Presented by National Music Centre in collaboration with Calgary Chinese Cultural Centre, the Mid-Autumn Festival will celebrate the music and traditions of Canada’s Chinese and Asian communities from September 20-22 at Studio Bell.
The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival, is a significant cultural event traditionally celebrated by Chinese and other Asian communities, symbolizing the full moon harvest, unity, harmony, and the gathering of family and friends. National Music Centre (NMC)’s three-day festival will capture the spirit of this cherished tradition, bringing a national perspective to a popular annual event among local Chinese and Asian communities, while bridging traditional Chinese culture with mainstream Canadian culture.
Admission is free for all daytime activities at Studio Bell from 10 am to 5 pm.
10 am – 5 pm | Local Vendor Market | Level 1, Drop-in Zone |
10 am – 5 pm | United Calgary Chinese Association Traditional Opera Costume & Makeup Exhibition | Level 5, Cloud Lounge |
10:00 am | Lion Dance & Dragon Dance by Jing Wo Cultural Association | Level 1, Drop-in Zone |
10:30 am | Mid-Autumn Star Performance Showcase | Level 2, Performance Hall |
11:00 am | Peach Plum Art Academy Demonstration | Level 1, Drop-in Zone |
11:30 am | Kimball Theatre Organ Demonstration | Level 3, Sound Affects |
11:45 am | Calgary Tai Chi & Martial Arts College | Level 1, Drop-in Zone |
11:45 am | YY Music Choir Performance | Level 5, Skybridge |
12:30 pm | Zhao Li Dance School Performance | Level 1, Drop-in Zone |
12:30 pm | Calgary Galaxy Choir Performance | Level 5, Skybridge |
1:00 pm | Feature Performance: Gai Lan Ensemble | Level 2, Performance Hall |
2:00 pm | Kimball Theatre Organ Demonstration | Level 3, Sound Affects |
2:15 pm | Harmony The Musical Cast Performance | Level 5, Skybridge |
2:45 pm | Calgary Happy 50+ Association Tai Chi Demonstration | Level 1, Drop-in Zone |
3:00 pm | Calgary MRU Zhiyin Choir, MRU Joyful Notes Children's Choir, and Calgary Lady Singers Society | Level 2, Performance Hall |
3:30 pm | Newland Senior Service Centre with Calgary Chinese Dongbei Association | Level 1, Drop-in Zone |
Gai Lan Ensemble nourishes your senses with their fresh repertoire, customized arrangements, and enthusiastic performances. Led by flutist Jiajia Li, the chamber ensemble is made up of the finest Chinese instrumentalists in Alberta. From concert hall performances to weddings and private functions, Gai Lan takes you on a specialized music journey and is guaranteed a good time.
To celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, NMC is presenting a special Mid-Autumn Star event showcasing Alberta's vocal talent. Emerging artists are encouraged to submit their music to be considered for the singing contest. The top 10 submissions will be invited to practice and perform for festival attendees during the day on Saturday, September 21 and Sunday, September 22. Then, they’ll come back to perform live in the evening of September 22, where each artist will receive live feedback onstage from a panel of established musicians. Here, the top three performers, as determined by our jury, will be awarded trophies, with a special distinction for the first-place winner — a full day recording session in NMC’s world class recording studios.
The rules are as follows:
You must be available to appear and perform live on September 21 and September 22 to be eligible for this contest. Tickets to the finale on the evening of September 22 will be available to finalists, no purchase necessary.
Artists interested in performing can upload their submissions at studiobell.ca/mid-autumn-star by Friday, September 6 at 11:59 pm MT.