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Christian Matta is a rising Italian-Canadian tenor currently pursuing a Master’s of Opera at the University of Toronto under the tutelage of Wendy Nielsen. He has been recognized for his warm tenor sound and clear top register. Christian has appeared in several productions in Toronto including Gastone in La Traviata, Ferrando in Così fan tutte, and Raymond Massey in The Avenue of Avarice.

Christian has had the privilege of participating in masterclasses with renowned artists and educators such as Jason Ferrante, Alain Coulombe, and Ambur Braid. His versatile repertoire spans from early music to contemporary opera, as he has performed everything from Monteverdi to works composed within the last decade. He has performed a multitude of Oratorio works as a soloist, including Handel’s Esther, Mozart Requiem, and Vivaldi’s Gloria.

Christian looks forward to workshopping as Paul Lucas in The Book of Tales, Mithri in Aarna and the Silver Cypress, and St Matthew's Passion here at Banff this summer. He is excited to learn from esteemed faculty alongside talented colleagues in a growing artistic community like Banff.

Christian Matta was generously supported by the Banff Centre Artists' Awards.

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Sarah Yunji Moon is a Toronto-based flautist celebrated for her expressive artistry, technical mastery, and commitment to contemporary music. She has performed as a soloist with esteemed ensembles such as the Seoul Philharmonic and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and held principal flute positions with Symphony Nova Scotia (2008–2010) and the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra (2016–2018).

An advocate for new music, Moon is the founder of Rosedale Winds, a chamber group dedicated to modern woodwind repertoire, and a member of the Thin Edge New Music Collective. She also performs with Charm of Finches, Canada’s first professional flute quintet, known for its innovative programming and dynamic performances. Ms. Moon’s academic credentials include a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Flute Performance from Carnegie Mellon University and a Master of Music in Contemporary Performance from the Manhattan School of Music.

As an educator, Sarah serves as an Adjunct Lecturer at Queen’s University, where she directs the Flute Choir and teaches flute performance. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes the integration of contemporary works into the classical canon, fostering a deeper connection between performers and audiences. Ms. Moon’s dedication to expanding the flute repertoire and her dynamic presence on stage continue to inspire audiences and students alike.

Sarah Yunji Moon was generously supported by the Frederick Louis Crosby Memorial Endowment.

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Peng Lin is the recipient of the Piotr Anderszewski Prize at the 2025 Vigo International Piano Competition, and First Prize winner of the 2023 Massarosa International Piano Competition. She made her New York Lincoln Center debut in 2015 with the Juilliard Orchestra, conducted by Peter Oundjian. She has been a laureate of prestigious competitions, including Rhodes International Piano Competition, Rina Sala Gallo International Piano Competition and UK Open Piano International Piano Competition. Her performances have taken her to acclaimed venues such as Alice Tully Hall, Carnegie Weill Hall, and Shanghai Concert Hall. She has also appeared at major festivals including Aspen Music Festival, Sarasota Music Festival and Taos Chamber Music Festival.

Born in Kulangsu, China’s ‘piano island’, Peng Lin made her orchestral debut at age nine. At sixteen, she received a full scholarship to attend the Juilliard School, where she earned both Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees. She continued her education at the Yale School of Music (MMA), the Royal College of Music in London (Artist Diploma), and the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome, graduating with the highest distinction under Benedetto Lupo. Her principal mentors include Dmitri Alexeev, Yoheved Kaplinsky, Hung-Kuan Chen and Peter Serkin.

Peng Lin was generously supported by the Isobel and Tom Rolston Fellowships in Music Endowment.

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Born and raised in Timmins, Ontario, flutist Katie Kirkpatrick is a versatile performer currently based in Toronto. Passionate about solo, chamber, and orchestral playing, she has performed with ensembles across Canada and Europe. Katie has received several distinctions, including the Maritsa Brookes Concerto Competition, the Young-Ja Park Chamber Music Competition, and is a three-time recipient of the Porcupine Music Festival’s Instrumental Plaque and Rosebowl.

