CMC Prairie Region

Modern Composers Toolbox: Using Digitized Choir and Vocal Tools
2025-06-07 10:30 - 12:00 (America/Edmonton)
Presenting the FIRST of TWO FREE ONLINE ZOOM WEBINARS presented by CMC Prairie and D. Geoffrey Bell. You MUST register for this event via eventbrite (get tickets) to receive the ZOOM link.
Join CMC Associate Composer D. Geoffrey Bell for the first webinar in his “Modern Composers Toolbox” series, as he dives into the world of digital software for emerging composers! This first session is catered to those with an interest in writing choral and vocal music, showcasing the newest advances in music software, capable of bringing both your music and lyrics to life.
You’ll be introduced to the variety of music-writing and typesetting programs available, including Finale, Sibelius, Dorico, MuseScore, and NoteAbility Pro, allowing you to transfer your ideas from paper directly onto a score. Next, you’ll explore major players of music recording software, including GarageBand, Audacity, and Reaper. For the digital audio workstation (DAW)-based composers (or anyone looking to gain familiarity with one), Geoffery will present Audio Units and VSTs, such as KONTAKT, and Musio, including standalone players, and their integration into your DAW. Finally, you will delve into the latest technical revolution in music composition: digital instruments and voices. Gone are the days of the “ooh” and “ah” choirs of music-writing software; now, programs such as Vocaloid and Cantai digitized choir will read your music and lyrics in real time, creating a more realistic rendering of your scores.
There will be several demonstrations of different programs throughout, including short audio samples, and the pros and cons of each software. This webinar will expose composers to the many specific uses of technology in choral and vocal music-writing, such as constructing a demo recording, or creating guide audio tracks to help singers learn their parts.
For any composer interested in learning more about writing vocal music and the technology available, you will not want to miss this exciting presentation by renowned choral composer, D. Geoffrey Bell!

Festival - 14th Annual Now Hear This Festival of New Music
2025-06-06 19:30 - 22:00 (America/Edmonton)
Mile Zero Dance Space (June 6, 7, 13, 14) – 9931- 78 Avenue NW, Edmonton
Edmonton Moravian Church (June 8, 2025) – 9540 83 Ave NW, Edmonton
Look.
Listen.
Experience.
Here comes the one-and-only Now Hear This Festival! This year we’re bringing together new opera, avant-jazz, contemporary dance, free improvisation, chamber music, spectacular multi-media performances, and more. With work that is challenging and profound, yet incredibly joyous and inspiring, the festival is a brilliant, creative celebration of the diverse artists and sound-based practices for which our city is known!
The first weekend kicks off Friday June 6 with an amazing spectacle of musicians and dancers in an improvised show devised and curated by Biboye Onanuga. On Saturday June 7 we have a multimedia opera, Out Loud! created by guests Terri Hron, Helen Pridmore, and Jennifer Beattie, with live electronics, and a chorus of local improvisers. The first weekend closes on Sunday June 8, with a retrospective concert of chamber music and premieres by one of the great musical personalities of our city, George Andrix, with some of his favourite groups, bok brass, WindRose Trio, and The Strathcona String Quartet.
Our second weekend brings a heady double header on Friday and Saturday, as we feature, Here-Hearing, two triple bills of performances by Amiskwaciy-wâskahikan (Edmonton) artists. These shows are bound to surprise and excite all who attend, with risky, brilliant work including new guitar music, electronic music, dance, multimedia, harp and electronics, and… a whole bunch of tvs, telephones, toys, and more!
Conveniently scheduled over two weekends, the festival schedule is relaxed, and it’s easy to take in all of the shows, so grab a pass, and come join us for this great start to the summer solstice season!
June 6 – 14, 2025
CONCERT 1
Elements: Rhythm & Harmony (Curated by Biboye Onanuga)
Friday, June 6, 7:30 pm
Mile Zero Dance
9931- 78 Avenue NW, Edmonton
Returning to the Now Hear This Festival, Biboye Onanuga presents Rhythm & Harmony—an evening of boundary-pushing improvisation that deconstructs the two foundational elements of music. The Edmonton-based drummer and composer has curated an iconoclastic ensemble of local musicians, joined by two dancer-choreographers who will embody the music in real-time.
Onanuga has challenged the improvisers (most of whom have backgrounds in “jazz”) with constraints designed to disrupt convention and push them beyond their comfort zones. The first set explores improvisation with static or minimal rhythmic support, while the second forces players to navigate unconventional harmony. Throughout, the dancers respond in real-time, their movement evolving with the music’s shifting shape and encouraging a feedback loop with the sextet.
Movement and music entwine—shifting, responding, colliding—creating a fleeting world where sound and body move as one.
Featuring:
Sekou “Mr. Kou” Sonko-Boisclair – dance (Hip-Hop/House)
Gianna Vacirca – dance (Contemporary)
Rueben Spyker, drums
Evan Stewart, bass
Stephanie Urquhart, piano
Gareth Gilliland, guitar
Audrey Ochoa, trombone
Allison Balcetis, saxophone

