The Calgary Stampede Showband

"The score has become a popular selection among the world's leading wind ensembles."

2009: Following on the success of our initial grant, and realizing the importance of creating and playing distinctly Showband music, the Foundation is working with the Stampede to develop a library of original compositions. Our mutual goal is the recording of a cd by the Showband or release in conjunction with the 100th anniversary of the Stampede in 2012.

In 2006, the Stampede Showband was ready for the next step in its development: the commissioning of its first piece of original music. They contacted Steven Bryant, graduate of the Julliard School of Music, to create a composition that is uniquely Calgary and uniquely Stampede.

The Rozsa Foundation saw a tremendous educational opportunity in this collaboration. Working with Dan Finley, then Stampede Showband Music Director, a series of feedback forms were designed to help band members assess what they were learning and understand the composition process more fully. This monitoring was new to the organization.

The Foundation was also concerned about the music itself, and the impact of its production. The finished work, entitled Stampede, received the highest musical rating according to industry guidelines, and is a significant addition to wind band literature. Says Finley, Stampede is extremely difficult to play, but it captures the Stampede's essence, and it really shows how far the Showband has progressed in a concert setting". The music was premiered at the Alberta International Band Festival, and was played at the Nova Scotia International Tattoo and the Calgary Stampede. Subsequently, Stampede was performed by the Tokyo Kosei Orchestra December 17, 2005, and can now be heard on the University of North Texas Wind Symphony's newest recording project " Poetics". The score has become a popular selection among the world's leading wind ensembles.

In addition to a $8000 grant, the Foundation also helped the Showband build a new community partnership by introducing them to the CEO and Program Director of the Glenbow Museum. The initial result of this collaboration saw the Showband playing Stampede at the opening of the Museum's exhibit: Capturing Western Legends: Russell and Remington's Canadian Frontier.


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