Kate Melvina is a singer/pianist/composer and the brainchild behind psychedelic/space funk/soul/jazz collective Tendavillage, whose reach has amassed a loyal global fanbase. Kate has well-established herself in the Calgary music scene as prominent performer from piano lounges to high-profile events, festivals and residencies.

Ben Montgomery is a Scottish-born drummer, who holds several music degrees. Ben has toured Europe and Canada, performed with orchestras for several musicals and toured the globe as a drummer on many Carnival Cruise Ship contacts. Most recently he performed with Annerin Productions’ & the National Music Centre’s Rock The Nation.

Lisa Jacobs plays several instruments but declares the bass guitar her most beloved. Lisa has written, performed and toured with a of variety artists including Jocelyn Alice, Jann Arden, Johnny Reid and Kyle McKearney. She has a gold record, was awarded CCMA Bassist of the Year at this year’s Canadian Country Music Awards and has a degree in music therapy.

Matty McKay is a multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, producer, and engineer. He and the projects he has been involved with (including several #1 hit songs), have been nominated for multiple Canadian Country Music and JUNO Awards. Matt is a 5-time CCMA Guitar Player of the Year (and 2024 CCMA Pedal Steel Player of the Year) and has been inducted into the Canadian Country Music Awards’ Musician Hall of Honour.

Meg is a 27-year-old artist, contemporary dancer, Special Olympic gold medal-winning figure skater, rhythmic gymnast, and model who happens to have Down syndrome. A natural performer, she has shared the ice with figure skating legends and competed on international stages in Los Angeles, Austria, and Korea. As a member of the National accessArts Centre (NaAC) Dance Ensemble, Meg also modeled for the Radical Beauty Project, an initiative challenging conventional standards of beauty in contemporary culture. In January 2024, Meg traveled to Montreal to perform in ICONIC, an artist-led production at Tangente Danse. Supported by the National Arts Centre Creation Fund, this production will evolve into ICONIC+, premiering in Calgary in 2025. In October, Meg will travel to Seoul, Korea, to present a co-created work alongside her fellow NaAC Dance Ensemble members in collaboration with Seoul-based collective Project YYIN at the Seoul Performing Arts Festival.

The National accessArts Centre (NaAC) is Canada’s largest and oldest multidisciplinary disability arts organization, founded in 1975 and redefined in 2020 through the merger of In-Definite Arts Society, Momo Movement, and Artistic Expressions. With studios in Calgary and the Won Lee Community Arts Hub in Toronto, the NaAC empowers over 300 artists with developmental, physical, and acquired disabilities, providing transformative opportunities for artistic expression across visual, performing and digital arts. To find out more visit accessarts.ca.

In 2024 Calgary Arts Development hosted four dinners in four high schools to deepen relations between Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists, educators, students, and community members. The series is called Aisinna’kiiks, a Blackfoot word meaning those who make their mark. After getting to know these schools, we asked them if they might bring together their school choirs to collaborate on a piece for Celebration for the Arts. This is a beautiful example of how music can bring young people together to express love, hope and kinship.

The Bowness High School Choir, under the the musical leadership of Keith Krushel is a dynamic and vibrant group of young musicians taken from grades 10, 11 and 12. This group is highly involved in through singing regularly in performances for their school community as well as traveling abroad to participate in festivals and performance opportunities. They value the connections made through singing and making music together with each other as well as others in the CBE, The City of Calgary and beyond. Through incredible community collaboration events like tonight, these students find the inspiration to share their love of music and singing.

The Joane Cardinal-Schubert Concert Choir, under the direction of Heidi Wood is a non-auditioned class made up of students in grades 10-12 that meet two mornings a week before school.  They enjoy making music together and learning the basics of choral singing and repertoire through performance.  The JCS Concert Choir is a consistent Gold and Platinum award recipient at festivals and in 2022 were recognized as the Adjudicators Choice at the Edmonton Cantando Festival and won Best Live Performance in Canada’s Top Choirs.  They are so happy to be singing together with the choirs from Bowness, Pearson, and North Trail High Schools, and sharing the evening with such inspiring folks celebrating the arts in Calgary.

The Lester B. Pearson High School Concert Choir under the direction of Kathryn Riben is a joy-filled ensemble of grade 10, 11, and 12 students who meet to make music twice each week. They perform an eclectic assortment of repertoire ranging from madrigals to musical theatre, and pretty much everything in between. They are excited to be joining voices with several other high school choirs to perform on the stage of the Jack Singer Concert Hall in a wonderful Celebration for the Arts!

The North Trail High School Concert Choir is a new ensemble of talented students dedicated to musical excellence and community spirit. Formed this year, the choir brings together diverse voices from across the school to learn, create, and explore. Under the direction of Ms. Kathleen Ahenda, the group explores a wide range of genres, from classical to contemporary. The choir not only focuses on vocal technique and performance skills but also emphasizes teamwork, leadership, and personal growth. With a commitment to both local and regional performances, the NTHS Concert Choir aims to inspire and uplift audiences while fostering a deep appreciation for the arts.

Woezo Africa Music & Dance Theatre Inc. is a multi-award-winning performing arts organization based in Moh’kinstsis (Calgary). Founded in 2006, the name Woezo Africa, which means “welcome to the land of perfection,” highlights the organization’s desire to bring unique opportunities to evolve the cultural landscape thorugh a multidisciplinary approach that blends African music, dance, theatre, and storytelling.

The multidisciplinary organization provides artistic training, school-based artist residencies, event creation, and presentation opportunities for African, Caribbean and Black artists. Under the leadership of Woezo Africa’s Founder and Director, Wunmi Idowu the organization is recognized globally as a leading performing arts organization, with a team of skilled award-winning dancers and choreographers.

Tonight’s performance is a riveting African dance presentation from Nigeria, Ghana and Democratic Republic of the Congo that was choreographed by Ajay Musodi, Mpoe Mogale and Wunmi Idowu.

Photo Credit:  Motif Photography

Known for her distinct retro style and quirky sense of humor, Country Music Alberta’s two-time Female Artist of the Year, Mariya Stokes, is set to release her debut album in 2025, with singles rolling out throughout 2024. Produced by Juno Award-winners Spencer Cheyne and Justin Kudding, the album reflects her roots: honest country lyrics seamlessly blended with pop melodies. Stokes garnered national recognition this year as a semifinalist in SiriusXM’s Top of the Country, in partnership with the Canadian Country Music Association.

Hello, Bonjour! Tea Fannie doesn’t actually speak French but she is Canadian to the fullest. Her name may be complicated to spell, but she says to take it up with her mother. This Alberta rapper started off her music career in Treaty 6/edmonton and moved around a lot (her father served). 4 provinces, 9 cities but she calls Mohkinstsis/calgary home! She grew up listening to Kenny Rogers and Whitney Houston, no typo, and by the time she was old enough to choose her own ear vibes she was into Green Day and Nas. Her music style reflects that in a random way especially because she listens to music for lyrical content over beats which is kind of different in this day and age. Her music is heavily lyrical as well and she wants people to go back and listen to it again like: “did she just say…???” 

Photo Credit: Gracious Chaos Photography

Vocalist Zoe Theodorou has performed around the world including residencies in China, Sri Lanka, most recently in Germany. Her vocals have been featured on various commercials and jingles for radio and television and she was chosen to be on the fourth season of the popular award/winning reality show Taking It Off. Her first album, Essence of Life, garnered her a Canadian Gospel Music Award (Covenant Award).

Most recently Zoe has been a featured vocalist in Rock the Nation, a retrospective of Canadian music from the 1950s to today, which has just ended a successful run at the National Music Centre in Calgary.