What is an erhu? It’s an ancient two-stringed instrument, also known as a Chinese violin, with roots stretching back more than 1,000 years.
In this clip, Lemon of Calgary-based Canadian-Chinese ensemble The GCB (青蓝), tells us about the instrument's history, its distinctive construction, and the careful finger control it takes to bring it to life.
#NationalMusicCentre #StudioBell #AsianHeritageMonth #ChineseMusic #Erhu
Experience two days of Filipino-Canadian storytelling through film, music, and cultural performance. SineMa 2026 (@sinemayyc ) comes to Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre, this June. 🇵🇭 🎬
Here's what to check out:
🎥 June 19 — Opening Night: Kick off the festival with a red carpet, vibrant Cordillera music and dance from Northern Philippines, and the screening of Treasure of the Rice Terraces. The documentary traces one filmmaker's journey to reconnect with his roots through the ancient art of Kalinga tattooing.
🎬 June 20 — Local Shorts Block: Four documentary and narrative shorts exploring identity, belonging, migration, and home, featuring Assembly, The Boxing Ring, Roots to Table, and Nasaan.
Each screening is followed by a filmmaker Q&A.
🔗 Get your tickets at the link in our bio.
#NationalMusicCentre #StudioBell #YYCEvents #SineMa2026 #FilipinoCanadian #YYCFilm
On August 22, National Music Centre will present the @cbc rebroadcast of @thetragicallyhip – A National Celebration, the band’s 2016 farewell performance captured live in Kingston, Ontario.
Whether you're revisiting the emotional concert or discovering it for the first time, this is a night worth celebrating with Canadians from coast to coast to coast.
🔗 Get your tickets at the link in our bio.
#NationalMusicCentre #StudioBell #TragicallyHip #GordDownie #CanadianMusic #YYCEvents
Last Friday, Studio Bell came alive with the sounds and movement of Indian classical traditions. 🎶
TARANG, presented by the National Music Centre and @ragamalacalgary for Asian Heritage Month, made for an unforgettable evening of Hindustani music and dance.
Check out some of our favourite photos from the evening.
📸: @photography_design_video
#NationalMusicCentre #StudioBell #AsianHeritageMonth #TARANG #YYCEvents #YYCConcerts
"I felt really lucky to have been born in the same timeline as him." 🎶
@ronsexsmithmusic opens up about what Gordon Lightfoot meant to him, the hole his passing left, and why upholding the tradition of the singer-songwriter still matters deeply today.
#NationalMusicCentre #RonSexsmith #GordonLightfoot #CanadianMusic #Songwriting
The global Music Cities Convention is coming to Calgary from September 29 to October 1, 2026, and we’ve got a special limited-time rate. 🎶
The Music Cities Convention, hosted at Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre, will bring together leaders in music, policy, and city-building for a landmark event, continuing the progress set in motion by the Alberta Music Action Plan announcement. You can also explore a first look at confirmed international speakers now.
A limited-time ticket rate of $149 CAD is available until May 14, 2026. Get your tickets at musiccitiesevents.com/alberta or at the link in our bio.
#NationalMusicCentre #MusicCitiesConvention #ABMusic #CalgaryEvents #WestAnthem #MusicCities
Last Saturday, @bluemoonmarquee and @billiezizi delivered a show of smoky blues, vintage swing, and irresistible grooves to a sold-out crowd. 🎷
Take a look at some of our favourite shots from the night.
📸: @photography_design_video
#NationalMusicCentre #StudioBell
The next installment of Liner Notes: Inside the Rolling Stones Mobile Studio explores the classic 1970 album, Led Zeppelin III.
Moving beyond the heavy sound of their early records, it blends hard rock with acoustic, folk, and blues influences, shaped by time spent writing in the Welsh countryside and recording in more relaxed, unconventional environments. The result is an album full of contrast and experimentation, from the blistering, riff-driven “Immigrant Song” to their reinterpretation of a traditional folk ballad, “Gallows Pole,” to the gentle, melodic “Tangerine.”
Experience the record as it was originally recorded through the Rolling Stones Mobile Studio. The next tour on June 7 is almost sold-out, but we’ve got another one coming up on Oct. 4.
🔗 Plan your visit at studiobell.ca/whats-on/rsm and check out all the tour dates.
#NationalMusicCentre #StudioBell #LedZeppelin #RollingStonesMobileStudio #LedZeppelinIII #YYCEvents
Forever Young: Seniors’ Wednesdays launched this week, and the fun is just getting started. 🎶
Every Wednesday at Studio Bell is free for seniors aged 65 and up, and each month we're adding a free drop-in program to make the experience even better.
Here's what’s coming up:
🎵 May 13 – Community Jam-Along
🎵 June 3 – Learn to Play the Ukulele
🎵 July 15 – Community Drum Circle with Circles of Rhythm
🎵 September 9 – Instrument Petting Zoo
🎵 October 7 – Carolyn Harley Trio
Plan your visit at the link in our bio.
#NationalMusicCentre #StudioBell #SeniorsYYC #YYCEvents
We heard Drake is dropping something new. So we are, too. 🍵✨
Introducing the Fizzy Drizzy, our newest café feature inspired by a certain Toronto legend. Sparkling passionfruit matcha served over ice, just like the “Iceman” intended. Available now at the NMC Cafe and Gift shop.
Ice pick not included.
#NationalMusicCentre #StudioBell #Drake #Iceman
What does a synthesizer feel like? Come find out. 🎶
Later this month, National Music Centre (NMC) is launching Synth Soundbath, a new monthly series exploring the intersection of music technology and wellness.
Each session spotlights a different synthesizer from NMC's collection, inviting participants to experience sound as both a creative and sensory force.
We’re kicking off the series on May 31 with the Korg MS-20, a seminal semi-modular analog synthesizer from 1978, renowned for its raw character and textured soundscapes.
🔗 Get your tickets at the link in our bio.
#NationalMusicCentre #StudioBell #Synthesizers #YYCEvents #YYCWellness
Experience three extraordinary days of piano prowess on display. The 2026 @honens Festival takes over Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre, this September. 🎹
Each evening includes a pre-concert chat at 6:00 pm followed by the show at 7:00 pm.
Here’s what to check out:
🎹 September 10 — Dialogues with the Piano: Winston Choi, Jon Kimura Parker (@jonkimuraparker ), and Carter Johnson (@carter_m_johnson ) share the stage with their own past selves using Steinway Spirio player piano technology.
🎹 September 11 — Reverberations: Chopin Reframed: 2025 Honens Gold Laureate Élisabeth Pion (@elisabeth.pion ) brings a bold reimagining of Chopin's Études Op. 25.
🐘 September 12 at 10:30 am — Storytellers: Babar the Elephant: A family-friendly morning concert bringing Babar to life through music and storytelling.
🎹 September 12 — Echoes in Motion: A journey across centuries of dance forms with Winston Choi, Carter Johnson, Jon Kimura Parker, and MingHuan Xu (@allthings.strings ).
🔗 Get your tickets at the link in our bio.
#NationalMusicCentre #StudioBell #Honens #HonensFestival #ClassicalMusic #YYCEvents #PianoMusic