CONCERT 2
Out Loud
Created and Performed by Helen Pridmore, Jennifer Beattie, and Terri Hron
Saturday, June 7, 7:30 pm
Mile Zero Dance
9931- 78 Avenue NW, Edmonton
New Music Edmonton welcomes this innovative, brilliant trio of risk-taking artists to present their original creation, Out Loud. This phenomenal multimedia experience is a two-part opera, and a contemporary feminist take on classic female characters in literature, Titania, from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and The Mermaid from The Little Mermaid. You may think you know these two, but in Out Loud, they are brilliantly redefined with complexity as strong leaders, with powerful connections to themselves and their ancestors.

CONCERT 3
A George Andrix Retrospective
Featuring: The Strathcona String Quartet, bok brass, WindRose Trio and George Andrix
Sunday, June 8, 7:30 pm
Edmonton Moravian Church
9540 83 Ave NW, Edmonton
New Music Edmonton is proud to put the focus on one of the key figures in contemporary music making here in our community, George Andrix, in collaboration with some of his most important collaborators. A hugely prolific and innovative composer, performer, educator, administrator, and more, George Andrix has been part of the scene here for decades. For this event, we are especially excited, for the first time, to bring together for the first time, three amazing local ensembles who have been collaborating with George Andrix for many years. They will share some of their favourites of his works, give the world premiere Andrix composition combining all 12 musicians!

CONCERT 4 and 5
Here-Hearing
Friday, June 13 and Saturday June 14, 7:30 pm
Mile Zero Dance
9931- 78 Avenue NW, Edmonton
Our community is absolutely teeming with amazing musicians and sound artists, and in 2025 we will give special emphasis to these amazing creatives in two nights of brilliant, and unique work. Curated primarily from an open call, these two shows in the fabulous Mile Zero Dance space are guaranteed to offer surprises and new ideas, and definitely a rich and inspiring mix of sound-oriented creativity. Classical composition, free improvisation, electronics, multimedia, and much more are all brought together in a 2-night double of brilliant local work. June 13: Marek Orszulik; Alicia Proudfoot; Red River Resonance (Louis Bouchier and Jen Dunford). June 14: Creamy Rainbow (Andrew Thorne and Anna Wildish); Soft Ions (Jenna Turner and Parker Thiessen); Codyma (Cole Dorchester, Makenna Graham, and Dylan Lindsay).

Quiet, Slow, Boring
2025-06-01 15:00 - 18:00 (America/Edmonton) | St. Stephen’s Anglican Church, 1121 14 Ave SW, Calgary, Alberta, T2R 0P3, Canada
Quiet, Slow, Boring: a farcical title for a show full of excitement, new commissions and beloved repertoire. Mark Limacher’s new composition ‘Some Kind of Variations’ will be premiered along with the Chinese Ensemble Gai Lan performing a new work by Roydon Tse. Balancing out the show will be the delightful Octet by Medelssohn, a peak of the string ensemble repertoire. This show has it all – step away from the noisy world and be immersed in musical beauty.
Featured Performers: Kensington Sinfonia (Gen Micheletti/Andrea Case), Gai Lan Chinese Ensemble, Mark Limacher, Chloe Weston

An Introduction to the Music of Richard O. Burdick
2025-06-01 14:00 - 17:00 (America/Regina) | THE EXCHANGE, 2431 8th Ave, Regina, Saskatchewan, S4R 5J7, Canada
An Introduction to the music of Richard O. Burdick
2p.m. Sunday June 1st at THE EXCHANGE 2431 8th Ave, Regina, SK
Admission Suggested $10 by donation
Richard O. Burdick, horn
Shaun Poisson-Fast, trombone
with tape

