Estelle Klein

Estelle Klein (February 3, 1930 – June 17, 2004) was an advocate and supporter of folk music in Canada and held numerous influential positions with cultural and heritage organizations during her lengthy career.

Life Klein was born in Buffalo, New York, and moved to Toronto, Canada, with her parents in 1933. She attended Camp Naivelt, a Jewish camp known for advocating socialist ideals, in Brampton, Ontario. The camp was known for supporting folk music culture and Klein would have gained exposure to musical styles and people who later figured in the folk revival in Canada. There Klein also met the man who would later become her husband. She married Jack in 1950.

Klein became the artistic director for the Mariposa Folk Festival from 1964, and remained in the position until 1980. She instituted a number of changes and she did not share the "purist" vision of folk music, as espoused by the previous artistic director of the Festival. She is also noted for shaping the Festival format, one that included more interaction with folk musicians through the development of workshops, as well as including aboriginal artists in the festival. Her wider view of what constituted folk music influenced the artistic programming and saw the festival include American blues artists such as the Reverend Gary Davis, Inuit throat singing as well as Métis dancers. Klein formally incorporated indigenous content into the Festival in 1966 with an appearance by the Canadian Indian Dancers.