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Headshots of James Anagnoson and Micah Yui
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An evening of music for two pianos, featuring works by Brahms, Dvořák, Debussy, and Gershwin.
Page Summary
Join James Anagnoson and Micah Yui for an evening of music for two pianos, featuring works by Brahms, Dvořák, Debussy, and Gershwin.
About the Program

Join James Anagnoson and Micah Yui for an evening of music for two pianos, featuring works by Brahms, Dvořák, Debussy, and Gershwin.

James Anagnoson is one of Canada’s most celebrated pianists and the Dean of The Royal Conservatory’s Glenn Gould School. As half of the internationally acclaimed duo Anagnoson & Kinton, he has performed over 1,500 concerts worldwide, earning praise from The New York Times for their “formidable precision and panache.” He has also taught and mentored generations of prize-winning pianists, shaping Canada’s classical music landscape for decades.

Yui, meanwhile, is an acclaimed Canadian pianist, whose playing contains "blazing enthusiasm, power, and technical assurance” (Los Angeles Times). She’s played solo recitals around the world, including at venues in Zurich, Tokyo, New York, Toronto, and Copenhagen. She’s also given radio performances on CBC, NHK, and WQXR, plus orchestral performances with the Syracuse, Edmonton, Victoria, Montreal Metropolitan, Asheville, and Baltimore Chamber orchestras.

Both are part of the faculty for Art of Piano, a program that pushes the instrument to new heights in skill, expression, and composition.

Art of Piano is generously supported by lead donor Heather Edwards.

Additional support provided by Helen Graham and the Yolanda Freeze Master Artists Music fund.

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Leela Gilday, photo by Pat Kane

Leela Gilday, photo by Pat Kane

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From June 1-30, Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity will host JUNO Award-winning Dene musician Leela Gilday and Métis pop experimentalists Ghostkeeper, along with workshops, panels, and the official public opening of our new indigenous cultural centre Îethka Mâkochî Ahogi Chi Pa Bi Ti: Îethka Territory House of Respect. 

BANFF, AB, May 27, 2025 – Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity is thrilled to recognize National Indigenous History Month as a time for learning, honouring, reflecting, and participating in Indigenous cultures at Banff Centre and across the Bow Valley Corridor. Throughout the month of June, Banff Centre invites our community to participate in a series of in-person and virtual cultural events, beginning with a Virtual Marketplace starting on June 1, 2025 and a concert with Leela Gilday on June 4, 2025. Find out more at banffcentre.ca/celebrate.

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“All year long, Indigenous Arts at Banff Centre provide spaces for art-making, story sharing, learning, and connection. National Indigenous History Month is a special time to welcome more members of our community into these experiences,” says Janine Windolph, Director of Indigenous Arts at Banff Centre. “Whether they take place on campus, online, or with one of our Bow Valley partner organizations, these events are rooted in our home on the side Sacred Guardian Buffalo Mountain.” 

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Programming Highlights 

Dene singer-songwriter Leela Gilday, was born and raised in the Northwest Territories, and her decades-spanning career is based on creating music about the people and the land that created her. Leela has toured extensively across Canada and through the United States, Europe, Greenland, Australia, and beyond, and her fifth album, North Star Calling, was awarded the Indigenous Artist of the Year JUNO Award in 2021. Gilday is a musical force who blends folk, roots, and Indigenous musical traditions into a contemporary sound inviting listeners on a journey of resilience, identity, and connection. She performs at the Margaret Greenham Theatre at Banff Centre at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 4.

Calgary-based experimental pop-rock duo Ghostkeeper—Shane Ghostkeeper and Sarah Houle, with roots in Northern Alberta’s High Level, Rocky Lane, and Paddle Prairie Métis Settlement—spent their adolescence isolated by the region’s geography, listening to folk and blues records. The band’s 2022 album, Multidimensional Culture, was longlisted for the 2023 Polaris Music Prize. Their latest release, Cîpayak Joy, mixes found noises with snippets of pop and trap, weaving a tapestry of haunting beauty. Their eclectic sound will be featured at 9 p.m. on Friday, June 27 at Banff Centre’s newest venue, CLVB ’33.

On June 7, the exhibition Elliptical Lineages opens at Banff Centre’s Walter Phillips Gallery. Curated by Jacqueline Bell, Director of Walter Phillips Gallery and Collections at Banff Centre, the exhibition presents the work of artists who engage the creative practices of a family member or someone they consider kin. Featuring Indigenous and Métis artists like Hali Heavy Shield, Sarah Houle and Norma Houle, Catherine Blackburn, Glenna Cardinal and seth cardinal dodginghorse, and Kirsten Ryder. Elliptical Lineages runs from June 7 to September 7 at Walter Phillips Gallery, with an opening reception on Friday, June 27 and an artist discussion on Saturday, June 28.