Richard O. Burdick, horn with Shaun Possion-Fast, trombone AND tape perform:
Birds for solo tape, Op. 44a (12/1987)
4’33” to the Moon for tape, Op. 222*
Bear Valley Fanfares
Two works by Johannes Ockeghem
Vivit Dominus (1430-1497)
O Rosa
A Solo for Horn, Op. 0
Sculpture I for solo horn, Op. 43 (1980)
Sculpture IV for horn and slide projectors, Op. 48 (1988)
Duet No. 4 “Duet in Retrograde” for horn & trombone, Op. 142b*
Universal Rhythm an I Ching Cycle, for Horn, Trombone and Audiotape, Op. 352*
The Mindset Trio for Horn, Trombone and Audiotape, Op. 276a*
Mini Concerto No. 2 for Horn, Trombone and audio tape, Op. 281*
* World Premiere

Jocelyn Morlock with Spiritus Chamber Choir
2025-05-25 15:00 - 17:00 (America/Edmonton) | Cathedral Church of the Redeemer, 604 - 1 Street SE, Calgary, Alberta, T2G 5H8, Canada
Whispers in the Mirror: MUSICAL REFLECTIONS
Sunday 25 May 2025 • 3:00pm
Cathedral Church of the Redeemer
604 – 1 Street SE, Calgary (MAP)
Whispers in the Mirror: Musical Reflections brings together Spiritus Chamber Choir and the String Theory Music Collective in a unique collaboration that bridges Baroque and contemporary music. The concert will feature Johann Sebastian Bach’s double motet Singet dem Herrn, accompanied by Baroque strings, highlighting the intricate and reflective nature of Baroque music. Complementing this, the ensemble will perform Exaudi by Canadian composer Jocelyn Morlock, creating a dialogue between old and new.

Jessica McMann Trio Spring Tour
2025-05-24 19:30 - 21:30 (America/Vancouver) | Knox Performance Centre, 1448 5th Ave, Prince George, British Columbia, V2L 3L7, Canada
Alberta-based Cree multi-disciplinary artist Jessica McMann brings award winning original classical album Prairie Dusk with The Jessica McMann Trio to Congress Coffee in Calgary
Alberta Cree artist Jessica McMann announces her 2025 tour in celebration of award winning contemporary Classical album Prairie Dusk with a kick off concert at Congress Coffee in Calgary. This is a beautiful and important collection of compositions are deeply rooted in Indigenous narratives of home, family and land, evoking the expansive landscapes of the prairie, foothills and Rocky Mountains. Performances include music, visuals, storytelling and incredible artistry.
“Prairie Dusk is so much more than I could have ever imagined,” says McMann. “I allowed myself to be free from restriction and to write my own reality through my instrument. It is a vulnerable work, and I am so incredibly happy to those who stepped into this journey with me.” Jessica will be re-joined by original album collaborators Navajo pianist Connor Chee (Arizona, USA) and violist Holly Bhattacharya (Okotoks, AB)
Prairie Dusk Awards
YYC Music Awards Classical Recording of the Year 2024
Global Music Awards 2024
Silver Medal for Prairie Dusk: Indigenous Classical & Composer
Silver Medal for Prairie Sunrise: Instrumental
YYC Music Awards Classical Recording of the Year 2022
Global Music Awards 2022
Gold Medal for Incandescent Tales: Indigenous Classical & Emerging Artist
Silver Medal for Muskwa’s Mountain Home: Composition/Composer
Personnel: Jessica McMann (Flute, Alto Flute, Bass Flute, Voice), Connor Chee (Piano), Holly Bhattacharya (Viola, Bowed Piano), Kenna Burima (Producer), Tianna Delorme (Album Artist)
SPRING 2025 TOUR
May 13 Calgary, AB Congress Coffee
May 16 Powell River, BC Max Cameron Theatre
May 17 Denman Island, BC Denman Island Community Hall
May 19 Pender Island, BC Pender Island Community Hall
May 24 Prince George, BC Knox Performance Centre
May 27 Invermere, BC Columbia Valley Centre FREE! Sponsored by The Shuswap Band

