The Cosmopolitan Music Society is a nonprofit organization named for its original sponsor, The Cosmopolitan Club of Edmonton. Founded in 1963 as the Cosmopolitan Club Band, CMS has come to occupy a unique role in Edmonton’s robust arts and cultural scene. Expertly led by Dr. Taina Lorenz and our team of professional conductors and music educators, the Cosmopolitan Music Society offers the highest level of music education for adults of all ages, and provides a safe and welcoming space for folks from all walks of life to engage in meaningful social experiences, and to grow as individuals and as a community. The Cosmopolitan Music Society is actively engaged in the community as performers and collaborators with other arts organizations, connecting with thousands of people every season.

The society, originally made up almost entirely of students, met in school gyms and community halls to rehearse long before band programs were made available across Alberta. CMS ensembles grew rapidly, as they provided the opportunity to learn music from seasoned professionals so that band practice would not have to stop at high school. Needing a permanent performance and practice space, the society turned an old auto shop into a home, opening right in the heart of Old Strathcona in 1988.

Now called the Old Strathcona Performing Arts Centre, the building hosts everything from school band rehearsals to community events, craft markets, and Fringe festival shows. Go to ospac.ca for more information about upcoming events and rental opportunities. Cosmo’s humble beginnings have grown into the largest community music organization in Canada. Our 3 concert bands, Beginner Band, 2 Jazz bands, 2 handbell choirs, and large mixed chorus have performed at events across Edmonton, Canada and overseas. These include Carnegie Hall, the Cultural Festival in Gothenburg Sweden, the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in Wales, UK, annual ‘Lest We Forget’ musical tribute concerts in honour of Canadian veterans in collaboration with the Royal Canadian Legion, performances with jazz legends Tommy Banks and PJ Perry, and collaborative performances with local organizations including the Edmonton Opera, Sugar Swing, Cheremosh Ukrainian Dancers, Ritchie Trombone Choir, Bonnie Tunes Clarinet Ensemble, Mission Hill Brass Band, the Salvation Army Brass Band, Athabasca Community Band, Camrose Community Band, Wild Rose Winds, The Little Birds, and the Fort Saskatchewan Big Band Bash.

The Cosmopolitan Music Society continues to build community through music and make engagement in live music broadly accessible to the people of Edmonton and surrounding areas. We are proud members of the Alberta Band Association, Canadian Band Association, Choir Alberta, and the Alberta Guild of English Handbell Ringers.

The Cosmopolitan Music Society is a founding member of the Strathcona Performing Arts Association, an organization dedicated to the promotion of live music and theatre in the Strathcona community. Check out spaa.ca for more information.