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Îethka Mâkochî Ahogi Chi Pa Bi Ti: Îethka Territory House of Respect 

Marking a new chapter for Indigenous Arts and Leadership at Banff Centre, we are thrilled to open the Centre’s first building dedicated to Indigenous culture—Îethka Mâkochî Ahogi Chi Pa Bi Ti: Îethka Territory House of Respect. Situated on the side of Sacred Buffalo Guardian Mountain, the new centre will have its home in one of the original Banff Centre chalets (formerly known as Farrally Hall) at the top of Ken Madsen Path. It will welcome Indigenous participants, faculty, Elders and other guests from around the world. The renovated building has space for ceremony, feasts and potlucks, Elder and staff offices, and will feature newly acquired artworks representing Indigenous artists from across Canada.


Special thanks to the Mînî Thnî community elders Alice Kaquitts, Charles Rabbit, Watson Kaquitts, and Tina Fox for their guidance and wisdom on protocols for naming and opening the space, which included a pipe ceremony in early May. The name was chosen in honour of the underpinning value of the Îârhé Nakoda Nation of mutual respect when individuals come together, particularly in this place of significance for many of the Nations that make up Treaty 7. In the spirit of welcoming, sharing, and hosting, the public is invited to an open house at Îethka Mâkochî Ahogi Chi Pa Bi Ti on Saturday, June 28 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
 

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Banff Centre’s Full National Indigenous History Month Schedule 

Find more events coming up this summer in the Banff Centre Summer Arts Festival, on now until September 7, 2025.  

Performance activities during National Indigenous History Month are funded in part by Alberta Foundation for the Arts and Future Generations Foundation. Indigenous Arts at Banff Centre is generously supported by RBC Foundation.

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For photos and interview requests, please reach out to:

Carly Maga
Director, Communications                          
Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity              
tel: +1.403.763.6210
cell: +1.403.431.3423
carly_maga@banffcentre.ca

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About Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity
Founded in 1933, Banff Centre is a post-secondary institution built upon an extraordinary legacy of excellence in artistic and leadership development. What started as a single course in drama has grown to become a global organization leading in arts, culture, and creative decision-making across dozens of disciplines, from the fine arts to Indigenous Wise Practices. From our home in the stunning Canadian Rocky Mountains, Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity aims to move everyone who attends our campus - artists, leaders, thinkers, and audiences - to unleash their creative potential and realize their unique contribution to build an innovative, inspiring future through education, performances, convenings, and public outreach. banffcentre.ca 

Media Release
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Description

Free live show

Ellen Braun - Soulful Indie-Folk from Canmore

Join us for a special evening with Ellen Braun, a captivating indie-folk artist from Canmore, Alberta, known for her poignant storytelling, rich melodies, and heartfelt stage presence. Ellen creates an atmosphere of connection and emotion that lingers long after the last note.

With performances on legendary stages like Nashville’s Bluebird Café, and opening sets for Canadian greats including Madison Violet and Joey Landreth, Ellen has steadily carved out a space in the national folk scene. As one half of the folk duo, Trundled, she released the acclaimed album High Water (produced by award-winning Daniel Ledwell) and her songs, including “Inchoate”, have earned praise and airplay on CBC, CKUA, and beyond.

More than just a musician, Ellen is also a playwright and community builder - leading workshops, performing at folk festivals, and inspiring audiences with humour, humility, and stories of love, resilience, and growth. Currently recording a new album with Grammy-nominated producer Howard Bilerman (Arcade Fire, Leonard Cohen), Ellen’s star continues to rise.

Don’t miss this free opportunity to experience one of Canada’s most authentic voices live.

Enjoy the show with a burger and beer!

Make the most of Amp Sessions with a juicy burger in one hand and a cold drink in the other. Hit up the BBQ for hot dogs and burgers, and swing by the outdoor bar for beer, wine, or a mixed drink. Great tunes, good food, cold drinks - the perfect summer evening.

