​2025 Concert Performances

ALMSG is very happy to announce that our inaugural concert fundraiser took place on Saturday, February 1st at the recital hall at Ambrose University.  We received many cash donations at the venue and significant e-transfer donations such that we totally surpassed our fundraising goal!  Thank you to everyone who supported us with your presence on the cold blizzardy concert day and supported us financially.  We are so grateful to you!  There is another joint concert with the guitar orchestra of the Calgary Classical Guitar Society that we are planning for Saturday, May 31st.  This will be held at Christ Moravian Church in the afternoon.  We will be selling tickets at a nominal price so we can recoup venue costs.  Any donations in excess of the venue rental will be donations to be split evenly between our two non-profit groups   Be on the lookout for more details.

 

Members' Orchestra/Band Concert Nights

Kaylene has started up her Ambrose Arts Orchestra rehearsals on Thursday evenings in September.  Kaylene has started rehearsals again after the Christmas break and her orchestra has two spring concerts. The first is the Edwin Gnandt Concerto Concert which is on  Friday, March 21st @ 7:30 pm at Calgary First Church of the Nazarene (65 Richard Way SW) and the secon is the Ambrose Arts Fusion Event which is on April 11th at Ambrose University Tickets$20 adults, $15 seniors and students, children under 12 free

 

Edel has also resumed her Westwinds Blue Band rehearsals on Thursday nights.  She will have a spring concert on March 8th at 3pm at Knox United Church in DT.  Tickets are $15 and you can buy in advance or at the door.  All the following bands and choirs are playing at 3 pm.

Blue & Silver Concert | Wind Orchestra | Blue Strings |Treble Choir | Choral Ensemble 

The year end Concert in the Park is on May 10 (more details later). 

 

Sandra has joined Westwinds Green Strings Band to learn cello this September which is a totally new experience for her.  Her band rehearsal nights are on Monday evenings.  She will have a spring concert at Knox United Church in DT @ 7 pm on March 8th. Tickets are $15 and you can buy in advance or at the door. The following bands and choirs are playing at 7 pm:

***** Green & Bronze Concert | Symphonic Band | Green Strings | Green, Mixed & Young Adult Choirs ***** The year end Concert in the Park is on May 10 (more details later). 

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Kim D. is a member of Westwinds Blue Strings which has their rehearsals on Wednesday nights.  She has a Spring concert at the same time as Edel, on March 8th at 3 pm at Knox United. Tickets are $15 and you can buy in advance or at the door.  All the following bands and choirs are playing at 3 pm:Blue & Silver Concert | Wind Orchestra | Blue Strings |Treble Choir | Choral Ensemble. The year end Concert in the Park is on May 10 (more details later). 

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​Previous Years Music Exams​​

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• Heather, previous member, Sexsmith AB,  Completed Level 2 Piano Exam Feb'24

       Congratulations, Heather, on achieving Honours with Distinction on this exam!​

• Joanne, current member, north of Saskatoon SK, Completed Level 9 Piano Exam Jun'23

       Congratulations, Joanne!

• Edel, current member, Calgary AB, Completed Level 9 Piano Exam Jun'23

       Congratulations, Edel!​

• ​Ann, previous member, Toronto ON, Completed Level 3 Piano Exam Oct '23

        Congratulations, Ann!​

• ​Kathleen, current member, Calgary AB, Completed Level 2 Piano Exam Nov'23

         Congratulations, Kathleen!​

• Sandra, current member, Calgary AB, Completed Level 6 Piano Exam June 21st, 2024

           Congratulations, Sandra​!

• Leslie, previous member, Collingwood, ON, Completed Level 8 Harp Exam June 26, 2024

          Congratulations, Leslie!​

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Members' Participation in Music Festivals and Camps 

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The APTA Festival 2025 will run Mar 1-15, 2024

• The following members are taking part and the dates and times of their recital classes are listed below:

• Alan & Kaylene, Intermediate Combo, Mar 3 1:30 pm

• Alan, Adult Recital Advanced, Mar 4 6:30 pm

• Kathleen, Adult Solo Junior, Mar 5 3:30 pm

• Claude, Adult Recital Senior, Mar 10 1:30 pm

• Claude, Adult Solo Senior. Mar 11 10:30 am

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The ARMTA Adult Recital 2025 was held on February 9th 4:30 - 6:00 pm at Cornerstone Music and Cafe.  It was packed as it is a very small venue. 

