Eau Claire Music Club is a non-profit, philanthropic and educational organization dedicated to the promotion of American music, support of music education, and promotion of the creative and performing arts. Originally founded in 1935 as the Eau Claire Piano Ensemble by a group of women musicians living in the Eau Claire community of Columbia, S.C., the Piano Ensemble was reorganized as the Eau Claire Music Club in 1937, joining the state and national federations (SCFMC; NFMC) in 1940.
Through the years ECMC has continued the Piano Ensemble legacy with many performances on multiple pianos with double players, open to the public. For several years ECMC produced public performances of Menotti’s “Amahl and the Night Visitors”, together with guest performers from the Columbia community. ECMC members individually and as groups have an on-going presence in and outreach to the “confined population” in our community.
ECMC has long encouraged and promoted young musicians by sponsoring Junior Clubs and events offered through SCFMC/NFMC, and by providing scholarship and performance opportunities through the Music Clubs Scholarship Fund Program, sponsored by both Afternoon and Eau Claire Music Clubs. [ See section “Music Clubs Scholarship Fund Competition”.] The Winners Recital and beautiful Reception are highlight events of the year!
ECMC has been significantly involved at the state and national levels - SCFMC and NFMC. Club members have served as state president; chairs for areas of emphasis (Choral, Dance, Strings, Poetry, Evaluation, American Music, Junior Festival Composers, Arts Advocacy, Legislation); and as chairs or committee members of special music scholarship awards ( Veterans and Visually Impaired Awards, NFMC Young Artist Selection, Brevard Music Center and more).
Eau Claire Music Club meets seven times a year. Programs feature club member presentations/performances, guest musicians, Federation speakers and scholarship winners. Membership is open to those who have an appreciation of good music and a willingness to actively work to support ECMC in its mission to cultivate musical talent. 86 years and counting! 🎶🎵🎶🎵