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Canada Music Week Activities Information

Welcome all MRMTA members, to our Canada Music Week Activities page. These events are sponsored by the Winnipeg Branch.

Did you know that we are continuing a long tradition begun in 1957 by Violet Isfeld, the then CFMTA president, every year we participate in Canada Music Week (CMW) activities? It was initially proposed as a National Week of Music planned for the 1960, 25^th Anniversary celebrations of the CFMTA. It's huge success resulted in an annual event emerging in 1961 as Canada Music Week. By 1963, the last full week of November, including November 22, St. Cecelia Day, the patron Saint of Music, was established as the official week of celebration.

CMW's scope was broadened in 1969 to include the Provincial school system, through the successful lobbying by Flora Goulden, the CFMTA president, of the Provincial Premiers and their Education Ministers. A Poster Competition was initiated to highlight the 10^th Anniversary and continues today. The following year, the Music Writing Competition was introduced and also continues to this day. As of 2002, Canada Music Week as a trademark has been established.

It has taken the effort and vision of many people to create such a fine history of celebrating our Canadian culture. The MRMTA Winnipeg Branch is proud to support this institution with various activities offered each year. We invite you to check out the following plans for this year:

1) The Canada Music Week Concert scheduled for Sunday, November 16, 2008 at St. Andrew's River Heights United Church, 255 Oak St., at 3:00 pm, featuring performances by students of MRMTA members. Adult admission fee is $5.

2) The What's New? Symposium* scheduled for November 20, 2008, at J.J.H. McLean & Co. Ltd., 957 Portage Ave., from 9:30-11:00 am. Remi Bouchard will be presenting his latest publications of piano, vocal and choral works- a great opportunity to discover new Canadian music material for your students/choirs! Free for MRMTA members, $10 for non-members.

* Only with sufficient numbers registered to attend. Check your E-newsletter for deadline info.

3) New for this year! The Canadian Music Project: A longer term student-teacher project focussing on fostering greater Canadian music awareness, available online November. Visit the link below to access and print forms for your students. Participate and you and your student(s) will be eligible for a prize! We hope to receive feedback from members about this event, which will help determine its future.

Let's celebrate Canadian music together!

Carmen Barchet and Vivian Klosse

• 2008-2009 Canadian Music Project