National Music Centre | Centre National de Musique

Experience two days of Filipino-Canadian storytelling through film, music, and cultural performance. SineMa 2026 comes to Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre, this June. 🇵🇭🎬 Here's what to check out: 📽️June 19 — Opening Night: Kick off the festival with a red carpet, vibrant Cordillera music and dance from Northern Philippines, and the screening of Treasure of the Rice Terraces. The documentary traces one filmmaker's journey to reconnect with his roots through the ancient art of Kalinga tattooing. 🎬 June 20 — Local Shorts Block: Four documentary and narrative shorts exploring identity, belonging, migration, and home, featuring Assembly, The Boxing Ring, Roots to Table, and Nasaan. Get your tickets: studiobell.ca/whats-on

What is an #erhu? It’s an ancient two-stringed instrument, also known as a Chinese violin, with roots stretching back more than 1,000 years. In this clip, Lemon of Calgary-based Canadian-Chinese ensemble The GCB (青蓝), tells us about the instrument's history, its distinctive construction, and the careful finger control it takes to bring it to life.

On August 22, National Music Centre will present the @CBC rebroadcast of @thehipofficial – A National Celebration, the band’s 2016 farewell performance captured live in Kingston, Ontario. Whether you're revisiting the emotional concert or discovering it for the first time, this is a night worth celebrating with Canadians from coast to coast to coast. 🔗 Get your tickets: bit.ly/3PmQv0C

Last Friday, Studio Bell came alive with the sounds and movement of Indian classical traditions. 🎶 TARANG, presented by the National Music Centre and Raga Mala Calgary for Asian Heritage Month, made for an unforgettable evening of Hindustani music and dance. Check out some of our favourite photos from the evening. 📸: Jaxi Barton

"I felt really lucky to have been born in the same timeline as him." 🎶 Ron Sexsmith opens up about what Gordon Lightfoot meant to him, the hole his passing left, and why upholding the tradition of the singer-songwriter still matters deeply today.

The global Music Cities Convention is coming to Calgary from September 29 to October 1, 2026, and we’ve got a special limited-time rate. 🎶 The #MusicCitiesConvention, hosted at #StudioBell, home of the National Music Centre, will bring together leaders in music, policy, and city-building for a landmark event, continuing the progress set in motion by the Alberta Music Action Plan announcement. You can also explore a first look at confirmed international speakers at the link below. A limited-time ticket rate of $149 CAD is available until May 14, 2026. Get your tickets: bit.ly/4dmrFGc

Last Saturday, @bluemoonmarquee and Billie Zizi delivered a show of smoky blues, vintage swing, and irresistible grooves to a sold-out crowd. 🎷 Take a look at some of our favourite shots from the night. 📸: Jaxi Barton

The next installment of Liner Notes: Inside the Rolling Stones Mobile Studio explores the classic 1970 album, #LedZeppelinIII. Moving beyond the heavy sound of their early records, it blends hard rock with acoustic, folk, and blues influences, shaped by time spent writing in the Welsh countryside and recording in more relaxed, unconventional environments. The result is an album full of contrast and experimentation, from the blistering, riff-driven “Immigrant Song” to their reinterpretation of a traditional folk ballad, “Gallows Pole,” to the gentle, melodic “Tangerine.” Experience the record as it was originally recorded through the Rolling Stones Mobile Studio. The next tour on June 7 is almost sold-out, but we’ve got another one coming up on Oct. 4. 🔗 Plan your visit at studiobell.ca/whats-on/rsm and check out all tour dates.

We’re hiring! 🎶 The National Music Centre is seeking a Communications Assistant to join our Marketing team this summer. In this role, you'll manage NMC Street Team activities at summer festivals and contribute to social media campaigns. Apply by May 15. studiobell.ca/communications…

Forever Young: Seniors’ Wednesdays launched this week, and the fun is just getting started. 🎶 Every Wednesday at Studio Bell is free for seniors aged 65 and up, and each month we're adding a free drop-in program to make the experience even better. Here's what’s coming up: 🎵 May 13 – Community Jam-Along 🎵 June 3 – Learn to Play the Ukulele 🎵 July 15 – Community Drum Circle with Circles of Rhythm 🎵 September 9 – Instrument Petting Zoo 🎵 October 7 – Carolyn Harley Trio Head to studiobell.ca/seniors to plan your visit.

