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Post-post-modern diva Meow Meow has hypnotized, inspired, and terrified audiences globally with unique creations and sell-out seasons from New York’s Lincoln Center and Berlin’s Bar Jeder Vernunft to London’s West End and the Sydney Opera House. Named one of the “Top Performers of the Year” by The New Yorker, the spectacular crowd-surfing tragi-comedienne has been called “sensational” (The Times, UK), a “diva of the highest order” (New York Post), “The Queen of Chanson” (Berliner Zeitung), and “a phenomenon” by the Australian press. Her award-winning solo works have been curated by David Bowie, Pina Bausch, Mikhail Baryshnikov and numerous international arts festivals.  

As well as being a prolific original music, theatre and dance-theatre creator, Meow Meow specializes in the Weimar repertoire and French chanson. She has played Jenny in Weill’s Threepenny Opera in Paris and London with the London Philharmonic and Anna 1 and 2 in Weill's Seven Deadly Sins with Orchestra Victoria, as well as numerous Weimar works with Sydney Symphony Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, Oregon Symphony, the Australian Chamber Orchestra and the Bergen Philharmonic.  

Meow Meow’s albums with frequent collaborators, composer Iain Grandage and the Wild Dog Orchestra, include Vamp, Songs from a Little Match Girl, and Mermaid (with the Siren Effect Orchestra). Her latest album, Hotel Amour, recorded with Thomas M. Lauderdale of Pink Martini, features duets with Rufus Wainwright, the late Michel Legrand, and The Von Trapps as well as original songs written by Lauderdale and Meow Meow, performed with members of Pink Martini and the Oregon Symphony.  

Facebook (meowmeowrevolution) 

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Twitter (@MeowTopia) 

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Photo of Sharon O'Sullivan
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BANFF, AB, September 2, 2026 – Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity is excited to announce Sharon O’Sullivan as the newest member of The Banff Centre Foundation Board of Directors for a three-year term, beginning June 11, 2026 and ending June 10, 2029.

O’Sullivan joins the board with more than 20 years of experience in financial services, including senior leadership roles spanning strategy, technology, governance, risk management, and innovation. She also brings a broad perspective on building partnerships and creating lasting impact across industry, academia, government, startups, and community-based organizations.

O’Sullivan is Head of Technology Research & Innovation at BMO Financial Group, where she leads enterprise mandates in tech innovation and ecosystem development, advancing emerging technology adoption, new market exploration, and cross-border partnerships globally. She also serves on university and innovation advisory boards and is an active mentor and investor in early-stage deep tech ventures.

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In a time of rapid technological and societal change, the ideas that shape the future rarely emerge from a single discipline. Banff Centre brings together creativity, leadership, and diverse perspectives in ways that inspire new possibilities for culture, community, and society. I am honoured to support its next chapter and its continued impact in the Bow Valley, across Canada, and internationally.

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Sharon O’Sullivan, member of the Banff Centre Foundation
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Recently relocated to Bow Valley after more than two decades in the Greater Toronto Area, O’Sullivan is committed to contributing to and strengthening the community she now calls home. Her work focuses on building partnerships, strengthening institutions, and enabling lasting economic, social, and community impact.

O’Sullivan holds Executive MBA degrees from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto and SDA Bocconi School of Management in Milan.

The Banff Centre Foundation plays a vital role in supporting the long-term sustainability of Banff Centre and advancing Banff Centre’s mission to bring artists, leaders, and communities together to create, collaborate, share, envision, learn, and be inspired. Guided by the Golden Rule of Endowment Management, the Foundation manages and stewards its endowed funds with transparency, accountability, and fiscal prudence.

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See Banff Centre’s Media Room here.