Yesterday, Today, & Tomorrow: World Premiere by Peter Meechan
2025-05-24 19:30 - 21:30 (America/Edmonton) | Esplanade Arts & Heritage Centre, 401 1 St SE, Medicine Hat, Alberta, T1A 8W2, Canada
Celebrating 40 years of the Medicine Hat Concert Band! This year the Medicine Hat Concert Band Society is putting on its 40th season, and we want you to join us as we celebrate the only way we know how, with a great concert on the Esplanade stage! Join the Allegro and Andante bands as we present a concert full of band classics, modern works, and pieces that will inspire the future of music making in our city. This performance will feature the world premiere of a new piece by Winnipeg-based composer Peter Meechan. The piece, commissioned by the MHCBS, is being written in tribute to our founding director, Bill Wahl, in memory of his decades of service to music making in Medicine Hat. It’s going to be a night you won’t want to miss as we look back on our history, look ahead to the future, and enjoy the now.

Jessica McMann Trio Spring Tour
2025-05-19 20:00 - 22:00 (America/Vancouver) | Pender Islands Community Hall, 4418 Bedwell Harbour Rd, Pender Island, British Columbia, V0N 2M1, Canada

Jessica McMann Trio Spring Tour
2025-05-17 14:00 - 16:30 (America/Vancouver) | Denman Island Community Hall, 1196 NW Rd, Denman Island, British Columbia, V0R1T0, Canada

Larry Strachan, Manitoba Chamber Orchestra
2025-05-14 19:30 - 21:00 (America/Edmonton) | Crescent Arts Centre, 525 Wardlaw Ave, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3L 0L9, Canada
8 / DAWN AND DUSK
7.30pm, Wednesday, May 14
Crescent Arts Centre (525 Wardlaw Ave)
Anne Manson, conductor; Timothy & Nikki Chooi, violins
Sunrise over Grenada, a bustling Armenian market, the sidewalk bars of Italy — against the backdrops our music conjures, Canada’s most famous musical siblings unleash fireworks.
Larry Strachan
J’Ouvert Morning (2023 Commission by the MCO)
Johann Sebastian Bach
Concerto for Two Violins in D minor
David Braid
Two variations following Bach

Bach – Vivace
Braid – Variation 1
Bach – Largo ma non tanto
Braid – Variation 2
Bach – Allegro

Giovanni Sollima
Viaggio in Italia (excerpts)
Program subject to change

Jessica McMann Trio Spring Tour
2025-05-13 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Edmonton) | Congress Coffee Company, 215 36 Avenue Northeast #1A, Calgary, Alberta, T2E 2L4, Canada

Tracie Skeet-Brook and Kate Chapman perform Loreena McKennitt and other Celtic Music
2025-05-10 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Edmonton) | St. Luke’s Anglican Church, 4929 - 54 Street, Red Deer, Alberta, Canada
Tracie Skeet-Brook is excited to present a wonderful selection of Loreena McKennitt and other celtic songs she holds dear to her heart. Joining her on this magical journey is Kate Chapman on the harp and backup vocals.
Tracie and Kate will be performing in Olds on April 12 and in Red Deer on May 10. Both locations offer a special ambiance which captures the celtic stylings of Loreena McKenntt’s music as well as the beauty of the harp.
This is an event you do not want to miss!
Tracie is a mulifaceted, versatile musician who brings her love of celtic music to life with her glorious voice and unique instrumentation. Recently, Tracie learned the lap harp which her mother often accompanied her during many celtic performances. Tracie will also be playing the penny whistles, keyboards and bodhrán to accompany her powerful voice.
Kate is such a special addition to Tracie’s music. They have collaborated many times in the past and have a great connection to this celtic style. Kate’s beautiful voice and fantastic harp playing will help bring the magic to this celtic performance.

Maxime Goulet's "Citius, Altius, Fortius" with the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra
2025-05-03 19:30 - 21:30 (America/Regina) | TCU Place, Sid Buckwold Theatre, 35 – 22nd Street East, Saskatoon, SK, S7K 0C8, Canada
Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra Presents
Chopin and the New World
Tania Miller, conductor
Jerry Hu, piano
Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra
Citius, altius, fortius! – Maxime Goulet
Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11 – Frédéric Chopin
Symphony No. 9 in E minor, “From the New World”, Op. 95, B. 178 – Antonín Dvořák
After his triumphant orchestral debut with us in 2021, pianist Jerry Hu returns home to perform Chopin’s Piano Concerto No.1. Led by Maestra Tania Miller, your SSO will finish our mainstage series with Dvořák’s New World Symphony and Goulet’s Citius, altius, fortius.
About the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra:
The Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra (SSO) shares the joy, hope, and community of making music. Creating concerts for everyone, the SSO knows that The Future is Music.