She recently appeared as a concerto soloist with both the Timmins Symphony Orchestra and the Western University Symphony Orchestra. Her most recent recording project was in partnership with the Canadian Music Centre on Robert Lemay’s album Clés, released in May 2024.

Katie is currently completing her Master of Music in Flute Performance at the University of Toronto, where she studies with Kelly Zimba Lukić, principal flutist of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. She previously earned her Artist Diploma and Bachelor of Music from Western University, studying with Stephen Tam and Anne Thompson.

Katie Kirkpatrick was generously supported by the Lockwood Family Endowment Fund for Music.

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Beatrice Ferreira is a Canadian-American composer and string improvisor currently based in London. With a style described as ‘atmospheric, surreal… [and] occasionally unnerving - perhaps better to say haunted’ (Spectrum Culture), she draws upon contemporary and traditional materials to destabilize our perceptions of extramusical sound.

With over a decade of experience writing for solo, concert, and theatre settings, Beatrice has established herself in the contemporary music scene as a skilled yet playful voice. Her works have premiered at Southbank Centre, Snape Maltings, Barbican Centre, National Sawdust, and Domaine Forget de Charlevoix. In addition to her work as a composer, she is an experienced string improvisor. Past work has included collaboration with Montreal projects Alex Rand and The Weather Holds.

Beatrice holds an M.A. from Guildhall School of Music and Drama in Opera Making and Writing, and a B.Mus. in Composition from McGill University’s Schulich School of Music. She has been named finalist in SOCAN (2021), BMI (2020), and ASCAP Morton Gould (2018) Young Composer Awards.

Beatrice Ferreira was generously supported by the Gladys and Merrill Muttart Foundation Endowment.

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XiuZhang Cao learned piano at the age of 6 and began learning trombone from his father at the age of 12. In 2019, he got into the third year of junior high school affiliated with the Central Conservatory of Music studied under Professor Guo Pengyuan. In the same year, he was admitted to the pre-college at Tianjin Juilliard School under the guidance of Professor Lee Allen. In 2021, he received the highest scholarship to enter the Interlochen Art Center in the United States studied under Professor Thomas Riccobono. In 2023, he received a full scholarship to enter the Curtis Institute of Music in the United States studied under Professor Nitzan Haroz and Professor Matthew Vaughn.

XiuZhang Cao won first place in the trombone category at the 5th Yantai Youth Instrumental Music Competition in 2015. In 2019, participated in the 7th China International Brass Music Festival and won first place in the Trombone Youth Group. In January 2021, won the first place in the Youth trombone performer category at the first New Zealand International Brass Competition. In August 2021, participated in the 8th International Brass Music Festival in China and won second place in the professional category. In October 2021, he won the championship of the 64th Interlochen Concerto Competition in the United States and collaborated with the Interlochen Orchestra to perform David trombone concerto. Received the Interlochen Young Artist Award in May 2023.

XiuZhang Cao has served as the trombone principal of the World Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Interlochen Orchestra, and participated in collaborative performances with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra at the Lincoln Art Center in New York. During this period, he collaborated with well-known orchestras such as the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra and the Symphony In C Orchestra in the United States. Currently serving as the principal trombone of the Curtis Symphony Orchestra.

XiuZhang Cao was generously supported by Banff Centre Artists' Awards.

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Hali Heavy Shield, Naaahsa is an Artist!, 2023, revised 2025. Digital image. Courtesy of the artist.

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A multigenerational exploration of kinship and artistic exchange, Elliptical Lineages will run from June 7 to September 7, 2025.

BANFF, AB, June 13, 2025 – Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity is proud to announce the opening of Elliptical Lineages, a new group exhibition curated by Jacqueline Bell, Director, Walter Phillips Gallery and Collections at Banff Centre. Elliptical Lineages is on view from June 7 to September 7, 2025, with a public reception on Friday, June 27, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Featuring works by Hangama Amiri, Badrin x Blackburn, seth cardinal dodginghorse, Letitia Fraser, John de Haan and Jason de Haan, Hali Heavy Shield, Norma Houle, Sarah Houle, Frank McKeough, Rita McKeough, Aaron McIntosh, Anne Ngan, Gailan Ngan, Wayne Ngan, Jamie Ross and David Ross, Kirsten Ryder, and tīná gúyáńí, Elliptical Lineages presents the work of artists that engage the creative practices of a family member or those whom they consider kin. A compelling investigation into conventional ideas of artistic lineage, the exhibition embraces the complexity of creative exchange and transmission of knowledge between generations as well as among chosen family.

