Victoria Musical Art Society

Victoria Musical Art Society

Victoria Musical Art Society (until 1930 the Victoria Ladies' Musical Club). Founded 3 Mar 1906 to encourage local performers and to present international artists. Under its aegis Galli-Curci, McCormack, Kreisler, and others performed in Victoria. In 1917 it presented a program of British Columbia composers, including G. Jennings Burnett, Violet Bridgewater, and Leslie Grossmith. In 1930 the Victoria Ladies' Musical Club was dissolved by common consent, and the Victoria Musical Art Society was constituted. Mrs J.O. Cameron was its first president. Though the society continued to sponsor visiting musicians, it turned its attention increasingly to the presentation in recital, and to the financial support, of young local musicians - eg, John Beckwith, Robin Wood, and Irenee Byatt. By 1977 48 young musicians had been awarded the Victoria Musical Art Society Open Scholarships, established in 1966. The society disbanded in December 1989. Its assets were distributed among the University of Victoria School of Music, the Victoria Cons, and the Victoria Music Festival, to be used for awards presented in the name of the society.