We heard Drake is dropping something new. So we are, too. 🍵✨ Introducing the Fizzy Drizzy, our newest café feature inspired by a certain Toronto legend. Sparkling passionfruit matcha served over ice, just like the #Iceman intended. Available now at the NMC Cafe and Gift shop. Ice pick not included.

What does a synthesizer feel like? Come find out. 🎶 Later this month, National Music Centre (NMC) is launching Synth Soundbath, a new monthly series exploring the intersection of music technology and wellness. Each session spotlights a different synthesizer from NMC's collection, inviting participants to experience sound as both a creative and sensory force. We’re kicking off the series on May 31 with the Korg MS-20, a seminal semi-modular analog synthesizer from 1978, renowned for its raw character and textured soundscapes. 🔗 Get your tickets: bit.ly/4wfREHZ

Experience three extraordinary days of piano prowess on display. The 2026 Honens Festival takes over Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre, this September. 🎹 Each evening includes a pre-concert chat at 6:00 pm followed by the show at 7:00 pm. Here’s what to check out: 🎹 September 10 — Dialogues with the Piano: Winston Choi,@JonKimuraParker, and Carter Johnson share the stage with their own past selves using Steinway Spirio player piano technology. 🎹 September 11 — Reverberations: Chopin Reframed: 2025 Honens Gold Laureate Élisabeth Pion brings a bold reimagining of Chopin's Études Op. 25. 🐘 September 12 at 10:30 am — Storytellers: Babar the Elephant: A family-friendly morning concert bringing Babar to life through music and storytelling. 🎹 September 12 — Echoes in Motion: A journey across centuries of dance forms with Winston Choi, Carter Johnson, Jon Kimura Parker, and MingHuan Xu Choi. 🔗 Get your tickets: bit.ly/42jndTC

⏰ What time is it? It’s time to play! PlayLab, a free music playground on the main floor of Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre, is now open. This free space is open to all ages, allowing visitors to learn about music in a fun, accessible, hands-on way. Beyond its role as an immersive exhibit, PlayLab will serve as a flexible, year-round community hub for a wide range of daytime programs and activities, from workshops and instrument-building sessions to artist talks and informal music play days. Here are some of the free events coming up in PlayLab: 🥁May 9, June 6, July 18, and Sept. 26 – Rhythm Playground 🎹May 16, Aug. 8, and Sept. 5 – DIY Sound Factory 🪘May 23 – Music and Culture with Mr. Rayz! 🎻Aug.15 – Kitchen Party 🪇 Aug. 22 – Rattle and Strum 🎶 May 30, June 27, July 25, and Aug. 29 – Circuit Jam Free and open daily from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, with additional free programs every month. 🔗 Plan your visit at studiobell.ca/feature-exhibi…. Special thanks to Brock Geiger for creating original music for the space.

Asian Heritage Month got off to a beautiful start last weekend at Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre. 🎵 On Saturday, in partnership with the Chinese Artists Association of Alberta, Calgary-based Canadian-Chinese ensemble The GCB Band (青蓝) took the stage for an afternoon of traditional and contemporary Chinese music that transcends cultural boundaries. A truly special afternoon. Here are some of our favourite photos from the day. 📸: Jaxi Barton

Don't miss this one, Alberta musicians. 🎸 Applications for NMC Artist Mini-Residencies close May 10 at 11:59 pm MT. Get two days of recording time and access to NMC's one-of-a-kind living collection and studios. Apply: bit.ly/4dazBu9

Experience an evening of Indian classical music and dance at Studio Bell this Friday. 🎵 On May 8, the National Music Centre and Raga Mala Society will present TARANG, a celebration of Hindustani music and Kathak for Asian Heritage Month. The night will feature: 🎶Sarangi maestro Pankaj Mishra 🎶 Tabla expert Vineet Vyas performing traditional ragas 🎶 Kathak showcase with Bageshree Vaze and live music and vocals from Kavita Mishra Get your tickets: bit.ly/4tShOPu

🎵 For #AsianHeritageMonth, Calgary-based flutist Jiajia Li introduces us to the dizi, a traditional Chinese bamboo flute. The #dizi has thousands of years of history, with the earliest version dating back to 200 BC. It remains deeply rooted in Chinese tradition to this day.

Liner Notes launches this weekend—and the first tour dedicated to The Rolling Stones' album, Sticky Fingers, is nearly sold out 🎶 If you missed it, no stress. We’ll be running tours throughout our anniversary year. The next one on Led Zeppelin's III runs June 7. Big thanks to the @calgaryherald for helping spread the word! calgaryherald.com/entertainment/…