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

Banff Centre
107 Tunnel Mountain Drive
Banff, Alberta
Canada
T1L 1H5
403.762.6100
www.banffcentre.ca

We recognize, with deep respect and gratitude, our home on the side of Sacred Buffalo Guardian Mountain. In the spirit of respect and truth, we honour and acknowledge the Banff area, known as “Minihrpa” (translated in Stoney Nakoda as “the waterfalls”) and the Treaty 7 territory and oral practices of the Îyârhe Nakoda (Stoney Nakoda) – comprised of the Bearspaw, Chiniki, and Goodstoney Nations – as well as the Tsuut’ina First Nation and the Blackfoot Confederacy comprised of the Siksika, Piikani, and Kainai. We acknowledge that this territory is home to the Shuswap Nations, Ktunaxa Nations, and Métis Nation of Alberta, Rockyview District 4. We acknowledge all Nations who live, work, and play here, help us steward this land, and honour and celebrate this place.

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Christopher Stowell and Chris Lorway, photo by Rita Taylor.

Christopher Stowell (left) and Chris Lorway (right), photo by Rita Taylor.

 

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The two foundational figures in Banff Centre’s dance program, and co-founders of what is now the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, represent a decades-long relationship between the two companies that continues this season with the Northern Lights Project. 

BANFF, AB, AUGUST 31, 2026 – Canada’s leading post-secondary institution dedicated to arts training and development, Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, is honouring two of the most influential figures in Canadian dance history by naming two studios after Gweneth Lloyd and Betty Farrally—the visionary leaders who helped establish Banff Centre's dance program and co-founded what would become the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. 

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The history of dance at Banff Centre is inseparable from the vision of Gweneth Lloyd and Betty Farrally. Their leadership helped establish foundations that continue to shape artists and audiences today. Naming these studios in their honour recognizes a remarkable legacy while inspiring future generations of artists who come here to create, learn, and collaborate.

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Chris Lorway, President and CEO of Banff Centre
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The naming was celebrated during the first Banff Centre residency as part of the Northern Lights Project, a national initiative led by the Royal Winnipeg Ballet in collaboration with the National Arts Centre, Banff Centre, and Fall for Dance North. Bringing together artists from across Canada to create new work that places ballet in conversation with diverse artistic disciplines and creative practices, the project reflects a shared commitment to innovation, collaboration, and supporting Canadian talent.

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The Royal Winnipeg Ballet and Banff Centre share a deep commitment to nurturing artists and advancing the art form. It is especially meaningful to celebrate Gweneth Lloyd and Betty Farrally, whose vision and leadership helped establish both institutions as enduring homes for Canadian dance. As we look to the future through initiatives like the Northern Lights Project, we continue to build on the foundation they created for generations of Canadian dance artists.

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Christopher Stowell, Artistic Director of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet
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The connection between Banff Centre and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet stretches back nearly eight decades. Lloyd founded Banff Centre's first dance program in 1947, while Farrally joined the Banff School of Fine Arts in 1950 and went on to serve as a faculty member, mentor, and artistic leader for more than three decades. Together, they co-founded the Winnipeg Ballet Club and the Canadian School of Ballet, laying the foundation for today's Royal Winnipeg Ballet.  

The relationship between the two institutions extended beyond shared founders. Lloyd and Farrally used Banff Centre's summer ballet programs as a space to develop and experiment with new choreography, bringing ideas cultivated in Banff into full productions. Later, Arnold Spohr, Artistic Director of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet from 1958 to 1988, also led Banff Centre's summer dance program from 1968 to 1981, strengthening ties between the organizations while championing Canadian dancers and choreographers. For decades, Banff Centre also hosted Royal Winnipeg Ballet performances in Banff Centre’s Eric Harvie Theatre (now the Jenny Belzberg Theatre), creating a vibrant artistic exchange between the organizations.

In Banff this month, the Northern Lights Project began its interdisciplinary creation process led by Robert Binet, Artistic Director and co-CEO of Fall for Dance North. Participating artists include choreographers Esie Mensah, Alyssa Martin, and Charlie Skuy; sound designer Ben Sellick; sound artist and musician Ashley Au; playwright, director, and actor Debbie Patterson; designer Evan Ducharme; and musician Jason Burnstick. Together, they are developing an innovative model for ballet creation, one that places interdisciplinary collaboration at the heart of the creative process from the very beginning.  

