Invested in Community: National Music Centre and Studio Bell

Since at least the sixth century BC, music and architecture have been intimately joined by a cosmic connection, the idea that they both are generated by an underlying code. This order, revealed by mathematics and geometry, was first espoused by Pythagoras who lived in southern Italy, and it led to many Greek temples designed on proportional principles revealing not only supreme beauty but ‘the music of the heavenly spheres.’”   - Charles Jencks, Architectural Review

This article in Architectural Review caught my attention and immediately had me thinking of the iconic Studio Bell building in downtown Calgary. “The building is a silent and powerful instrument that exists to emanate music and light. Nine towers form the body of the building; the walls, clad in terra cotta, rise in subtle curves that merge, part, and intertwine, modeled by light, gravity, and acoustics.” If you have been lucky enough to attend a musical performance at Studio Bell, it could definitely be described as Calgary’s own ‘heavenly sphere’!

Studio Bell is also the home to the National Music Centre (NMC), which was created to give Canada a place that amplifies the love, sharing, and understanding of music. It’s a performance hall, recording facility, broadcast studio, live music venue, and museum; it’s the first facility of its kind in North America.

It’s hard to imagine life without music, and NMC strives “to be a national catalyst for discovery, innovation and renewal through music.” Viewpoint has been a proud supporter of NMC since its inception and is particularly passionate about its Education and Artist Development programs. “NMC’s education programs offer a diverse range of inclusive and collaborative learning opportunities for music lovers of all ages and backgrounds. From the school programs designed for students in Kindergarten through Grade 12 to the Master in Residence program, the aim is to bring the stories of Canadian music to life.” Artist Entrepreneur West is a five-week creative entrepreneurship program designed to help emerging artists from all genres build sustainable businesses and careers in music. Through hands-on mentoring, networking, and collaboration with music industry professionals, artists will gain skills in the areas of management, marketing and promotion, booking, touring, production, accounting, legal, and more. Artists will also have access to the world-class facilities at Studio Bell, including recording studios, live rooms, and classrooms.

As one can appreciate, COVID-19 has resulted in a temporary shutdown of many of NMC’s facilities and programs. However, NMC has re-imagined how it could share its resources with the community and recently launched AMPLIFY, an online, digital platform where you can listen to curated playlists, explore the incredible music collection, and watch live performances! AMPLIFY is definitely a resource worth checking out – something to keep you entertained on these long evenings indoors!

So… sometime soon, when we are able to visit public buildings again, take a moment to check out Studio Bell and appreciate that cosmic connection between architecture and music!

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