A Grammy Award-winning trailblazer joins participants from the Art of Piano program for a concert blending traditional and contemporary repertoire.

Lauded as “exquisite” by The Philadelphia Inquirer and “a pianist of sterling artistry” by Gramophone, Michelle Cann is one of the most sought-after pianists of her generation. Recent engagements include appearances with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the LA Phil, and Orquestra Sinfônica Municipal de São Paulo.  

Recognized as a leading interpreter of the piano music of Florence Price, Cann performed the New York City premiere of Price’s Piano Concerto in One Movement with The Dream Unfinished Orchestra in 2016. Her recording of the concerto with the New York Youth Symphony won a Grammy in 2023 for best orchestral performance. She won another Grammy in 2025 for Beyond the Years: Unpublished Songs of Florence Price, recorded with soprano Karen Slack, which features 19 unpublished songs composed by Price. Her acclaimed debut solo album Revival, featuring music by Price and Margaret Bonds, was released in 2023.

We’re lucky to have Cann on faculty for the two-week Art of Piano residency, which offers professional pianists and composers the chance to work with internationally celebrated artists. Participants advance their craft through individual coaching, masterclasses, and performance opportunities.

Art of Piano is generously supported by lead donor Heather Edwards.
Additional support provided by the Alice and Betty Schultz Scholarships Endowment Fund for Dance and Music, Helen Graham, and the Yolanda Freeze Master Artists Music Fund.

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Two world-class pianists—one French, one American—join participants from the Art of Piano program for a concert blending traditional and contemporary repertoire.

Tema Blackstone’s influential work involves an impressive concert career encompassing both solo and duo performances. She also advocates for music as a force for personal and societal well-being. A faculty member at Juilliard, she believes in passing on great music to new generations. She’ll be joined by faculty member Éric Le Sage.

Le Sage is internationally established as a representative of the French piano school. He has performed as a soloist with groups, including the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, LA Phil, Rotterdam Philharmonic, and Tokyo Metropolitan Orchestra, as well as at Carnegie Hall and the Philharmonie de Paris. He released two magnificent albums in 2022: an orchestral Mozart record under the baton of his longtime stage partner François Leleux, and a solo album featuring rare French repertoire from the beginning of the 20th century.

We’re lucky to have both Blackstone and Le Sage on faculty for the two-week Art of Piano residency, which offers professional pianists and pianist-composers the chance to work with celebrated artists. Participants advance their craft through individual coaching, masterclasses, and performance opportunities. 

Art of Piano is generously supported by lead donor Heather Edwards.
Additional support provided by the Alice and Betty Schultz Scholarships Endowment Fund for Dance and Music, Helen Graham, and the Yolanda Freeze Master Artists Music Fund.

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Two world-class pianists—one French, one American—join participants from the Art of Piano program for a concert blending traditional and contemporary repertoire.

Connecticut-raised piano-composer Timo Andres’s recent highlights include a solo recital debut at Carnegie Hall and the world premiere of a piano concerto at the LA Phil, led by John Adams. His work on Justin Peck’s stage adaptation of Sufjan Stevens’s Illinoise: A New Musical earned him a Tony Award nomination; he’s also been nominated for a Grammy. His collaborators include Becca Stevens, Brad Mehldau, Philip Glass, Kronos Quartet, and many more.

Éric Le Sage is internationally established as a representative of the French piano school. He has performed as a soloist with groups including the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, LA Phil, Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, and Tokyo Metropolitan Orchestra, as well as at Carnegie Hall and the Philharmonie de Paris. He released two magnificent albums in 2022: an orchestral Mozart record under the baton of his longtime stage partner François Leleux, and a solo album featuring rare French repertoire from the beginning of the 20th century.

We’re lucky to have both Andres and Le Sage on faculty for the two-week Art of Piano residency, which offers professional pianists and pianist-composers the chance to work with celebrated artists. Participants advance their craft through individual coaching, masterclasses, and performance opportunities.

Art of Piano is generously supported by lead donor Heather Edwards.
Additional support provided by the Alice and Betty Schultz Scholarships Endowment Fund for Dance and Music, Helen Graham, and the Yolanda Freeze Master Artists Music Fund.

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James Ehnes is back!

