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 Natalia Chai
Hailing from Edmonton, Natalia Chai is an independent, solo, R&B/Neosoul singer-songwriter based in Calgary. Classically trained in piano from age 6, Natalia's music brings back the nostalgia of old school R&B, Neosoul, jazz with a sultry voice described as “honey to the ears. Natalia has two albums and10 singles released since entering into the music scene in 2017 that discusses tough topics about the human condition in today’s complex society.
She has shared her sound internationally most notably at the 2018 Chengdu International Sister Cities Youth Music Festival. Natalia’s musicianship found her role expand to session keyboardist/vocalist for other artist’s projects; contributions to production projects in the film industry with 1844 Studios such as CBC GEM "My Lyric I Never Knew," written/produced the soundtrack for an experimental short film called “Power Moves”.
She composed/arranged a jazz ensemble for a proof of concept TV comedy series that debuted at TIFF 2022. Natalia is Director of Composition, and arranges music for Electronic Symphonia — a local orchestral group that fuses classical music with EDM — and is also a regular vocalist with HAVEN — Calgary's premier jazz, hip hop, and neo-soul showcase.
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.