Work developed during the residency will be shared in its first public iteration by the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, with the potential to continue evolving through future presentations in Winnipeg, Ottawa, and Toronto.

By recognizing Lloyd and Farrally while supporting the creation of new work through the Northern Lights Project, Banff Centre and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet are celebrating a shared history while investing in the future of Canadian dance. The newly named studios will stand as lasting reminders of two artists whose vision helped shape both institutions and whose influence continues to inspire creators today.

– 30 –

See Banff Centre’s Media Room here.

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

About the Royal Winnipeg Ballet

The Royal Winnipeg Ballet teaches, creates, and performs, enriching lives through the power of exceptional dance. With a legacy spanning more than 85 years, the RWB is recognized for its versatility, technical excellence, and commitment to artistic quality. Under the artistic leadership of Christopher Stowell, the Company continues to build on its classical foundation while presenting a wide range of works for audiences in Winnipeg and beyond. In addition to its renowned Company, the RWB is home to the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School, which includes the Professional Division, an internationally acclaimed training ground for aspiring professional dancers and educators, and the Recreational Division, Winnipeg’s largest dance school, welcoming students of all ages, levels, and interests. www.rwb.org 

Fall for Dance North

Fall for Dance North invites Toronto to fall in love with dance through their annual international festival that makes extraordinary performances affordable. The festival connects audiences with the artists who move Toronto, as well as exceptional dancers and choreographers from around the world. Through the power of dance, they celebrate human expression, foster community and connection, and reflect the cultural richness of their community. By stripping away signals of exclusivity and presenting it as an open, social experience that anyone can find and fall into, they aim to create new and accessible gateways to dance. www.ffdnorth.com
 

Banff Centre
107 Tunnel Mountain Drive
Banff, Alberta
Canada
T1L 1H5
403.762.6100
www.banffcentre.ca

We recognize, with deep respect and gratitude, our home on the side of Sacred Buffalo Guardian Mountain. In the spirit of respect and truth, we honour and acknowledge the Banff area, known as “Minihrpa” (translated in Stoney Nakoda as “the waterfalls”) and the Treaty 7 territory and oral practices of the Îyârhe Nakoda (Stoney Nakoda) – comprised of the Bearspaw, Chiniki, and Goodstoney Nations – as well as the Tsuut’ina First Nation and the Blackfoot Confederacy comprised of the Siksika, Piikani, and Kainai. We acknowledge that this territory is home to the Shuswap Nations, Ktunaxa Nations, and Métis Nation of Alberta, Rockyview District 4. We acknowledge all Nations who live, work, and play here, help us steward this land, and honour and celebrate this place.

Media Release
1

Submitted by Jeanclaude Katia on
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Miles Foxx Hill is a bassist, recording engineer, and composer. As an electric and acoustic bass player, he has worked with some of the world’s biggest music names including Van Morrison, Michael Buble, Chad Kroeger of Nickleback and the Brazilian jazz superstar Ivan Lins. Miles is known for his profound sense of time, unique arrangements and diverse musical styles. He has played on over 600 recordings that cover the musical spectrum, from jazz, funk, and tango to country and rock. 

Bass

Submitted by Carla Snow via… on
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Hailed for his "uncommon sensitivity and feeling" (The New York Times), Roman Rabinovich is a pianist of profound musical insight, celebrated for interpretations that combine technical brilliance with bold artistic personality. Winner of the 12th Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Master Competition, he has appeared on major stages across Europe and the U.S.

He has garnered acclaim for concerto performances collaborating with leading orchestras and conductors worldwide, including the Israel Philharmonic, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Orchestre de Chambre de Paris, Prague Symphony, KBS Symphony, and all major Israeli orchestras. In North America, he has appeared with the Seattle Symphony, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Buffalo Philharmonic, Sarasota Orchestra, Calgary Philharmonic, and Edmonton Symphony.

