CELEBRATE BOISE MUSIC WEEK – 2008

PRICELESS FOR 90 YEARS

Every spring at the end of April to the first Saturday in May there has been a Boise Music Week. This is a special year! Boise Music Week is celebrating ninety years of free music events for and by community members of all ages.

The tradition of Boise Music Week began ninety years ago when Eugene Farner, music director at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, envisioned a free festival of music for Boise Citizens. Community leaders backed his plan and Music Week began in Boise.

Boise is recognized by National Music Week as the first city to observe Music Week. Other cities followed throughout the United States. National Music Week is celebrated each year during the first full week in May by National Federation of Music Clubs which began in 1924.

Music festivals in other communities charge admission. Boise Music Week has become nationally recognized as the first and the only one operated and performed entirely by volunteers and free of charge. Citizens can attend all events admission-free.

In 1920 Boise Music Week performances were staged on a large wooden platform built in front of the Capitol building. This was abandoned when World War II restrictions on the use of lumber forced performers to indoor stages. Throughout the 1920’s, the Depression of the 1930’s and World War II, Music Week has grown to be the largest cultural event in the Treasure Valley.

The first Broadway musical, “Oklahoma”, a major innovation in Music Week tradition, was performed on the stage of Boise High School in 1959. Broadway musicals were performed at Capital and Boise High Schools until 1987. Since then they have been on the stage of the Velma Morrison Center for the Performing Arts. Velma Morrison, president of the Harry W. Morrison Foundation, has donated funds enabling Boise Music Week productions to be performed there during the first week in May.

The Broadway musical production has been the focal point of Boise Music Week. However, the traditions of other free musical programs continue as popular elements of the week long celebration of music, dance and this year we bring bring back the lantern parade for Boise Music Week's 90th celebration.