Donated By: Ida Kollman Memorial Scholarship Fund, North Easthope
First Presented: 1982
Criteria: Elementary School Choir - Unison
Ida Kollman had competed as a young girl in the Festival in 1928 - 1931 in the piano solo class. Later she became a qualified music teacher and belonged to the Stratford Music Teachers' Federation until 1973. She supported the Stratford Music Festival as member of the Music Selection Committee (rural school music) from 1946 t0 1968.
Ida Kollman was also the music supervisor who assisted the music teachers in small township schools prepare their choirs for the Festival. Ida, herself, conducted the Easthope Girls' Chorus, Easthope Boys' Chorus and Easthope Combined Choir in the Festival from 1940 to 1966. From 1947 to 1963 she added the Ellice Girls' Chorus, the Ellice Boys' Chorus and the Ellice Combined Choir to her Festival activities.
A report of the results in the Festival held in 1960 quotes the adjudicator's praise of Ida Kollman's work. He said the "most outstanding choir" that he had adjudicated from his 5 month tour of the entire country was the USS No. 9, South and North Easthope, directed by Ida Kollman. In one afternoon, the choirs from these small rural schools had won 6 classes and 2 trophies.
