Music has always been an integral part of life in Saskatchewan Valley communities. The early settlers brought harmonicas, ukuleles, guitars and sometimes even pump organs with them from their respective countries. Families sang together for entertainment and church and school choices were priorities for these pioneers.
Saskatchewan Valley Music Festival was established over 70 years ago partly because these pioneers recognized its value in developing and honing their talents. The festival encompassed the towns and surrounding areas of Carlton, Duck Lake, Rosthern, Hague, Laird, Waldheim, Hepburn, Osler, Warman and Dalmeny. It was highly successful and eventually grew to a two week festival. The 1980s brought new music teachers to Dalmeny who soon realized that participation from the southern towns was lacking. Parents were often both working, making transportation to festival difficult. The teachers strongly believed that their students could benefit greatly by being involved in festival and so a plan of action was put into motion.
Marg Andres and Gwen Andres became members of the Saskatchewan Valley Music Festival Committee in the late 1990s. In 2000-01, Dalmeny hosted Saskatchewan Valley Music Festival. It was obvious that there were few participants from northern towns in the festival district. This was a deciding factor in developing the Twin Rivers Music Festival and extending its boundaries to include the towns in the Sask (West) School District and the Sask (East) District that were not a part of another festival. Vonda, Aberdeen, Vanscoy, Grandora, Delisle, Perdue, Asquith and Langham were added to towns already participating. In 2001-02, combined entries in the two festivals exceeded the entries of the previous year, confirming the belief that more participants would benefit from a festival in another location.
Thank you to:
… our volunteers for donating countless hours to help make our music festival a success.
… our many donors and sponsors who enable us to keep operating.
… Martensville Mission Church and Dalmeny Community Church for allowing us the use of their facilities.
… the teachers, parents, friends and family who support and encourage our performers.
… our participants, who have put in countless numbers of hours in preparation for our festival.