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Fort
Macleod has established itself as an unlikely gathering place for
world-renowned artists who specialize in chamber music.
The Windy Mountain Music Festival in May has achieved its goal of
becoming a place where the top international, regional and local
musicians can gather to collaborate and perform for appreciative
audiences.
“We wanted to create something that didn’t happen elsewhere,”
Empress Theatre executive director Gerard Gibbs said.
The vision was based on the early days of Banff, where artists
would gather in an inspiring setting to work and collaborate,
without outside pressures.
The festival is designed to allow musicians, whose professional
lives usually involve climbing on and off airplanes to perform
popular music in single concerts, with a chance to try out
challenging music and collaborate in an environment free of
pressure.
“The artists are free of pressure,” Gibbs said. “They get to spend
the whole week to focus on the music and each other. It builds
great camaraderie.”
For details about the 2010 line-up visit www.empresstheatre.ab.ca. |
