By Autumn Fox How many people do you know can claim Yo-Yo Ma taught them the cello in their after-school music class? Be it through movies, cartoons, lullabies, parents, older siblings, or an in-person tutorial with Yo-Yo Ma himself, early exposure to music provides a vast number of developmental benefits — be it cognitive, intersocial, motivational, emotional, or physical. However, faced with evolving challenges, schools often have the difficult task of juggling core curriculum with opportunities for skilled expression. Students in marginalized communities are even more at risk of losing a ..read more

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Music has the extraordinary power to build community. In this city, the Calgary Boys’ Choir and the Calgary Philharmonic Chorus have existed side-by-side for fifty years, and at times, demonstrating a symbiotic relationship – cultivating and nurturing the next generation of talent.   Chorister Glenn Bontje and his grandson will be singing side-by-side this weekend at Calgary Central Library’s 5th anniversary celebrations. “I am thrilled to be singing alongside my grandson,” Glenn says “I’ve been in the Calgary Philharmonic Chorus for 20 years, and he has been in the Boys’ Choir fo ..read more

By Micha Oostenbrink and Simon MacLeod In the summer of 1980, CBC produced Tones of Two Cities — a special project that saw the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra travel to Edmonton to rehearse and record with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. Both orchestras produced the audio for a TV special commemorating the province of Alberta’s 75th birthday. Immediately after, both orchestras were transported to Jasper, where the orchestras played outdoors for broadcast cameras, synching video with the recorded sound. Both orchestras have also previously collaborated by performing Gustav Mahler’s Symphony ..read more

The worlds of classical and jazz have long intertwined with one another. On 3 + 4 November classical music standards get jazz makeovers in Classically Jazzed. Hear some of your favourite orchestral repertoire in all new jazz arrangements. What should you look forward to hearing? Here are five things to listen for in this program.  Bom bom bom bommmmm … Walter Murphy’s 1976 A Fifth of Beethoven brought disco to Beethoven. Hear Beethoven’s fifth like you’ve never heard before — in an arrangement that puts yet another twist on this iconic piece. George Gershwin was well known for his use ..read more

New Brunswick-born conductor Juliane Gallant is the Resident Conductor of the Calgary Philharmonic, and one of two fellows in the inaugural cohort of Tapestry Opera’s Women in Musical Leadership program. She made her Calgary Phil debut as a WML conductor in the 2022/2023 Season at Will’s Jams, and we caught up with her to get to know her! Currently listening to: A lot of CHVRCHES, HAIM, and Jeremy Dutcher. Dancing or Karaoke? Dancing! Night owl or early bird? I love mornings. My first sip of coffee is one of my favourite parts of any day. Apples or oranges? I often have both in my fridge, bu ..read more

On Saturday 23 September, join the Canadian-born and Berlin-based rising star cellist Bryan Cheng has he takes the stage with your Calgary Phil for an enchanting evening featuring music from the legendary Czech composers Antonín Dvořák and Bedřich Smetana —led by Maltese-conductor Charles Olivieri-Munroe. You’ll savour the beauty of the bohemian lands of this region, as it’s music flows throughout the Jack Singer Concert Hall like the Moldau river, as the orchestra mesmerizes your hearts and minds. Plus, you’ll hear the Bryan Cheng bring the brilliant virtuosity of and singing tone to Ca ..read more

On Saturday 16 September, be transported by your Calgary Phil on a journey through orchestral sound with Music Director Rune Bergmann as your guide to Modest Mussorgsky’s splendid instrumental showcase, Pictures at an Exhibition, as well as Ludwig van Beethoven’s Leonore Overture No. 3 — a tale of darkness to light. Plus, the premiere of a new work by composer John Estacio celebrates the Calgary Philharmonic Chorus’s 60th anniversary. Get your tickets here. To help you learn the stories and inspiration behind the music, here are some notes on each piece you can read before the concert ..read more

On 8 + 9 September, Jeans ‘n Classics brings the timeless music of Fleetwood Mac to the stage with the Calgary Phil. Enjoy hits like Over My Head, The Chain, Don’t Stop, and Little Lies, and more performed by Jeans ‘n Classics and the Orchestra, led by guest Conductor Geneviève Leclair. 1. Musicians often work other jobs before their big break, and the Fleetwood Mac members were no exception. Mick Fleetwood was supposed to be a window cleaner before helping found the band. John McVie was already training to be a tax inspector when his opportunity came, and Christine McVie was working as a wi ..read more

As our 2022/2023 Season comes to an end and we celebrate the memorable moments from throughout the season, we also find ourselves commemorating another ending. This year marked Associate Conductor Karl Hirzer’s final season with the Calgary Phil, after joining us as Resident Conductor in 2016. Over the years, Karl’s unwavering dedication, exceptional artistry, and innovative spirit have left an indelible mark on our Orchestra and our communities. Today, we celebrate his numerous accomplishments and the lasting impact he has made during his tenure with us.  Karl’s time with the Calgary P ..read more