ANDREW PHUNG TO HOST NATIONAL MUSIC CENTRE'S VIRTUAL FUNDRAISING GALA PREMIERING ON DECEMBER 3

NORTHERN CREE AND MORE ACTS SET TO PERFORM. FUNDRAISING EFFORTS KICK OFF TODAY WITH LAUNCH OF ONLINE AUCTION. 

(Calgary, AB — November 10, 2021) The National Music Centre (NMC) is pleased to announce award-winning actor and comedian Andrew Phung of the hit show Kim's Convenience, and the upcoming CBC television series Run the Burbs, as the host of its annual fundraising gala, presented by Mawer Investment Management Ltd.

The virtual event, 2021 NMC Gala: NIISITO!, will premiere for free on December 3 at 7:00 pm MT at studiobell.ca/gala2021. It will also be accessible on NMC’s Facebook, Vimeo, and YouTube channels, and will feature a star-studded lineup.

"I'm a Calgary kid born and raised, and I built my arts career here. I'm an advocate of artistic spaces and talent, and a huge fan of the National Music Centre,” said Andrew Phung. “They do tremendous things for the music scene in Calgary and across the country. If you're able to, please make a donation, bid on an auction item, or share it with your friends! But most importantly, join us as we celebrate great music and this wonderful venue!”

The gala’s theme name, “niisito,” comes from the word for “five” in Blackfoot. It is named in recognition of the five-year anniversary of Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre, our location in Mohkinstsis (Calgary) on Treaty 7 land, and the power of music to build bridges between diverse communities in Canada.

The evening will feature performances by 9x Grammy-nominated powwow, round dance, drum and singing group Northern Cree, as well as other Canadian artists to be announced soon.

“After the success of our inaugural virtual gala in 2020, we’re bringing the online fundraising event back for music fans from across Canada and beyond to enjoy from the comfort of home,” said Andrew Mosker, NMC President and CEO. “The year 2021 marks the fifth anniversary of opening National Music Centre’s new home at Studio Bell, and we are incredibly proud of the impacts we’ve created since opening in 2016, not only in our hometown but throughout Canada. Together, on December 3, join us as we celebrate this five-year “niisito” milestone, and look ahead to the exciting opportunities that await in the future to build more positive unity, strength, and vibrancy through music in the many communities we serve.”

Fundraising efforts officially kick off today with the launch of an online auction at studiobell.ca/gala2021. NMC supporters are encouraged to bid on a range of items that include passes to the 2022 Rock 'N' Roll Fantasy Camp in Las Vegas, along with music and sports memorabilia, original artworks, jewelry, and more. Supporters can also tune into the virtual event on December 3 at 7:00 pm MT, and make a donation to support the future of NMC at studiobell.ca/gala2021.

NMC is a non-governmental, non-profit registered charitable organization that relies on earned revenue and donations to keep sharing and developing Canada’s national music story from our home base in Calgary, Alberta. By supporting NMC’s charitable efforts, you are helping to ensure a sustainable future for National Music Centre and its programs that bring people together through the power and spirit of music.

About National Music Centre | Centre National de Musique
The National Music Centre (NMC) has a mission to amplify the love, sharing, and understanding of music and is preserving and celebrating Canada’s music story inside its home at Studio Bell in the heart of the East Village in Mohkinstsis (Calgary) on Treaty 7 territory. A registered charity with programs that include exhibitions, artist development, performance, and education, NMC is inspiring a new generation of music lovers. For more information about NMC’s onsite activities, please visit studiobell.ca. To check out the NMC experience online, including video-on-demand performances, made-in-Canada stories, and highly entertaining educational content, visit amplify.nmc.ca.

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Media Contact:
Julijana Capone, Senior Publicist
National Music Centre
julijana.capone@nmc.ca | @nmc_canada