One of the planet’s most renowned violinists celebrates his 50th birthday with a not-to-be-missed tour across Canada.

The Banff Centre favourite will perform in recital with the celebrated pianist Andrew Armstrong; the pair have collaborated on several acclaimed recordings. Together, they’ll perform a repertoire including Brahms’s “Sonata No. 3,” Bartók’s “Rhapsody No 1,” and the world premiere of Carmen Braden’s “Imaginal,” co-commissioned by Banff Centre.

Ehnes’s extensive discography has won a bounty of awards, including two Grammys, three Gramophone Awards, and 12 JUNO Awards—the most of any classical musician in history.  

He’s also one of the most sought-after musicians on the international classical stage. Recent and upcoming orchestral highlights include the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, LA Phil, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and Cleveland Orchestra.

A devoted chamber musician, Ehnes is the Artistic Director of the Seattle Chamber Music Society and the leader of the Ehnes Quartet.

He plays the “Marsick” Stradivarius of 1715, named after Belgian violinist and teacher Martin Pierre Marsick (1847–1924), who owned the instrument created by Antonio Stradivari of Cremona. Valued at approximately $10-million CAD, the instrument was purchased in 1999 by collector David L. Fulton, who immediately loaned it to violinist James Ehnes and then sold it to him a decade later. 

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Questioning form and expectations and jostling between theatrical and somatic ideals of confrontation and conversation, White Space is a new evening-length work. The performance features 11 captivating dancers in a restless and thought-provoking world fueled by a vast movement vocabulary consisting of Kyle Abraham’s signature blend of classical and contemporary dance with a hip-hop underbelly. 

The work brings together acclaimed composers, Jason Moran and Nico Muhly, for a haunting new collaborative score that pierces the heart of choreographer Abraham’s newest dance. 

The original score, written for two pianists on a single piano, echoes with hip-hop driving the collision of reality and idealism.

White Space marks the second time Abraham is collaborating with world-renowned visual artist, Glenn Ligon, on scenic design. Other collaborators include noted costume designers, Reid Bartelme and Harriet Jung, and longtime lighting collaborator, Dan Scully. 

"Kyle Abraham has a mission — and it’s bigger than himself. He likes to spread the love with his company, A.I.M., and, in doing so, broaden the viewer’s experience of what a dance concert by a choreographer-led company can be." -Gia Kourlas, The New York Times

“For almost 20 years, the inclusive modern dance company has brought thought-provoking movement rooted in Black and queer history and culture to the forefront…” -Freya Drohan, Vogue
 

PROJECT SUPPORT 

White Space was supported by New Music USA’s Organization Fund in 2025-26, with additional commissioning funds provided by the O’Donnell-Green Music and Dance Foundation.

White Space is co-commissioned by Jacob's Pillow, LAC Lugano Arte e Cultura, PEAK Performances at Montclair State University, with the support of Dance Reflections by Van Cleef & Arpels. White Space was created in part during a Pillow Lab residency at Jacob's Pillow, made possible by support from the Vivienne Jones Endowment Fund at Jacob's Pillow.

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Indigenous soul. That’s how Six Nations-born-and-bred Lacey Hill describes her emotion-filled original songs, which grow out of a lifelong love for music-making.

Part of the Oneida/Mohawk Wolf Clan, the singer-songwriter paid her dues performing cover songs and singing backup for local Six Nations bands. Now, she’s one of the few musicians from her community consistently dropping albums.

Previous releases include multiple volumes of a decade-long series of albums called 528. Entry three, The Moon (528 III), was released in 2022.

Between recording sessions, Hill makes a point of touring. She continues to expand her fanbase not only across Canada but internationally, with shows in Australia, Scotland, and the U.S.

Hill is an alumna of Banff Centre’s Indigenous Arts and Music programs.

Join Banff Centre throughout the month of June for National Indigenous History Month. Other free events include dance and jewelry workshops, film screenings, and a story sharing circle.

With support from 

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Experience the visionary work of German composer Sandeep Bhagwati, who brings diverse musical influences together in elegant harmony. And be captivated by Nguyễn Thanh Thủy, a renowned đàn tranh player reimagining Vietnamese traditional music through a modern lens.  