Quotation

“Elliptical Lineages features works that reflect the ways in which artists honour the creative practices of family members of those whom they consider kin, that are the result of direct collaboration between different generations, or where the individual work of kin is shared alongside one another. There is an emotional weight to Elliptical Lineages that is indicative of the connections to family, kinship, or creative lineage present in many of the exhibited works. Relationships – be it to land or place, heritage, cultural traditions, or to one another, are often foregrounded, contributing to a depth of meaning in the works both for many of the artists and for those experiencing Elliptical Lineages as visitors.”

Source

Curator Jacqueline Bell, Director, Walter Phillips Gallery and Collections at Banff Centre

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The exhibition spans an extensive range of media. A number of works reference craft traditions, with artists employing forms of making with a history in their families such as crochet or quilt-making that are transposed into new form. Beading as an art form and cultural practice taught from one generation to another as well as across lines of kinship is also central to the exhibition. Other works are reflective of creative means of living and making within the context of daily life, and are produced using found objects, or through processes such as recycling fabric from worn clothing into functional quilts. Garment-making is variously the subject or form of works that use textiles, beadwork or embroidery. Works in animation, video, sound, ceramics, painting, and sculpture are presented alongside performing objects and a children’s book reimagined as a mural.

Elliptical Lineages invites viewers to consider relationships between kinship, creative practice, and its exchange.

Elliptical Lineages
Walter Phillips Gallery at Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity
107 Tunnel Mtn Drive, Banff
June 7 to September 7, 2025
FREE
Hours: Wednesday to Sunday, 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Join us for two upcoming events celebrating Elliptical Lineages:

Public Reception
Walter Phillips Gallery at Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity
June 27, 2025, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Public Reception followed by performance at CLVB ’33 by Ghostkeeper at 9 p.m.

Artist Discussion
Max Bell Auditorium at Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity
June 28, 2025, 3 p.m.

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Elliptical Lineages is made possible through the generous support of the Canada Council for the Arts, Alberta Foundation for the Arts, Government of Canada and Government of Alberta.

To find out more about Walter Phillips Gallery exhibitions and events, please visit banffcentre.ca/walter-phillips-gallery. For more information on Banff Centre’s Visual Arts training and development opportunities, visit banffcentre.ca/visual-arts.

Interviews are available with:

Jacqueline Bell - Director, Walter Phillips Gallery and Collections at Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity
Josephine Ridge - Executive Director, Arts at Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity
Interviews with artists may be available upon request

For photos, information or interview requests, please contact:

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

About Walter Phillips Gallery

Walter Phillips Gallery is exclusively committed to the production, presentation, collection and analysis of contemporary art and curatorial practice. For contemporary artists, particularly those engaged in alternative forms of practice, Walter Phillips Gallery remains an essential and principal site where art is presented to an audience for critical reception. banffcentre.ca/walter-phillips-gallery

Media Release

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BANFF, AB, June 11, 2025 – Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity is pleased to welcome internationally renowned dance artist, educator, and community leader Santee Smith as well as finance, governance, and tech start-up leader and arts supporter Françoise E. Lyon to the Board of Governors.

Santee Smith, Tekaronhiáhkhwa (Picking Up the Sky), is a renowned multidisciplinary artist and cultural leader from the Kahnyen’kehàka (Mohawk) Nation in Ohswé:ken/Six Nations of the Grand River. Internationally recognized for her visionary contributions to dance and Indigenous performance, by weaving ancestral knowledge systems with contemporary practice to create transformative works rooted in identity, land, humanity, and our shared responsibility to the natural world. She trained at Canada’s National Ballet School and holds degrees in Physical Education, Psychology from McMaster University and a Master’s in Dance from York University. A Member of the Order of Canada, she serves as the 19th Chancellor of McMaster University.