Oscar Morawetz, Edmonton Symphony Orchestra
2025-04-27 14:00 - 16:00, 2025-04-26 19:30 - 21:00 (America/Edmonton) | Winspear Centre, 4 Sir Winston Churchill Square NW, Edmonton, AB, T5J 4X8, Canada
About The Concert

Beethoven’s groundbreaking Third Symphony, nicknamed “Eroica” for its heroic qualities, was originally dedicated to Napoleon, but his name was later removed in a fury of rage. In his ESO debut, Canadian pianist Sheng Cai will perform Khachaturian’s mesmerizing Piano Concerto. A beloved Chorale by Bach and a Passacaglia based on its theme by Canadian composer Oskar Morawetz round out the program.

Prelude

Patrons of this event are invited to attend a prelude presentation before this concert on Saturday, April 26th, starting at 6:45 PM in the Upper Circle Lobby (3rd Floor). This talk by D.T. Baker is a fantastic way to learn more about the pieces being performed in your concert.

Program to Include

BEETHOVENSymphony No. 3 “Eroica”
KHACHATURIANPiano Concerto
JS BACHChorale Prelude: Herzlich tut mich
MORAWETZPassacaglia on a Bach Chorale

Program subject to change.
This concert will include an intermission.

Featured Artists

Julian Kuerti, Conductor
Sheng Cai, Piano
ESO Debut

About ESO Classics

ESO Classics are dynamic and engaging concerts that feature the most memorable orchestral pieces. This masterworks series is our flagship and showcases the greatest symphonic masterpieces in classical music. From Bach and Handel in the Baroque period and Mozart and Beethoven in the 18th century Classical period, all the way to 21st century contemporary composers, this series encompasses the best of classical music. Our world-class musicians are joined by some of the most talented soloists from around the world, delivering unparalleled performances of these illustrious works. Let the timeless beauty of live classical music enrich and transport you!

Edzi'u: The Moose are Life
2025-04-19 12:00 - 2025-04-20 14:00 (America/Edmonton)
Vancouver-based, Tahltan and Tlingit Musician Edzi’U presents ‘The Moose Are Life’, a visual sound installation that speaks to the disappearance of the moose in Tahltan Territory.
The low numbers of moose in Northern BC have been said to be from a direct result to over hunting in the area, however, the province of BC will not introduce limited entry hunting regulations. Moose counts aren’t showing much of decline, but the fact remains: Tahltan aren’t seeing the same amount of moose. The piece speaks to our colonial inheritance of Indigenous peoples, and the invasive systems of capitalism, colonialism, and non-resident hunters in Tahltan Territory.
This weekend of immersion in to Edzi’u’s sound and performance world will feature a drop-in sound installation, live performance activations of the installation, and a guided walk.

Saturday , April 19
12PM – Welcome to Land & Territory with Deedra Ladouceur, followed by a short music set by Edzi’u.
1 PM – Opening of sound installation, featuring ‘The Moose are Life’ Live performance by Edzi’u.
2-4PM – Gallery Drop-In Hours.

Sunday, April 20
12-1 PM – Gallery Drop-in Hours.
1PM – Second Live performance of The Moose are Life.
2PM: guided walk.

Edzi’u is a Tahltan and Tlingit artist based in Vancouver, Canada on the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations. An innovative songwriter and composer who paints stories of the past, present and future with textures, elders stories, words, and their ethereal voice – their 2023 album “Potlatch In The Box ” is a stunning showcase of that artistic vision. Being rich in culture, full of passion and spirit, the power behind their use of sound goes deep within the listener, inspiring them to be bold and genuine, while living fully within their hearts.
Drawing inspiration from their roots and their experiences Edzi’u weaves together a tapestry of sound that is both deeply personal and universally resonant. The album features a diverse array of tracks, from the hypnotic the “Warrior Song” to the pulsing “Raven Clan Welcome” – they shine a light on the wrongs of the past, including Canada’s ban on the Potlatch, and how it affected their ancestors traditions, culture and world. That being said, there is a balance in the new music – a hope – one that shines with their rich, soulful vocals that has a style (and sound) like no other.
With “Potlatch In The Box” Edzi’u has established themselves as a major force in the Canadian music scene. Their innovative sound and thoughtful lyrics have earned them critical acclaim and a devoted following of fans around the globe.