2026-27 season include concerto performances with Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine, Jacksonville Symphony, Sheboygan Symphony, Mississauga Symphony, Harmonium of Texas and Idaho Falls Symphony.

In the 2027–28 season, Rabinovich will embark on a complete cycle of Beethoven's piano sonatas, with full cycles in the US, Canada, and Israel. His recital repertoire spans six centuries, from Byrd to Boulez, with a recent focus on Bach's Goldberg Variations. His recital for Mezzo was televised to 39 countries, reaching millions of viewers.

An avid chamber musician, he has appeared at major festivals including Marlboro, La Jolla SummerFest, Klavier Festival Ruhr, Lucerne, Davos, Prague Spring, Dvorak Prague and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

Born in Tashkent and raised in Israel, Rabinovich debuted with the Israel Philharmonic under Zubin Mehta at age 10. A graduate of the Curtis Institute (Seymour Lipkin) and Juilliard (Robert McDonald), he was among the first three pianists selected by Sir András Schiff for his Building Bridges series. He is co-artistic director of ChamberFest Cleveland and ChamberFest West in Calgary, creating adventurous programs that spark conversation, foster connection, and enrich the communal experience of music.

Pianist

Submitted by Dolson Rhona on
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Rob has worked professionally in theatre and the wider performing and visual arts field for 20 years. His specialisation is at the intersection of technology and art, designing and implementing interactivity and control systems that can tell a story. He has an in-depth knowledge of lighting design, audio visual design, stage automation, computer programming and he regularly produces custom technical solutions for artists. Rob has worked extensively with Melbourne Theatre Company, Arts Centre Melbourne, Auckland Theatre Company, Lawrence Arabia, Taika Waititi, Sharing Stories Foundation, Opera Australia, The Australian Ballet, OPTO projects, Dancenorth, Lucy Guerin Inc and Stephanie Lake Company. 
 

Dolson Rhona
Technical Manager

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Nicole is a professional contemporary dance artist based in Melbourne. She trained full-time at Transit Dance where she completed her Certificate 4 in Dance, as well as her Diploma in Dance and Elite Performance. Nikky also went on to acquire her Certificate 4 in Dance Teaching and Training.  Since her studies, Nikky has been working professionally in the contemporary dance scene between Melbourne and Perth, and is Lead Rehearsal Director for Stephanie Lake Company’s Colossus. Nikky has taught and toured Colossus to London, South Korea, Switzerland, Geneva, Toronto, Montreal, Buenos Aires, Taipei, Hong Kong, Newcastle (Aus), Perth, Sydney, France and Germany.  Nikky also performed in the original season of Colossus in Melbourne. 

Nikky has been teaching dance for over a decade in many styles, as well as in choreography and technical development.

Dolson Rhona
Lead Rehearsal Director

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Emily O’Brien is a Risk, Safety and Crowd Consultant based in naarm (Melbourne). She has worked extensively across the fields of theatre, dance, cultural events, corporate events, live arts and festivals.

With a Master of Science in Crowd Safety & Risk Analysis from Manchester Metropolitan University (2022), a Master of Arts Management from the University of Melbourne (2012), an Advanced Diploma in Public Safety - Emergency Management (2019) and a Certified Practising Risk Manager (CRPM) qualification, combined with twenty-five years' experience as a practising Production and Risk Manager with First In Last Out, Emily is perfectly placed to assist clients in developing new risk, safety and project delivery ecologies. In addition to her work practice, she is the Chair of the Board of Platform Arts in Geelong and sits on the VAPAC Industry Development Initiative taskforce.