Amp Sessions
Amphitheatre
Banff Centre Summer Arts Festival
Ellen Braun looking at Rundle Mountain
Page Summary
Free live show: Ellen Braun – Soulful Indie-Folk from Canmore
Exhibition
No
Banff Centre Artist/Practicum/Staff Only
Off
Licensed
Off
Event Tags
Performance Date
Date
Extra Description

50 minutes approx

Computed Sort Date
1754006400

Submitted by Jessica Brende… on
English
Woman smiling broadly at camera with flowing red hair and a teal halter dress

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Katie Kirkpatrick is a soprano originally from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and is currently based in Toronto. She is pursuing a Masters degree in Opera at the University of Toronto, studying under the tutelage of Monica Whicher. Katie is a recent graduate of U of T, where she earned her Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance with honors. Recent performance highlights include the roles of “Miranda” in Kaija Saariaho’s The Tempest Songbook with U of T Opera and “Machine Gun Mabel” in the U of T student composer collective’s opera The Avenue of Avarice. Katie is an enthusiastic collaborator and performer of contemporary music. She has participated in concerts with the University of Toronto New Music Festival, the Concreamus Chamber Choir, and the Free Concert Series at the Four Seasons Centre for Performing arts – Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre. Katie is grateful to have grown as an artist at the Canadian Opera Company Summer Intensive program, and is looking forward to performing the role of “Janine/Ofwarren” in The Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity’s production of Poul Rouder’s The Handmaid’s Tale in July 2025.

Katie Kirkpatrick was generously supported by the Hicks Memorial Scholarship.
 

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Hung-Kuan Chen & Tema Blackstone.
Subtitle
A pair of exceptional pianists unite for an unforgettable evening of piano, performing selections from Mozart, Debussy, Schubert and Rachmaninoff.
Page Summary
Hung-Kuan Chen and Tema Blackstone perform selections from Mozart, Debussy, Schubert and Rachmaninoff.
About the Program

A pair of exceptional pianists unite for an unforgettable evening of piano. Masterful performers from the Juilliard School, Hung-Kuan Chen and Tema Blackstone showcase their technical prowess via selections from Mozart and Debussy, including music for two pianos. The married couple often teaches together and has performed as a duo worldwide.  

Chen was born in Taipei and raised in Germany. The winner of the Ferruccio Busoni International Piano Competition and the recipient of an Avery Fisher Grant, he has collaborated with conductors like Christoph Eschenbach and Hans Graf. His colleagues include the Tokyo and Shanghai string quartets and cellist Yo-Yo Ma.  

Blackstone’s rich and varied life in music has grown out of her impressive career as a pianist. Her influential work involves the advocacy of music as a force for personal and societal wellbeing, and the passing on of great music to new generations.

Both are part of the faculty for Art of Piano, a program that pushes the instrument to new heights in skill, expression, and composition.

Art of Piano is generously supported by lead donor Heather Edwards. 

Additional support provided by Helen Graham and the Yolanda Freeze Master Artists Music Fund.

Description

Free live show

The Ramblin’ Hey Ho Ha’s – Rocky Mountain Country from Banff!

Get ready for a foot-stompin’ good time with The Ramblin’ Hey Ho Ha’s, Banff’s own Rocky Mountain country band! Known for their boot-kickin’ blend of bluegrass, roots, and rock with a twangy twist, this hometown crew brings big energy and bigger heart to the stage.

Featuring a lively mix of acoustic guitar, mandolin, harmonica, and tambourine, their sound is steeped in mountain air and prairie soul. With crowd sing-alongs, high-spirited originals, and a few reimagined classics, The Ramblin’ Hey Ho Ha’s turn every performance into a celebration of community, rhythm, and storytelling.

These Banff favourites released their debut album Live at artsPlace to local acclaim and have since been hard at work on new material—some of which you just might hear live at the Shaw Amphitheatre!

Enjoy the show with a burger and beer!

Make the most of Amp Sessions with a juicy burger in one hand and a cold drink in the other. Hit up the BBQ for hot dogs and burgers, and swing by the outdoor bar for beer, wine, or a mixed drink. Great tunes, good food, cold drinks - the perfect summer evening.

Amp Sessions
Amphitheatre
Banff Centre Summer Arts Festival
The Ramblin’ Hey Ho Ha’s performing on stage
Page Summary
Free live show: The Ramblin’ Hey Ho Ha’s - Rocky Mountain Country from Banff!
Exhibition
No
Banff Centre Artist/Practicum/Staff Only
Off
Licensed
Off
Event Tags
Performance Date
Date
Extra Description

50 minutes approx

Computed Sort Date
1752192000
Description

Free live show

Zebra - Funk, Rock & Soul from Canmore!

Get ready to groove with Zebra, a funk-rock powerhouse straight out of Canmore, Alberta! Blending silky saxophone with funky rhythms, improvised grooves, and pure rock ‘n soul, Zebra delivers a dynamic live experience you won’t want to miss.

