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A Brief History
To-day, music festivals are held each spring in many localities throughout Canada.
Although we generally associate the name of Earl Grey, Canada's Governor General between 1904 and 1911,
with the Grey Cup in football,
it may not be so well known that it was under his influence in 1908, along with three other gentlemen,
that the Alberta Music Festival Association was founded in Edmonton.
Incorporation took place in 1925. The operation of a provincial association is essential to the well-being of local
festival organizations.
A history of any organization is necessarily about people, and the Sherwood Park Musical Festival Association
is no exception.

One name bridges the success of this association and the Alberta Festival Association.
When the Alberta Music Festival Association began to be less active, it was Cora Molstad in 1964,
together with others who joined forces to re-establish the Association as a central body to the locals
and as a sponsor to new festivals.
When in 1976 a group of teachers was interested in allowing young people from our local community to
group and participate in a music festival, it was Cora Molstad who was instrumental in helping to start the
Sherwood Park Music Festival.
That same year we joined the Alberta Music Festival Association and in 1977 we became known as the
Sherwood Park Kiwanis Music Festival Association, run by the Kiwanis Club.
It was to run at arms length from the Sherwood Park Kiwanis Club with a representative to serve on the Board of Directors.
Financial assistance was to come from the club. Growing pains were experienced over the years but with
dedicated volunteers from Strathcona County, it managed to survive.

In 1992 the Board of Directors felt it was necessary to see if additional funds could be found,
as the Kiwanis Club was unable to finance more than 10 per cent of the budget.
It was decided to change the name of the Association to the Sherwood Park Music Festival Association.
The Festival has grown steadily and presently includes vocal, choral, strings, piano, musical theatre
and speech arts.
The continued growth and success is due to the active involvement of many volunteers, board members,
festival volunteers and especially the continued financial support of businesses, corporations and individuals.
Without this involvement we could not function.

During the 25th Anniversary Celebrations in 2001, we paid tribute to all of those persons who had given their time freely over the years, and dedicated the 2001 Sherwood Park Music Festival to them


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