As the founder and Artistic Director of Kaha:wi Dance Theatre, Smith creates, produces and tours numerous works and advances Indigenous methodologies through land-based and creativity research, international collaborations, cultural exchange and vitalization. A sought-after collaborator, speaker, teacher and mentor. Santee continues to inspire as an artist, leader, and cultural visionary.

Since 1996, Smith has been a foundational artist at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity through Indigenous Arts, Dance, and Theatre departments.

Quotation

“Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity has been a powerful place of artistic growth and cultural affirmation. It’s where my creative voice as an artist has been deeply nurtured. I’m honoured to continue this relationship from being a creator, faculty, and now as a member of the Board of Governors. I look forward to helping support and shape a future where the arts, creativity and Indigenous perspectives thrive.”

Source

Santee Smith

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Lyon’s career has spanned senior executive roles in Canada’s investment and wealth management sectors including leadership roles on numerous boards. She is currently an advisor to California-based VC fund Starshot Capital and serves on the boards of Innovobot (Montréal), Crown Aviation (Toronto) and Investment Committee of Financières des professionnelles (Montréal). She also supports a leading Canadian human capital consulting firm as a senior strategic advisor.

Lyon recently completed her term as Chair of the Board of Trustees of the National Gallery of Canada (2017–2024) and previously served on the Montréal Museum of Fine Arts Foundation Board (2013–2017)—experiences that deepened her belief in the transformative power of art. Her contributions to women’s financial literacy have earned her national recognition, including the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2013. She’s been named one of Québec’s Top 8 Women in Finance (Premières en Affaires Magazine) and one of the Top 100 Women Leaders to Watch (Entreprendre Magazine).

Quotation

“Banff Centre is one of our vital arts and leadership organizations in Canada. I’m honoured to be part of its next chapter supporting the power of creativity in so many forms, from the studio to the concert hall to the boardroom. This team of Board Governors and executive leadership is building towards an inspiring future.”

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Françoise E. Lyon

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Smith and Lyon join six public Governors appointed by the Government of Alberta, announced in April 2024: Board Chair Paul Baay, Brinna Brinkerhoff, Lori Paine, Naomi Schmold, Pinder Sandhu, and Myron Tétreault. In June 2024,it was announced that Ron Hallman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Parks Canada, was returning to Banff Centre as a governor nominated by the federal minister responsible for the National Parks Act. Hallman joins President & CEO Chris Lorway inrounding out the current Board of Governors.

Quotation

“It is my pleasure to welcome Santee and Françoise to the Board of Governors. They both bring a wealth of invaluable expertise and perspectives to the Board, from art, to governance, to community building, to innovation."

Source

Paul Baay, Chair of the Banff Centre Board of Governors

Quotation

“Santee and Françoise are two exciting additions to our Board of Governors. Santee is a perfect example of someone who knows and understands Banff Centre’s past as a participant and its present as faculty and a close community member. And Françoise’s previous arts board experience coupled with her knack for fostering a new generation of business leaders ensures she will not only govern responsibly, but deeply understand what we do here at Banff Centre. I can’t wait to see how they add to our future as we march toward our 100th anniversary in 2033.”

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President and CEO Chris Lorway

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Quick Facts:

Banff Centre is a public, board-governed post-secondary institution specializing in arts and culture. The Board of Governors of The Banff Centre consists of:

• a board chair appointed by government

• the president of Banff Centre

• five public members appointed by government

• nine members appointed by the board, including one board-appointed member nominated to the board by the federal minister responsible for the National Parks Act

For more information on Banff Centre’s Board of Governors, visit banffcentre.ca/banff-centre- board-governors.

For photos, information, or interview requests, please contact:

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

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

Image Credit:
Santee Smith. Photo by Make Emarthle.
Françoise E. Lyon.