Spanning four generations of musical influence, Zebra brings together five passionate players - Joe Ernewein (sax), Mike Kragt (bass), Matt Meuller (drums), Jake Posacki (guitar), and Jake Steif (trumpet) - united by their shared love of rhythm, groove, and music that moves you.

Whether you’re into classic vinyl vibes, ‘80s cassette tape thump, or digital-era beats, Zebra’s mix of original tracks and crowd-pleasing covers has something for everyone. Expect an interactive set full of energy, joy, and unforgettable tunes.

Their latest EP “Fall Fly” is out now and streaming worldwide, but there’s nothing like catching Zebra live. Don’t miss this free chance to see them up close before they hit the road across Alberta and BC!

Enjoy the show with a burger and beer!

Make the most of Amp Sessions with a juicy burger in one hand and a cold drink in the other. Hit up the BBQ for hot dogs and burgers, and swing by the outdoor bar for beer, wine, or a mixed drink. Great tunes, good food, cold drinks - the perfect summer evening.

Amp Sessions
Amphitheatre
Banff Centre Summer Arts Festival
Zebra performing
Images
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Zebra performing
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Zebra performing
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Zebra saxophonist Joe Ernewein
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Zebra bassist Mike Kragt
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Zebra guitarist Jake Posacki
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Zebra band members
Page Summary
Free live show: Zebra - Funk, Rock & Soul from Canmore!
Exhibition
No
Banff Centre Artist/Practicum/Staff Only
Off
Licensed
Off
Event Tags
Performance Date
Date
Extra Description

50 minutes approx

Computed Sort Date
1753401600

Submitted by Jessica Brende… on
English
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Erin Van Wijk is Calgary, Canada based lifelong sewist and creative with a passion for storytelling on the stage through costume design.  Whether constructing period-accurate garments or crafting bold, theatrical pieces for drag and burlesque performances, Erin understands that costuming is an art form that communicates a production’s intent as powerfully as the script itself.  While completing a Bachelor of Fine Arts (AUArts 2008) Erin’s sculpture work focused on site specific interventions that bridged themes of urban life, societal constructs with philosophical concepts.  By blending technical precision with thematic expressions, art – including stage costumes - can take the viewer to another place, it can reflect our fluctuating cultural times and, in that sense, change the way we think and are.  These themes continue to inform her personal work and many of her costume collaborations in recent years. 

Submitted by Jessica Brende… on
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Sabrina Mei Ling Pye is an emerging props artisan from Ontario who is passionate about telling stories with art that is as fun to look at as it is to make! She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Toronto Metropolitan University in Performance Production and Design, where she focused her studies on props management and fabrication.

Currently based in Toronto, Sabrina has had the pleasure of working on props and set for a variety of companies in the city, including the Canadian Opera Company, Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, Crossroads Theatre, Crow’s Theatre, Mainstage Theatre Company, and several shows at the Toronto Fringe Festival. For the past two years, she has also been part of the staff at the University of Toronto’s Hart House Theatre, where she supports the operations of the theatre and serves as Staff Advisor to three student performance ensembles.

Sabrina is thrilled to call the Banff Centre home for a portion of the summer, marking the first production she will have worked on outside of her home province. She is excited for the chance to hone her skills and connect to a wider network of performance artists.

Sabrina Pye was generously supported by the Canadian Securities Institute Endowment.

Submitted by Jessica Brende… on
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Yanik Gosselin, a tenor from the Lake Temiskaming area in northeastern Ontario, is much more than just a singer. He is a passionate storyteller, a sensitive musician, and a committed collaborator. His repertoire encompasses a wide range of music, from early baroque operas to world premiere performances and a background in rock music, showcasing his versatility. As an experienced recitalist, Yanik captivates audiences with his interpretations of art songs and chamber music. He excels at discovering innovative storytelling methods through musical and multidisciplinary projects and is always eager to collaborate and bring fresh perspectives to his artistry.

Recently, he sang the role of Marco in The Gondoliers (Toronto Operetta Theatre) and the Chevalier de la Force in Dialogues des Carmélites (Glenn Gould School). Yanik has participated in several development programs and residencies, notably with the Banff Centre, Manitoba Opera, Tapestry Opera, the Association for Opera in Canada, and the National Arts Centre. These have empowered him to be a multi-hyphenated artist committed to the growth of the Canadian opera sector.

Yanik's commitment to engaging with communities through music and the arts goes beyond the stage, as he also works as a project coordinator for a non-profit arts organization.

Yanik Gosselin was generously supported by the Banff Centre Artists' Awards.

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