Music has been an integral part of Calgary’s culture for centuries, from the traditional songs of Indigenous peoples and the rhythmic beats of tom-toms to the violin music played in local forts. In 1873, the McDougall family donated a portable organ to a missionary church, marking the beginning of professional music in Calgary. Read more about Calgary’s musical evolution on calgary-trend.
Early Orchestras and Choirs
The first orchestra in Calgary was formed in 1877 by the North-West Mounted Police’s “F” Division, performing until 1881. Calgary’s first civilian orchestra, the Calgary Brass Band, was established in 1885. Other early ensembles included the Salvation Army Orchestra, Calgary Fire Brigade Band, and the Fifteenth Light Horse Cavalry Orchestra.
Church choirs flourished during this period, led by enthusiastic amateurs like J. Young, who directed the Methodist Church Choir from 1894 to 1908. By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, churches began employing professional organists and choirmasters and installing pipe organs.
The first attempt at a permanent choral society came in the early 1890s with the formation of the Calgary Philharmonic Society, which disbanded in 1908. That same year, the Apollo Choir debuted, lasting for a decade.
In 1947, violinist and conductor Clayton Hare founded the Mount Royal College Orchestra, later renamed the Calgary Symphony Orchestra (Calgary SO). By 1955, the orchestra merged with the Alberta Philharmonic, creating the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra (CPO).
Initially, the orchestra performed ten concerts annually at the Palace Theatre and held some school programs. Later, performances moved to the Alberta Jubilee Auditorium. By the 1990-1991 season, the CPO employed 63 full-time musicians and offered 42 weeks of programming, including lectures, chamber music concerts, and community events.
Musical Theatre in Calgary
Musical theatre in Calgary dates back to an 1890 production of Trial by Jury at the local opera house. Roland Winter, an influential director and actor, staged several productions of Gilbert and Sullivan’s operettas, as well as The Geisha by Sidney Jones in 1899.
Operettas were performed at the Grand Theatre, built in 1893, later renamed the Sherman Grand Theatre in 1905. This grand venue boasted Canada’s largest stage and hosted ensembles like the San Carlo Opera Company and D’Oyly Carte Opera Company.
The Calgary Opera Association
In 1972, Alexander Gray and a group of Calgary citizens founded the Southern Alberta Opera Association, later renamed the Calgary Opera Association, to produce professional opera performances. Gray served as the artistic director, with La Bohème as the inaugural production.
The association also hosted student matinees from 1978 to 1984 and resumed these programs in 1991, featuring young Canadian artists. Additionally, it sponsored educational programs and masterclasses for Calgary students.
Music Education in Calgary
Music education in Calgary began informally in 1887, led by Ada Dowling Costigan at Calgary Public School. In 1909, a Music Conservatory was established, replaced in 1910 by the Mount Royal College Conservatory, founded by the Methodist Church.
In the 1990s, the University of Calgary began offering music programs, sponsoring concerts and symposiums. The university also collaborated with the local RCCO chapter to host the Cecilian Organ Series concerts.
Notable Ensembles and Musicians
In the 1980s, the One Third Ninth Piano Trio gained prominence, comprising violinist Moshe Hammer, cellist John Kadz, and pianist Gloria Saarinen. They toured Alberta, the U.S., and Canada, performing approximately 100 concerts annually before disbanding in 1981.
Other notable groups included the Lyric Chamber Players, Calgary Chamber Ensemble, and Foothills Concert Band. The Calgary Boys’ Choir, founded in 1973, toured internationally, performing for royalty and collaborating with renowned artists.
In 1964, the rock band Rebounds was formed, later renamed The Stampeders. After relocating to Toronto, they became a trio and gained fame in 1971 with their hit Sweet City Woman, earning a Juno Award and reaching No. 1 on Canada’s RPM charts and No. 8 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.
Pioneering Calgary musicians include pianist and conductor Tommy Banks, composer and conductor Allan Bell, pianist Constance Channon-Douglas, organist and choirmaster Arthur Creighton, and many more.
Calgary’s Festivals
The annual Calgary Stampede incorporated grandstand shows featuring international pop and country artists alongside Canadian groups.
In the 1980s, Calgary hosted the Calgary Jazz Festival and Calgary Folk Festival. The 1988 Olympic Arts Festival and the 1989 Canadian Festival of Canadian Music (CFCM) showcased new Canadian compositions, including works by Calgary composers.
In 1990, Calgary launched the International Organ Festival, designed to support emerging organists of international stature. It featured competitions, masterclasses, workshops, and tours, attracting over 5,000 schoolchildren to learn about Calgary’s organs and churches. The competition winner, Kevin Bowyer from England, received a concert tour, a recording contract, and a $12,000 cash prize.
