The Galt Museum explores Lethbridge music history in their new exhibit, From Pianos To Power Chords, which runs from Feb. 4-April 30.

“This was a really cool opportunity to tell the stories of this great scene and it’s importance to the community,” said curator Tyler Stewart, who also plays in local bands Sparkle Blood and A Trozzo and the Electric Few.
“Lethbridge punches well above it’s weight for a city of 100,000 people,” Stewart said.

“It clearly shows where we are and where we’ve got to and how we’ve evolved,” Stewart said.

 The exhibit begins chronologically with a panel on the contributions of the Blackfoot people to music. Another panel touches on turn of the century NWMP and police bands. The exhibit also includes a case dedicated to Second World War POW camp bands featuring an accordion as well as a flugelhorn bugle which were among the instruments auctioned off to the public when the camp closed.

 Another section chronicles the technology people used to listen to music. Another case featuring Lethbridge’s oldest radio station CJOC includes one of their early mixing boards as well as photos of some of the original DJs.
“CJOC was and is an important part of the community,” Stewart said.

Another case focuses on a piece on classical music in Lethbridge features a piano and a panel dedicated to promoter Ron Sakamoto.  A wall next to the exit features some of Lethbridge’s popular music venues and another wall charts the members of local bands past and present going back to the early ’90s.

“I hope that people will take away the impression that is important for people to not take this scene for granted and to participate,” Stewart said.
 The opening reception is 2-3 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 5.