Vogt Society

Vogt Society

Vogt Society (later the Society for Contemporary Music). Established in 1936 by the TCM Residence Alumni Association in honour of A.S. Vogt to promote the performance and publication of music by Canadian composers. At its first meeting, 11 Feb 1937 at the Art Gallery of Toronto, Elie Spivak, accompanied by Leo Barkin, performed works of Leo Smith and Healey Willan. A competition for Canadian compositions was established in 1938. Walter MacNutt's Suite for Piano, the first winner, was published by Harris. Co-winners in 1939 were Florence Biltcliffe (Piano Prelude, Harris), and Patricia Blomfield Holt (Suite, violin and piano, Harris). Other composers whose works were performed at Vogt Society concerts included Louis Applebaum, Oskar Morawetz, Godfrey Ridout, and Harry Somers. After 1941, when the society changed its name to the Society for Contemporary Music, fewer concerts were given, and in 1945 the organization disbanded. The society's presidents were Mrs Geoffrey Waddington 1936-7, Leo Smith 1937-8, Ewart Walker 1938-41, J. Campbell McInnes 1941-2, and Arnold Walter 1942-5. A Junior Vogt Society was established in the late 1930s by Mary Willan Mason, Francean Campbell (Rich), and Godfrey Ridout. Its concerts were presented in members' homes until 1941.