NATIONAL MUSIC CENTRE ADDS 50 NEW ITEMS TO ONLINE COLLECTIONS DATABASE

MORE INSTRUMENTS AND MEMORABILIA FROM THE NMC COLLECTION ARE NOW ACCESSIBLE ONLINE

(April 8, 2021— Calgary, AB) The National Music Centre (NMC) has added 50 new items to its online database, connecting music lovers from around the world to NMC’s extensive and rare collection of musical instruments and memorabilia.

NMC stewards one of the most impressive music collections in the world, including over 2,000 historic musical instruments, artifacts, and Canadian music memorabilia, which collectively spans over 450 years of music history, technology and innovation.

Of the 50 new items, visitors can peruse a selection of iconic instruments, including the guitar behind Doug Edwards’ haunting solo in the Canadian mega-hit “Wildflower,” electronic and acoustic gems, music memorabilia, and fascinating one-offs such as the aXiÆ, an unusual-looking MIDI (musical instrument digital interface) controller that was built by Brad Cariou as part of his thesis at University of Calgary in 1993.

The resource is intended to inspire collaboration with music and museum communities and raise awareness of the need to preserve musical artifacts and our Canadian music heritage.

“We launched the online database in 2017 and have since been able to add over 300 items online and make even more of our collection accessible to musicians, scholars, museums, and the Canadian public,” said Claire Neily, NMC’s Manager, Collections and Conservation. “This is a valuable resource that continues to grow. If you haven’t been to the site for a while, there’s so much more to discover.”

NMC Collections Online is accessible by visiting collections.nmc.ca via any web-enabled device. Music fans and gearheads can browse the database or register for a free account to customize their experience, save their favourite collection items, and share them on social media.

About the National Music Centre
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 Calgary’s East Village. 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.

-30-

Media Contact:
Julijana Capone, Senior Publicist
National Music Centre
T 403.543.5123 
julijana.capone@nmc.ca | @nmc_canada