Anchoring the concert is a performance from Australia-based contemporary music ensemble Hand to Earth—a groundbreaking collaboration between Daniel Wilfred, a Yolŋu songman preserving ancient storytelling traditions from northeast Arnhem Land; Sunny Kim, a Korean vocalist drawing influences from experimental jazz; and Peter Knight, an innovative trumpeter, composer, and producer blending acoustic and electronic textures. 

The evening also includes special appearances by Jeremy Dutcher, Two-Spirit classically trained tenor and two-time Polaris Prize winner, and Haruka Fujii, a dynamic percussionist known for her precision and artistry.

These artists invite you to explore music that transcends borders and time.

“In our performances, you’re going to experience friendship. And you’ll hear us share ancient ideas and stories, but told in a way that’s quite contemporary,” says Kim.

“When art-making crosses cultures… what you end up with is the essence of human connection,” adds Knight. 

Soundweavings is made possible through the generous support of the Yolande Freeze Master Artists in Music Fund.

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival and National Canadian Film Day we’re hosting a special retro film screening of The Man Who Skied Down Everest. 

Not only is 2025 the 50th Anniversary of the Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival, it’s also is the 50th anniversary of The Man Who Skied Down Everest, directed by F.R. Crawley and Bruce Nyznik. This Oscar-winning documentary tells the story behind Japanese daredevil Yuichiro Miura's 1970 effort to ski down the world's tallest mountain. The film played at the 1978 Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival!

National Canadian Film Day is an initiative of REEL CANADA, a non-profit organization that brings  Canadian films to communities and schools across the country, all year long.

This event is FREE but please get your ticket in advance.
General admission. 
We recommend arriving 30 minutes before the screening to get your seat.

Documentary photographer and filmmaker Soloman Chiniquay and experimental filmmaker Nic Latulippe discuss the importance of community engagement in their collaborative storytelling projects. They’ll share insights from their work with grassroots programs and reflect on how their partnership has enriched their respective artistic practices.

Chiniquay’s lens-based work explores the ways he is welcomed to witness expressions of indigeneity, creating imagery that attempts to show, in sometimes raw ways, how people use and connect to the land and the artifacts they leave on it. He has worked on film productions such as The Body Remembers When the World Broke Open and the documentary shorts “Joe Buffalo” and “Be Long.”

Latulippe is a self-taught photographer and experimental filmmaker exploring land, place, and the South Asian diaspora in Canada. Latulippe works exclusively with celluloid, blending documentary and introspective storytelling. His current projects touch on the evolving South Asian Canadian identity, the commodification of Canmore, and ranching/rodeo culture in Alberta.

Facilitated by Janine Windolph, Director of Indigenous Arts at Banff Centre, the session includes a presentation Chiniquay and Latulippe, followed by a discussion and a Q&A. This conversation will be live streamed and will also be recorded and shared following the event. Sessions may share experiences and ask difficult questions.
 

About the Decolonizing the Narrative Conversation Series

The Decolonizing the Narrative Conversation Series is a bi-monthly conversation session inviting leading Indigenous Art creators to discuss their practices and processes. The series engages an Indigenous lens across various art forms, including Literary Arts, Film and Media Arts, Digital Media, Visual Arts, and Performing Arts such as Theatre, Dance, and Music. These sessions offer a space to explore and deepen your understanding of how Indigenous artists use their disciplines as tools to decolonize artistic processes and creation.
 

An Evening of Spine-Tingling Storytelling

Step into the eerie world of horror literature at Chapter 1 of Literary Cabaret: Horror Writing, an evening of chilling tales and literary artistry. As part of Banff Centre’s Horror Writing 2025 Residency, this event brings together emerging and established voices for a night of unforgettable storytelling.

Enjoy riveting readings by our residency writers, capped off by a special reading from Jessica Johns, a queer nehiyaw aunty and member of Sucker Creek First Nation. Her debut novel, Bad Cree, was a Canada Reads finalist, shortlisted for the Amazon First Novel Award, and the WGA Fiction Prize winner.

Doors open at 6:15 p.m., so come early, grab a drink from the bar, and browse a curated selection of books at Pages Books' onsite shop before the readings begin. Afterward, stay for a relaxed mingling session where you can connect with the writers and fellow literature lovers, with the evening wrapping up at 9:30 p.m.

Mark your calendars and prepare for thrills, chills, and a few jump scares!