed its inaugeral concert on December 8, 1995 and has performed regularly ever since.

Below is a list of concerts and events previous to the current season.

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