Tough Turkey in the Big City
May
4
1:00 PM13:00

Tough Turkey in the Big City

What happens when a turkey from the sticks meets a Park Avenue pigeon? With the feel of an old-time radio show, Tough Turkey in the Big City follows the comic blunders of Tom Turkey, who leaves the farm to try his luck in the big city. There’s a close call with a menacing chef, a tussle at the Turkey Club, a brief romance with a pigeon, and a happy mix-up at the Thanksgiving Day parade. The story is brought to life by some of Calgary’s finest musicians and the puppet wizardry of Green Fools Theatre Company.  

Recommended for children aged 5 to 12 but created with the entire family in mind.

Sunday, May 4, 2025 – 1:00 PM and 3:30 PM

The University of Calgary Rozsa Centre: Eckhardt-Gramatté Hall

Adults $20 • Children/Students/Seniors $15

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High River Gift of Music:  Inspired by the Land
Mar
8
2:00 PM14:00

High River Gift of Music: Inspired by the Land

Inspired by the Land - A cross-cultural musical storytelling experience

Come join musician/storytellers Samantha Whelan Kotkas (trumpet) and Juno nominated Walter White Bear (courting flute/guitar/drum) on Saturday, March 8 for an unforgettable journey through stories, music, and cross-cultural sharing. Inspired by the land, water, and sky, this interactive performance blends Indigenous and Classical musical traditions, bringing nature’s beauty to life through melody and imagination.

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Girls in Brass
Mar
1
to Mar 2

Girls in Brass

  • Univeristy of Calgary (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Celebrating Girls in Brass 2025 is an event designed to inspire girls ages 14-18 to develop as brass players and possibly pursue careers in music. A number of extremely accomplished women from the Calgary music scene will educate the participants about a variety of work as performing musicians, music teachers, composing and conducting. We aim to help the next generation of Calgarian musicians take the next step toward a career of their choosing by connecting them with the women who have paved the way.

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The Sky Speaks to Me - Residency at Balmoral School
Feb
10
to Feb 27

The Sky Speaks to Me - Residency at Balmoral School

What do you see when you look up at the sky? Join Samantha and Walter as they guide your students on a journey through space, blending science, music, and poetry. Using breathtaking images from the James Webb Telescope and the powerful poetry of Chief Dan George, this residency explores the wonders of the cosmos through both Indigenous ways of knowing and modern astronomy.

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Handel's Messiah
Dec
15
7:30 PM19:30

Handel's Messiah

Handel’s Messiah has been a Christmas season staple for nearly three centuries. Find out why as Juno-winning Rosa Barocca and Early Music Voices bring this masterpiece to Red Deer for the first time since 2018. With choir, orchestra, and a big “Hallelujah”, this concert will be a holiday hit!

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Handel's Messiah
Dec
14
7:00 PM19:00

Handel's Messiah

Rosa Barocca’s mission is to present Alberta audiences with historically informed performances of Baroque music using period instruments to capture the spirit, stylistic approach and distinctive sound of that glorious musical era. Newly minted and comprised of musicians from across Canada, the ensemble had its debut in November 2016 with two greatly acclaimed performances of Purcell’s “Hail! Bright Cecilia” in Calgary and Red Deer under their Artistic Director Claude Lapalme. Since then, Rosa has performed more than a dozen concerts in collaboration with VoiceScapes, Luminous Voices and Spiritus Chamber Choir as well a concerts presented by Early Music Voices and the Red Deer Symphony; and with acclaimed artists such as Benjamin Butterfield, Andrew Mahon and Elinor Frey.

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Handel's Messiah
Dec
13
7:30 PM19:30

Handel's Messiah

Every other year, Early Music Voices presents a full performance of Handel’s Messiah with guest soloists, Rosa Barocca and an outstanding small professional choir all led by Claude Lapalme. Our interpretation of this marvellous work with baroque instruments is not to be missed!

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Altius Brass - Christmas Stories
Dec
1
7:00 PM19:00

Altius Brass - Christmas Stories

Altius Brass represents a unique collaboration of professional performers on brass and percussion instruments. Based in Calgary, Alberta, this eighteen-member ensemble under the musical direction of Mark Lennon, brings together musicians with a stimulating mixture of backgrounds, including professional orchestral performers from the Red Deer Symphony Orchestra, some of Calgary’s finest freelance performers, and instructors from Calgary’s public and separate school boards. All of these performers are united in their goal of exploring and expanding the musical repertoire for large brass ensemble, while continuing to increase the audience for such music.

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Calgary Bach Society - Baroque Treasures
Nov
17
3:00 PM15:00

Calgary Bach Society - Baroque Treasures

Telemann - Latin Magnificat in C

JS Bach - Cantatas 137, 140 & 147 (excerpts)

JS Bach - Dona nobis pacem

Mozart - Regina coeli, KV 276​

With Guest Chorus:

UCalgary Concert Choir

Kathryn Parrotta, Director

​Calgary Bach Choir and Chamber Orchestra

Terry Edwards, Artistic Director​

Adult: $30

Senior: $25

Student over 18: $10

Student under 18: Free

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International Teaching Artist Conference 2024 - Auckland New Zealand
Sep
5
to Sep 7

International Teaching Artist Conference 2024 - Auckland New Zealand

  • Univeristy of Auckland New Zealand (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Samantha and Walter White Bear will be presenting at the seventh International Teaching Artist Conference in Auckland, New Zealand. This conference is hosted by ITAC’s New Zealand Hub: the Centre for Arts and Social Transformation (CAST) at Waipapa Taumata Rau | University of Auckland.

We will be coming together as artists and using our creative powers to make a positive impact in our communities, schools, and beyond. ITAC7 will be the place to be for international networking, professional development, partnership building, knowledge exchanges, and more. We are very excited to take part in this amazing event.

