13 Facts About Violet Archer

Violet Louise Archer was a Canadian composer, teacher, pianist, organist, and percussionist.

Violet Archer travelled to New York City in the summer of 1942 and studied composition, including Hungarian folk music and variation technique, with Bela Bartok.

Violet Archer taught at the McGill Conservatory from 1944 to 1947.

Violet Archer earned a B MUS from Yale in 1948, and a M MUS from Yale in 1949.

From 1950 to 1953 Violet Archer was Composer-in-Residence at the University of North Texas.

Violet Archer remained at the University of Alberta until her retirement.

Violet Archer built a career as a musician and composer in addition to her teaching.

Violet Archer played percussion with the Montreal Women's Symphony Orchestra from 1940 to 1947, a time period when major municipal orchestras were not admitting women to their ranks.

Violet Archer's music includes some 90 compositions for novice musicians, written to acquaint performers and audiences with modern concepts of harmony, melody, and rhythm.

Violet Archer has received honorary degrees from McGill University, University of Windsor, University of Calgary, Mount Allison University, and University of Alberta.

In 1985 the three day Violet Archer Festival was held in Edmonton where 14 of her works were performed.

Violet Archer is memorialized at Violet Archer Park in the Parkallen neighbourhood of Edmonton.

In 2021, Violet Archer fonds held at University of Alberta Archives was added to the Canada Memory of the World Register.