She has delivered production, event and operations management (inclusive of project-based risk and safety planning) for clients and projects including: All the Queens Men, All Tomorrow's Parties, Antony Hamilton, Arena Theatre Co, Auspicious Arts, BalletLAB, Black Lung Theatre & Whaling Co, Chamber Made, City of Darebin, City of Melbourne, City of Port Phillip, Collingwood Yards, Daniel Schlusser Ensemble, Dark Mofo, Feel Presents, Harvest Festival, Ilbijerri Theatre Company, Insite Arts, Jodee Mundy, Lucy Guerin Inc, Luke George, Madeleine Flynn & Tim Humphrey, Melbourne Festival, Melbourne Fringe, Melinda Hetzel & Co, MONA FOMA, Nat Cursio Co, Natalie Randall + Hissy Fit, Next Wave, Nicola Gunn, Peepshow Inc, Playking, Polyglot Theatre, Pony Express, Spinifex Gum, Stephanie Lake Company, Tamara Saulwick, The Other Art Fair, the Other Film Festival, The Substation, The Wheeler Centre, Token Events, White Night Melbourne and Yirramboi, among others.

Dolson Rhona
Production Manager

Submitted by Dolson Rhona on
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Sarah McCrorie is a freelance contemporary dancer with a passion for creative development, improvisation and live performance. Sarah has performed in various works such as Colossus (2018) by Stephanie Lake Company, ‘A study of Being’ (2019) by Kayla Douglas,  ‘Hard-Cover Ctrl’ (2022) by Victor Rottier, ‘Hysterics’ (2023) by Kayla Douglas, and MASS MOVEMENT by Stephanie Lake Company. Sarah has also worked extensively with choreographers such as Alice Topps, Lina Limosani, Cass Mortimer Eipers and Isaac Carols.

Beyond her performance work, Sarah has worked as a Rehearsal Director for Stephanie Lake Company’s internationally renowned work Colossus. Since 2019, Sarah has remounted and toured Colossus to Sydney, Paris, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Geneva, Montreal, Toronto, Brisbane, Dresden (Germany), London and Galway (Ireland).

Dolson Rhona
Rehearsal Director

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Multi award-winning Canadian singer-songwriter, pianist, CBC Music national radio host and 2026 GRAMMY Award nominee Laila Biali has headlined festivals and venues spanning five continents from New York City’s Carnegie Hall to Beijing’s National Centre for the Performing Arts, and supported international icon Sting. Her JUNO-nominated 2023 album, Your Requests, featured a stellar cast of guests and received a 4.5 star rave review in All About Jazz. Her previous release, Out of Dust, was also JUNO nominated (in 2021) and won Laila spots on “Best Album” lists around the globe. In 2020, Laila was honoured by SOCAN Music with the Hagood Hardy Award for Excellence in Songwriting. The previous year, Laila’s eponymous release won her a JUNO for “Vocal Jazz Album of the Year” and top prize at the Canadian Songwriting Competition in the Jazz category. Laila was the youngest-ever double winner at Canada’s National Jazz Awards when she was named “SOCAN Composer of the Year” and “Keyboardist of the Year”, and she received her first JUNO nomination for Tracing Light in 2011. When Laila isn’t on stage or in the studio, she’s busy hosting CBC Music’s national radio show, Saturday Night Jazz – a weekly program broadcast to millions of listeners across Canada. And while she continues to earn high honours in the jazz world, Laila’s signature sound transcends genre – “masterfully mixes jazz and pop, bringing virtuosity and unpredictability to songs that are concise and catchy” (Washington Post). Her highly anticipated seasonal album, Wintersongs, was nominated for a 2025 JUNO Award and a 2026 GRAMMY alongside heavyweights Lady Gaga, Barbra Streisand, Elton John & Brandi Carlile, Jennifer Hudson and Laufey.

“Masterfully mixes jazz and pop, bringing virtuosity and unpredictability to songs that are concise and catchy” – The Washington Post

“Biali’s voice – spanning registers – is pure and warm. She’s also fearless on piano and, above else, in her imagination.” – DownBeat Magazine

“There’s no boxing Laila Biali in … Capable of making you laugh and cry all at once.” – All About Jazz

“Biali provides the positive, come-together messaging we need in these challenging times.” – Parade Magazine

“… moving, inspiring, and life-affirming songs.” – SOCAN Music

singer-songwriter, pianist
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