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Music + Explorers
Jun
6
9:00 AM09:00

Music + Explorers

In partnership with the Red Deer Symphony Orchestra and the National Arts Centre, Walter White Bear (guitar/flute/drum), and Samantha Whelan Kotkas (trumpet/flugelhorn/piccolo trumpet) will be presenting their musical workshop ‘Inspired by the Land’ in select schools in Central Alberta.

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ReconciliACTION - Professional Development Workshop
May
31
1:00 PM13:00

ReconciliACTION - Professional Development Workshop

Cross-curricular teaching artist duo, Walter White Bear and Samantha Whelan Kotkas, guide educators through their indigenous and cross-cultural approach to music.  Walter and Samantha share their experiences of bringing a cross-cultural mentality and philosophy to Alberta classrooms and answer any and all questions about how to be part of reconciliation at this time in Canada.

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Arts ReimaginED In-Classroom workshops
May
30
8:30 AM08:30

Arts ReimaginED In-Classroom workshops

What if we used artmaking to learn about others and the world around us? What if we allowed students to make and create, and then take it out into the world to share? What if students lingered in the process of art making to discover instead of making a product?

This May, Arts Commons is sending local teaching artists to Calgary schools for 135+ workshops to activate the imagination and inspire curiosities – for FREE! 

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Music + Explorers
May
7
11:00 AM11:00

Music + Explorers

In partnership with the Red Deer Symphony Orchestra and the National Arts Centre, Naomi Delafield (violin), Walter White Bear (guitar/flute/drum), and Samantha Whelan Kotkas (trumpet/flugelhorn/piccolo trumpet) will be presenting their musical workshop ‘Inspired by the Land’ in select schools in Central Alberta.

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May the Fourth Be With You
May
4
7:30 PM19:30

May the Fourth Be With You

  • Red Deer Polytechnic Arts Centre (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

If you don’t recognize this concert title, you’ll still recognize the music. From Star Wars to Schindler’s List, Jaws to Jurassic Park, composer John Williams is the musical mastermind behind them all, and the RDSO is thrilled to present his greatest hits - live! With an epic orchestra and spectacular scores, there’s no better way to wrap up this standout season. May the Fourth be with you!

May The Fourth Be With You is sponsored by ATB Wealth.

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“MORE ROCKY MOUNTAIN FAIRY TALES”
Apr
28
1:00 PM13:00

“MORE ROCKY MOUNTAIN FAIRY TALES”

  • University of Calgary - Rozsa Centre - Eckhardt-Gramatte Hall (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Shows at 1:00pm and 3:30pm. Come and enjoy an afternoon listening to stories and some of Canada’s finest musicians. Storyteller/Musician Samantha Whelan Kotkas and her friends will entertain you and your children with musical interactive tales of child-accessible hikes in the Rocky Mountains. Teach your child about courage, unity, joyfulness, and caring in an afternoon of fun and adventure. An event for the whole family that you will want to be a part of. 

Recommended for children aged 5 to 12, but created with the entire family in mind.

Come one hour before the show & enjoy family friendly activities. Stay after to meet the performers.

Tyler Hornby - Drums, Chris Andrew - Piano, Pat Belliveau - Saxophones, Aaron Shore - Guitar, Stephen Shepard - Bass

$15 adults/ $12 students/children/seniors

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Mozart Requiem with Luminous Voices
Mar
29
7:30 PM19:30

Mozart Requiem with Luminous Voices

Hear a special performance of Mozart’s Requiem, reminiscent of our first performance in the Bella Concert Hall in 2015. The program will also feature works both accompanied and unaccompanied by Andrew Balfour, Owain Park, Jeffrey Ryan and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Our performance proudly features soloists who are all long-time members of Luminous Voices.

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Native Awareness Training
Feb
12
9:00 AM09:00

Native Awareness Training

NATIVE AWARENESS TRAINING

LIMITED to 20 Participants

WHO: White Bear Services.

Facilitators: Walter MacDonald White Bear and Samantha Whelan Kotkas

WHAT: Native Awareness Training

WHERE: # Arts Commons, 205 8 Ave SE, Calgary, AB T2G 0K9

Arts Learning Center Room

When: Feb 12-2024, 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.

Why: To meet the accreditation requirements for staff that work with Native people in social services and correctional services, or to expand your knowledge!!

HOW: COST-FREE!! rainsky44@yahoo.ca or TXT 403-714-2398

PLEASE NOTE:

The session will be Videotaped for promotional purposes. Waivers are to be signed

SO YOU ARE AGREEING TO BE FILMED

No audio will be used for the session. But optional brief interview at end of day

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The Wheel of Life: Music and Storytelling
Jan
20
1:00 PM13:00

The Wheel of Life: Music and Storytelling

The Wheel of Life: Music and Storytelling

Join Walter White Bear and Samantha Whelan Kotkas for an afternoon of sharing stories, songs, and cross-cultural sharing.

Inspired by the land, water, and sky, Canadian cross-cultural musician/teaching artist duo Walter White Bear and Samantha Whelan Kotkas use the arts to reconnect people with nature.

Told in a theatrical and engaging style for all ages.

Located in the Inspiration Stage.

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Vic Lewis Band Festival
Nov
3
to Nov 5

Vic Lewis Band Festival

The biggest high school band festival in Alberta!

This November, the Rockies come alive with the sound of music, as concert and jazz band members strike up the bands! The Vic Lewis International Band Festival is a three-day, non-competitive event for junior high and high school bands, who arrive in Canmore for a weekend of learning, with instruction delivered by an international faculty of top-tier professional musicians and educators.

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