The melodic sounds of perfectly played classical instruments will fill Airdrie’s public parks once again this year, thanks to the return of the Windwood Music Festival this August.
Classical music-lovers in Airdrie can be excited as the festival makes a highly anticipated return to town for the second year. Scheduled to start Aug 18, the festival organized by former Airdrie resident and pianist Tong Wang and longtime friend Maitreyi Muralidharan aims to create a welcoming environment for all music enthusiasts by showcasing performances in various parks around Airdrie.
Having lived in Airdrie in the past, Wang pursued a career as a classical pianist, eventually settling in Montreal. Throughout her musical journey, Wang has mesmerized audiences at concerts and festivals across Europe, the United States, and Canada.
After she reconnected with her longtime friend and fellow musician, Maitreyi Muralidharan, they decided to embark on a mission to establish the Windwood Music Festival in Wang’s former community. The duo put on the inaugural classical festival in Airdrie last fall, playing open-air concerts alongside other professional musicians in Nose Creek Regional Park, East Lake Park, and other outdoor venues around town.
Wang and Muralidhara's vision for the festival is to foster a strong classical music community and provide emerging artists with a platform to display their talents in a public setting. The festival seeks to create an inclusive and accessible environment, encouraging attendees from diverse backgrounds to appreciate and engage with classical music.
“We began this festival as a way to share our love for classical music with the community and also to provide young emergent artists with the opportunity to explore their crafts in new ways, so they are not just performing in the concert hall,” Wang said.
During the festival, international artists will gather in Airdrie for a two-week residency, collaborating on a few different music projects.
Drawing inspiration from Airdrie's natural surroundings, the artists will explore local landscapes to create performances that resonate with the community. Their creative process aims to positively impact the well-being of the entire community.
“The first week, we have workshops with guest speakers from diverse fields including arts leadership, and we have some directors at conservatories,” Wang said. “We usually have three to four speakers.”
The open-air concerts will primarily take place in Airdrie’s parks, offering a family-friendly atmosphere where people can relax, enjoy a picnic, and revel in the enchanting sounds of professionally played classical music. According to Wang, the festival organizers have selected park venues to ensure the comfort and enjoyment of families from different backgrounds.
“Our main goal is to be at locations where families go for picnics and gather but at the same time, we will do a few indoor concerts so that our artists have an opportunity to play in a very focused concert hall setting,” she said.
This year's festival promises to be another extraordinary offering, combining the power of music, nature, and the spirit of community.
By celebrating classical music, the Windwood Music Festival is a testament to the passion Wang and her fellow musicians share. The organizers hope to leave a lasting impact on both the artists and the community.
According to Wang, the Windwood Music Festival’s goal is to bring joy and inspiration to Airdrie once again, inviting all to indulge in the harmonious melodies that will fill the air.
“Because our voice and identity are very tight to our love for Airdrie, we’d like to bring international talent and great Alberta artists to the city of Airdrie,” she said.
For more information and to learn more about the resident artists performing in 2023, people can visit the festival website windwoodfestival.com.