Article Tags

Banff Centre Press

Media Release

Description

Join us at CLVB ’33 for the official afterparty following the world premiere of The Handmaid’s Tale chamber opera—a night to celebrate, let go, and move together to the sound of one of Calgary’s underground legends: DJ Rob Faust (Calgary / Sweet Loretta).

A staple of Calgary’s nightlife scene, Rob Faust is known for his disco-powered, funk-fuelled sets that channel the energy of a 1970s New York loft party. With residencies at iconic venues like The Embassy, Night Gallery, and Bamboo, and his current Friday nights at Sweet Loretta, Faust brings decades of experience, deep musical knowledge, and undeniable groove to every set. Expect a genre-blurring mix of house, jazz, rare groove, hip hop, and his signature funk-infused disco—curated to keep you on the dance floor and “on the one.”

Whether you’re coming straight from the opera or diving straight into the night, this CLVB ’33 set is your invitation to experience the unexpected.

About CLVB ’33
From intimate open mics to lively piano bars, cabarets, and jazz jams, these informal events invite you to experience the unexpected. Whether you're here to perform or take it all in, each night offers something unique, sparked by improvisation, storytelling, and genuine connection. Grab a drink, find your seat—or your groove—and settle in for an evening where anything can happen.

Music & Opera

CLVB '33

Banff Centre Summer Arts Festival

DJ Rob Faust standing against palm tree pattern wall paper

Page Summary

Disco, funk, and deep groove from Calgary nightlife legend DJ Rob Faust. Join us for the official Handmaid’s Tale afterparty!

Exhibition

Free

Yes

Donation

Off

Banff Centre Artist/Practicum/Staff Only

Off

Licensed

Age Restrictions

This event is 18+. Please bring valid ID, as proof of age may be requested at the door.

Event Tags

Club

Performance Date

Date

Saturday, July 26, 2025 - 22:00

Extra Description

Doors open at 9:30 PM

Location

CLVB '33

Expandable Content

Biography

Rob Faust is a Calgary underground nightlife staple, renowned for his disco-powered, funk-fuelled residencies at The Embassy, Night Gallery, Hifi Club, Bamboo Tiki Room, and Republik. Currently, he can be found at Sweet Loretta on Fridays.

Driven by a passion for music that’s deeply rooted in his love for jazz and funk. He started playing with other like-minded DJs, Sideshow Sid, Al Testa, Jean Francois Raymond, DJWah, DJEWEL, DJ Rice. He developed and produced legendary nights, including the 10-year Friday night of “FLASHLIGHT” and his 16-year run at “MOJO” (Saturday at Bamboo), both of which drew inspiration from the vibrant nightlife scene of his imaginary New York loft party theme, circa 1974.

Rob has carved out a niche blending various musical genres, including house, breaks, and hip hop, with his signature disco, funk-themed evenings. His sets are characterized by infectious energy, driving beats and curated tracks that keep everyone “on the one.’

Beyond performance and nightclub residencies, Rob Faust can also be found on CJSW, hosting The Electric Company on Fridays from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. It's there that he showcases his broader musical range, blending rare groove, jazz, house and broken beat into a weekly hour of beats and pieces.

Whether behind the decks in a busy nightclub or on air at CJSW, Rob Faust continues to push musical boundaries to captivate audiences with his passion for music.

His journey as a DJ in Calgary reflects a relentless pursuit of a different kind of good time and a commitment to sharing his love for music and the community it can build

Description

Pull up a chair, order your favourite drink, and ease into the night with live piano music in an intimate, cabaret-style setting. Whether it's timeless classics, unexpected covers, or original tunes, Piano Bar Night brings you up close with artists who know how to move a room—sometimes with a whisper, sometimes with a full-on singalong.

No two nights are the same. Expect surprises, spontaneous requests, and maybe even a few stories behind the songs..

About CLVB ’33
From intimate open mics to lively piano bars, cabarets, and jazz jams, these informal events invite you to experience the unexpected. Whether you're here to perform or take it all in, each night offers something unique, sparked by improvisation, storytelling, and genuine connection. Grab a drink, find your seat, and settle in for an evening where anything can happen.

Music & Opera

CLVB '33

Banff Centre Summer Arts Festival