Allan Gilliland, Edmonton Symphony Orchestra
2025-04-12 19:30 - 21:00, 2025-04-11 19:30 - 21:00 (America/Edmonton) | Winspear Centre, 4 Sir Winston Churchill Square NW, Edmonton, AB, T5J 4X8, Canada
About The Concert

Described by Mendelssohn as “the jolliest piece I have ever done,” his Symphony No. 4 “Italian” is one of his treasured works and was inspired by his travels to Italy. Joseph Jongen’s magnificent Symphonie concertante for Organ is a mighty force for the instrument and captures a wide range of moods. Plus, Allan Gilliland’s 2000 commission from the ESO takes a twisted path with unique orchestral textures.

Prelude

Patrons of this event are invited to attend a prelude presentation before this concert on Friday, April 11th and Saturday, April 12th, starting at 6:45 PM in the Upper Circle Lobby (3rd Floor). This talk by Natalie Boisvert is a fantastic way to learn more about the pieces being performed in your concert.

Program to Include

MENDELSSOHNSymphony No. 4 “Italian”
JONGENSymphonie concertante for Organ
Features Davis Concert Organ
GILLILANDShadows & Light
ESO Commission (2000)

Program subject to change.
This concert will include an intermission.

Featured Artists

Carolyn Kuan, Conductor
ESO Debut
Paul Jacobs, Organ

About ESO Classics

ESO Classics are dynamic and engaging concerts that feature the most memorable orchestral pieces. This masterworks series is our flagship and showcases the greatest symphonic masterpieces in classical music. From Bach and Handel in the Baroque period and Mozart and Beethoven in the 18th century Classical period, all the way to 21st century contemporary composers, this series encompasses the best of classical music. Our world-class musicians are joined by some of the most talented soloists from around the world, delivering unparalleled performances of these illustrious works. Let the timeless beauty of live classical music enrich and transport you!

Tracie Skeet-Brook and Kate Chapman perform Loreena McKennitt and other Celtic Music
2025-04-12 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Edmonton) | St. John’s Anglican Church, 4821 - 50 Street, Olds, Alberta, Canada

Jocelyn Morlock, Manitoba Chamber Orchestra
2025-04-09 19:30 - 21:00 (America/Edmonton) | Crescent Arts Centre, 525 Wardlaw Ave, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3L 0L9, Canada
6 / SOLACE
7.30pm, Wednesday, April 9
Crescent Arts Centre (525 Wardlaw Ave)
Aisslinn Nosky, violin and leader; Caitlin Broms-Jacobs, oboe
Canada’s famous violinist-conductor reminds us why Bach called music “a refreshment of the soul” in this escape to the otherworldly sounds of Penderecki, Morlock, Vivaldi and B himself.
Krzysztof Penderecki
Three Pieces in Baroque Style
Johann Sebastian Bach
Oboe Concerto in F, BWV 1053
Jocelyn Morlock
Solace
Intermission
Carl Philipp Emmanuel Bach
String Symphony in C major W. 182/3
Antonio Vivaldi
Concerto for Oboe and Violin RV 548
Program subject to change.

Olivia Shortt Residency
2025-04-05 14:00 - 16:30, 2025-04-04 19:30 - 21:00 (America/Edmonton) | Ociciwan Contemporary Art Centre, 10124 96 Street NW, Edmonton, Alberta, T5H 2G5, Canada
Olivia Shortt Residency

