Celebrate 325 years of piano history at Studio Bell with performances by pianists from Calgary and beyond, featuring iconic instruments from the National Music Centre’s collection in the new Piano 325 exhibition.
About Kate Melvina
Kate Melvina is a singer/pianist/composer and the vocalist, writer, producer, and keyboardist for Tendavillage.
Their debut single EP, which Torontos iLiveRadio praised as “Criminally slept on” and a “Future classic” was featured on many online platforms and radio stations all over the world, featured a song that charted on the iTunes RnB chart in France and has since amassed an enthusiastic fanbase. Following the release of their debut single “Ralph Wiggum,” Tendavillage has been receiving rave reviews, including one from Atwood Magazine which described it as "a song that exists on a plane of involuntary stank face.”
The central creative force behind the group is Kate, who writes, produces and edits all the music herself. Many of her influences can be heard throughout, including acts like Stevie Wonder (Kate's hero since she was 15), Prince, D’Angelo and newer artists like Mononeon and Moonchild.
Kate was raised in a family of musicians and was surrounded by jazz at an early age. As a child, she quickly became a proficient classical pianist, winning awards in competitions like the Kiwanis Festival and wrote her first song at age 9. In her teen years, she discovered her passion for old soul music and became completely encompassed by it. Her main idol was and will always be Stevie Wonder. For the past 10+ years Kate has established herself in the Calgary music scene as a regular singer at the Fairmont Palliser/Banff Springs Hotel, festivals such as the Lilac Festival and Block Heater as well as a member of Canadian Music tribute band "Rock the Nation" at the National Music Centre.
About Piano 325
Piano 325 is a new National Music Centre exhibition celebrating the 325th anniversary of the piano. Over three centuries, the piano — shaped by the innovations of countless builders and manufacturers — has remained one of the most important and versatile instruments in music, influencing nearly every genre and artists from Beethoven to Elton John.
Piano 325 spotlights the stories of the builders and manufacturers who played key roles in the instrument’s evolution and lasting impact on music. The exhibition will feature renowned names like Broadwood & Sons, Erard, Heintzman & Co., and Steinway & Sons, alongside lesser-known pioneers like Johannes Zumpe. A rotating selection of rare and historic instruments from NMC’s collection will also be showcased, including an 1899 Broadwood grand piano.