History of ACWC

The ACWC was founded in September of 1981 by Carolyn Lomax, who met with a handful of Toronto composers – Ann Southam, Mary Gardiner, Maggie Burstyn and others – for an initial gathering of interested women composers. It was fuelled by a desire to fill a void in the Canadian music scene: the absence of women composers in concert programming across the country.

ACWC AGM June 1, Montreal • 1986

There were women composers across Canada who were unaware of one another, had no network of support, no spokesperson and no means to have a method of advocacy for their own music.

Early meetings in members’ homes formed the kernel of the organization which eventually came to be called the Association of Canadian Women Composers. Ann Southam was Chair and Mary Gardiner was Secretary/Treasurer. Membership then consisted of composers mainly living in Toronto.

The first Annual General Meeting took place in Guelph in 1982, the following year in Hamilton and eventually the Association began to grow into a national organization as more members joined.

A Directory of all Members was published in 1987. Currently the membership stands at over 100, representing women across Canada and a few Canadians living abroad. We are engaged in a vigorous membership drive to boost our numbers.

Mary G, Ann S, JS, Aline Chrétien, Adamson Estate • Nov 12, 2003

Mary Gardiner, Ann Southam • Nov 12, 2003