Friday, April 4 through Saturday, April 5, 2025
Ociciwan Contemporary Art Centre
10124 96 Street NW
Edmonton, Alberta T5H 2G5
Co-Produced by New Music Edmonton and Ociciwan Contemporary Art Centre
All events are free.
It’s always exciting when we can welcome a really cool artist to town for multiple events, and it’s doubly exciting that Olivia Shortt will be appearing for the first time in ᐊᒥᐢᑿᒌᐚᐢᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ Amiskwaciy-wâskahikan (Edmonton). Self-described as a noisemaker, video artist, curator, and troublemaker, Shortt’s work is inspired by their love of camp, drag, and gender expression and its relation to Indigeneity.
New Music Edmonton is honoured to be presenting these events in collaboration with the Ociciwan Contemporary Art Centre, whose brilliant advocacy for, and presentation of, work by Indigenous artists is an invaluable part of our region’s artistic milieu.
Friday, April 4, 7:30 pm: Olivia Shortt, with guests Matthew Cardinal, and Mustafa Rafiq
What an amazing coming together of artists this will be! Two of our community’s most brilliant and in-demand creatives come together with Olivia Shortt in a unique, one-of-a-kind night of collaborative music making. Combining guitars, synthesizers, saxophone, electronics and much more. Calling this an improv show doesn’t come close to describing the magic of this experience.
Saturday, April 5, 2 pm: Olivia Shortt Artist Talk
Join us at Ociciwan this afternoon for an artist talk by Olivia Shortt, a great chance to get to know a great artist a little bit more!
Saturday, April 5, 2 pm: Olivia Shortt Performs Makwa
For the first time ever, this phenomenal solo performance work by Olivia Shortt, widely performed in other places, will be enjoyed live in our city. A sensory-dense, stream-of-conscious storytelling piece that switches back and forth between saxophone, voice, and video feed, Makwa explores the unexpected rage of living inside of yourself and being alone with your thoughts.

CMC Prairie: Monster Music Sale
2025-04-03 09:00 - 16:00, 2025-04-02 09:00 - 16:00 (America/Edmonton) | University Theatre Foyer, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada
Sheet music, books, CDs, LPs, and more! First day $5, second day half off.

MRU Conservatory Spotlight Series: Brett Gunther, Ben Lahring, and Darren Young
2025-03-29 16:00 - 17:30 (America/Edmonton) | TransAlta Pavilion (ED2102), 18 Mt Royal Circle SW, Calgary, Alberta, T3E 7N5, Canada
The Spotlight Series is MRU Conservatory’s faculty recital series, showcasing performances by the talented members of our faculty – some of Calgary’s finest musicians. On Saturday, March 29 at 4pm in the Trans-Alta Pavilion at the Taylor Centre for the Performing Arts, we will be featuring three of our esteemed guitar faculty: Brett Gunther, Ben Lahring, and Darren Young. They will perform a program of repertoire for solo guitar and guitar ensemble by composers from across the world, including works by Calgary-based composers Ben Lahring and Michalis Andronikou. Tickets are available for purchase at tickets.mru.ca

Celebration: The Music of John Estacio
2025-03-21 20:00 - 22:00 (America/Edmonton) | Winspear Centre, 4 Sir Winston Churchill Square NW, Edmonton, AB, T5J 4X8, Canada
About The Concert

We celebrate our first Composer in Residence John Estacio, whose colourful and cinematic sonorities have electrified Edmonton Symphony audiences for over 30 years. The concert will include a movement from John’s Trumpet Concerto (co-commissioned by a consortium of 19 Canadian orchestras), a dazzling string quartet written for the Banff International String Quartet Competition, a short song cycle and an operatic aria sung by baritone Brett Polegato, and Avé, his most recent work for orchestra. Don’t miss this fantastic evening of music, conducted by our Resident Conductor Cosette Justo Valdés.
This concert will not include an intermission.

Program to Include

ESTACIOThe Harvesters (3rd movement of A Farmer’s Symphony) (1994)
ESO commissionTriton’s Trumpet (1st movement of the Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra) (2017)
ESO co-commission“Away and Awake in the Night” (song cycle for baritone, piano, and violin; words by John Murrell) (2001)Test Run for String Quartet (2001)“A tooth in my pocket” (from the opera Ours; words by Robert Chafe) (2016)
ESO premiereAvé (2025)
ESO premiere

Program subject to change.

