Art is everywhere.
Whether you’re consciously aware of it or not: creativity, innovation, design and more permeate all aspects of our lives. The ergonomics of your keyboard and mouse under your fingertips. The effortless movements of a seasoned ballerina. The rise and fall of dramatic melodic lines in latest top 40 hits.
Arts brings joy. It brings happiness and triggers our imaginations. It lends itself to visionary developments and spurs inventive progress.
The Edmonton region is home to a strong performing arts, hospitality, and tourism sector. From the streets of Whyte Ave with buskers and improv actors, to the perfectly rehearsed performers at the Jubilee Auditorium and Winspear Centre. Our arts and culture scene bring travelers to our fine city, and bolder our tourism sector. Our food and drink scene support it by offering a wide variety of delicious cuisine in all 4 corners of the region, providing a wealth of options for our out-of-town folk.
The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra (ESO) recently completed their outdoor concert series, closing out with 2 fantastic concerts at Winston Churchill Square – performing Disney in concert.
With a total of 11 planned outdoor concerts throughout August and September (4 in outer Edmonton cities), Nathan and I were incredibly lucky to attend a large handful of them. The ESO does not disappoint, as they hit it out of the park with each performance. And it is an even bigger feat from the ESO and Winspear team to be able to pull off nearly a dozen performances in only 17 days.
As a musician and performer, the stage is our home. It is where we thrive and where we put our craft on display. I liken the arts and culture scene to culinary herbs and spices. Without them, everything is plain and bland. But sprinkle in a bit of arts (and salt), and life feels that much brighter.
The 2023-2024 season for the ESO starts next month, with 2 nights of film scores by Hans Zimmer. Listen to music scores from movies such as Batman: The Dark Night, Sherlock Holmes, Gladiator, Dune, and more. If you’re a movie lover who enjoys a fantastic music score, this will be a concert you don’t want to move. Tickets start at $50.
Edmonton is fortunate to have a lively arts scene. Colloquially known as Canada’s Festival City, we offer more than the symphony and the ballet. We have the Edmonton International Film Festival, the Rocky Mountain Wine & Food Festival, Deep Freeze, Improvaganza, the Street Performers Festival, Cariwest, the Fringe, and more. Whatever your heart’s desire, there is likely a festival for you. Each adding a different bit of spice to our lives.
The next time you’re out and about, I challenge you to take stock of your surroundings. What does the architecture look like, how do pedestrians and vehicles traverse the area. Look at the restaurants and cafes in the immediate vicinity, and more importantly, listen to what you hear in the distance.
We all participate in art. We all contribute to art. We all are art.
To learn more about the Winspear Centre and the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra: https://www.winspearcentre.com