• Alan on piano and Kaylene on violin, will be playing a duo

• Graham on piano

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The Chinook School of Music Performance Masterclasses ran in early December 2024.  Sandra and Dorothy were both registered for the adult piano masterclass scheduled for

Dec 1st, 2024 4:30 - 6:00 pm. (Sandra was not able to attend unfortunately)

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The Contemporary Showcase Festival ran November 21-23, 2024

• Graham and Alan, Piano, had entered this festival.  Their performance class was Nov 21st 7:45 pm.

 

This year, the Adult LPI (Lethbridge Piano Intensive) had a different format from the previous four years.  Instead of the first two Saturdays in June, it took place on 3 consecutive days on July 5 - 7, 2024 and the following members and family members took part in person unless otherwise noted:

• Graham and Alan, Alan's daughter, Sandra's daughter (senior level)

• Dorothy, Linda, Sandra (intermediate level)

• Kathleen (beginner level) via Zoom on Friday, in person on Saturday and via Zoom on Sunday

As you can see, many different levels of pianists participated and most importantly felt welcome at this summer camp.  The LPI clinicians, of which there are five, met each pianist at their level and taught each participant utilizing their own unique teacher training specialties.   This was done with warmth and kindness as these clinicians are deeply invested in our learning growth and in us as individual people and not just what we do on the piano.   Please read the July newsletter as I essentially wrote a detailed summary of the smorgasboard of learning that we were offered.

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The North York Music Festival runs April 5-28, 2024.  The registration for virtual entries opens Mar 1 and ends April 1st.  Video entries must be submitted by April 1st to be considered.

• Kaylene entered this virtual festival for Adult Level 9/10 Violin and submitted three video performances -two on violin and one on viola.  Update:  Kaylene achieved gold for all three of her submissions.  Congratulations, Kaylene!

• Ann entered this virtual festival for Adult Level 3 Piano and submitted five performance videos.  She achieved gold on four and she will be attending the Presentation Gala in June as she lives in Toronto.  Congratulations, Ann!

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The APTA ( Alberta Piano Teachers' Association) Festival* ran from March 4 -16,2024 and the following members participated:

• Linda, Kathleen: Adult Piano Solo class

• Sandra, Graham, Alan: Adult Piano Recital class

• Linda: Sing and Play class

• Kaylene & Alan: Piano Combo Class - Violin/Piano Duo

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Congratulations to Alan on being invited to perform at the APTA showcase concert.  (Alan did not attend however as it conflicted with his family plans.)

*Please note: Many of our members volunteered to help out this festival as either secretaries for the adjudicators or as reception greeters.  Edel, Sandra and Kathleen all volunteered and helped out at this festival.  Volunteering for music organizations is one of the mandates of our group!

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Community Service/Volunteering

​Sandra  currently volunteers:

1. for Alberta Health Services as a patient support musician volunteer.  She played at the McCAig Tower weekly on Fridays 1-2 pm on the Boston Grand piano on the ground floor. She was on a leave of absence for the past 4 weeks but will resuming her weekly piano shift starting March 6th at a new date and time - Thursdays 2-3pm

2. for MountainView Festival and JazzYYC in the past, the most recent in June'24 and Oct'24 respectively as a casino volunteer - usually in the position of cashier but undertakes any volunteer role in the casino cage as needed.  She is volunteering on March 9, 2025 11am-7pm as a casino cashier for ProArts Society.

Edel volunteered in 2025 :​

• for the APTA festival as secretary for the adjudicator

Claude currently volunteers:

• for Alberta Health Services as a patient support musician volunteer.  He plays the piano weekly at the South Health Campus weekly on Mondays 6:30 - 7:30 pm ​

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updated Mar 5, 2025