Featured Artists

Cosette Justo Valdés, Conductor
John Estacio, Curator & Host
Brett Polegato, Baritone
Robin Doyon, ESO Trumpet
Philip Manning, ESO Violin
Sarah Ho, Piano
Garneau String Quartet:
Robert Uchida, Violin
Laura Veeze, Violin
Keith Hamm, Viola
Julie Hereish, Cello

GroundSwell 4: North/South, Curated by Jim Hiscott
2025-03-20 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Edmonton)
GS4: North/South

GS4: North/South
March 20, 2025, 7:00pm
GroundSwell and WAG-Qaumajuq are thrilled to co-present North/South, a unique gallery concert featuring throat songs by Nikki Komaksiutiksak and family, as well as music for violas and percussion played by Melody McKiver, Jennifer Thiessen and Ben Reimer. New collaborations by Melody McKiver and Jennifer Thiessen and new compositions by Melody McKiver, Jim Hiscott and more.
Come before the concert at 6pm to walk through the spectacular exhibition, Inuit Sanaugangit: Art Across Time featuring a survey of artistic expression from approximately 200 BCE until the present day that highlights over 400 works produced by Inuit artists from Siberia, Alaska, Canada, and Greenland, and stay after the concert to see more of the exhibition. Thursday, March 20, 2025, WAG- Qaumajuq.
Curated by Jim Hiscott.

Oscar Morawetz, Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra
2025-03-15 19:30 - 21:30 (America/Edmonton) | Centennial Concert Hall, 555 Main Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3B 1C3, Canada
Oscar Morawetz: Carnival Overture
Robert Schumann: Cello Concerto
Gustav Mahler: Symphony No. 4
Revel in the vibrant contrasts of Oscar Morawetz’s lively overture, Robert Schumann’s lyrical cello concerto, and Gustav Mahler’s celestial fourth symphony, featuring the exquisite talents of cellist Bryan Cheng and soprano Lara Ciekiewicz.
Join us for an evening of contrasts and connections with music that ranges from the festive to the sublime. The concert begins with Oscar Morawetz’s “Carnival Overture,” a lively piece that captures the spirited festivities of a carnival. This overture is packed with energy and charm, setting the stage for a delightful evening.
Next, Canadian-born, Berlin-based cellist Bryan Cheng returns to perform Robert Schumann’s Cello Concerto, a piece known for its lyrical beauty and innovative structure. Cheng’s previous performances with the WSO have been met with enthusiastic acclaim, and his interpretation of Schumann’s concerto is sure to be a highlight of the season.
Known for his sold-out Carnegie Hall debut at 14 and performances with renowned orchestras worldwide, Cheng continues to captivate audiences with his dynamic interpretations, extensive recital highlights, and critically acclaimed albums, showcasing his exceptional talent and dedication to his craft.
The concert concludes with Mahler’s Symphony No. 4, a work that combines the classical charm of Haydn with the emotional depth of Beethoven. Winnipeg’s own soprano star Lara Ciekiewicz joins the orchestra for the symphony’s final movement, singing of a child’s vision of heaven—a serene and joyful conclusion to the evening.
Acclaimed for her “tour-de-force performance” in Manitoba Opera’s Susannah, Ciekiewicz is celebrated for her dynamic and moving portrayals across genres, earning her the reputation of an artistic chameleon. Her versatility and transformative ability shine through in her captivating performances on stage.
Fun Fact: Mahler’s Fourth Symphony includes sleigh bells in the first movement, adding a whimsical touch that evokes a wintry landscape.

Jocelyn Moclock, Manitoba Chamber Orchestra
2025-03-13 19:30 - 20:30, 2025-03-13 13:00 - 14:00 (America/Edmonton) | Crescent Arts Centre, 525 Wardlaw Ave, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3L 0L9, Canada
Matinee tickets available here
Evening casual tickets available here

Pre-Concert Event featuring the Winnipeg Boys’ Choir!
Starting at 6.45pm. All ticketholders are welcome!

5 / LULLABY OF THE SNOW
1.00pm and 7.30pm, Thursday, March 13
Crescent Arts Centre (525 Wardlaw Ave)
David Bui, conductor; Allen Harrington, saxophone
Winnipegger Allen Harrington is one of Canada’s finest wind players. He makes Sally Beamish’ iconic saxophone concerto absolutely sing in this concert warmly ushering in spring.
Jocelyn Morlock
Nostalgia
Sally Beamish
Under the Wing of the Rock: Saxophone Concerto No. 2
Astor Piazzolla
Libertango, arranged for Saxophone and Strings
Intermission
Benjamin Britten
Simple Symphony (excerpts)
Benjamin Britten
Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge
Program subject to change.
