Join us in celebrating our 40th anniversary season!
40 Years and counting…
Welcome to New Music Edmonton’s 2025-26 season – our 40th anniversary season! We’re so excited to be celebrating this milestone in the best way we know how: by celebrating the amazing artists and art practices we are proud to support. We have a brilliant set of live events for you featuring innovative artists from Amiskwaciy-wâskahikan/ Edmonton, along with some very special guests. Mind-blowing live electronics and multimedia, inspiring, genre-bending new compositions, free improvisation, dance, and more!
We’re also offering a hands-on series of outreach events – soundwalks, sound immersion sessions, workshops, and discussions, plus, our wonderful podcast, The No Normal, enters its sixth season.
This season also marks the 15th edition of Now Hear This, the one-of-a-kind festival of new music and sound art.
The adventure began in 1985, when a small group of fearless, emerging creatives started The Edmonton Composers’ Concert Society: a groundbreaking initiative for our city, and one we are proud to honour to this day as New Music Edmonton. Please join us, and immerse yourself in the wild, sonic circus of our 2025-26 season. Season passes are just $125, for admission to all 3 main season events, the entire festival, and all of our outreach events! Plus, the pass entitles you to an NME Membership, 1 free guest ticket, and more!
And, if you have a little extra to give, please consider our 40th anniversary fundraiser, 40 x 40 40 donations of $40 each will take us to our next endowment fundraising goal! All proceeds from the endowment will be used to support emerging artists. So, give a little bit, if you can, and be part of the future!
See you soon!
Ian Crutchley, Artistic Director, New Music Edmonton
Events
NME Autumn Equinox
Date: September 20, 2025 7:30 PM
Venue: Mile Zero Dance Space (9931 – 78 Avenue NW, Edmonton)
There is no better way to mark the equinox than a lovely night with some of Amiskwaciy-wâskahikan/ Edmonton’s most compelling artists. It’s a quintuple bill, maybe even a micro-festival, of one of the most varied shows we have ever staged. With artists chosen from a recent open call to all in our city, this is going to be a magnificent party, an awesome chance for you to get to know some great creativity happening right here in our own community, and perhaps revisit some sounds you already know! Either way, this is certain to be a great night for everyone!
Our fantastic lineup is:
Access Intimacy an innovative graphic score performed by Brooke Leifso and Gary James Joynes; pseudo-antigone (Simone Atenea Medina Polo): hyperpop, from her new album Melancholic Melodrama; Golden Sun Trio (Mustafa Rafiq; Nadir Bellhamer; Ethan Bokma) – Tezeta (nostalgia) scale improv, from three of our city’s stellar experimentalists; Clinker (Gary James Joynes) Panta Rhei: modular synths, and a living, changing, immersive sound sculpture ; and Nanyen Lau/ Jia Jia Yong: a magical performance celebrating traditional Chinese instruments and composition.
Through Closed Doors – Ukrainian New Music
Date: December 5, 2025 7:30 PM
Venue: Mile Zero Dance Space (9931 – 78 Avenue NW, Edmonton) December 5, 2025 7:30 PM
Viktoria Grynenko and Vladimir Rufino (violin), Fabiola Amorim (viola), Amy Nicholson (cello), Guillaume Tardif (violin), and Lauren O’Kell, dance. Compositions by Anna Pidgorna, Boris Loginov, Zoltan Almashi, Myroslav Skoryk.
New Music Edmonton presents Through Closed Doors – Ukrainian New Music – a portrait of some of the incredible new work being created by composers of the Ukrainian descent diaspora (Zoltan Almashi is still in Ukraine). In one way or another, their works reflect on, or are influenced by, the current and past history of Ukraine, and of Ukrainian culture. They suggest that art and creativity are a central, crucial voice in ensuring an ongoing, robust identity. Led by violinist Viktoria Grynenko, this all-star ensemble of some of our city’s finest string players will interpret these amazing works for strings, electronics, and dance. Based around reactions to invasion and war, reflections on the Revolution of Dignity, this will be a profoundly moving, absorbing look at what it can mean to create art with intense resolve and belief.
Please join us after the performance for a talkback session, featuring violinist Viktoria Grynenko and other performers, and moderated by NME Artist Director Ian Crutchley.
Content warning: The composition sleep during insomnia includes recordings made during an air raid, including sirens, human voices, and explosions.
Jessica Ackerley and guests
Date: February 14, 2026 7:30 PM
Venue: Mile Zero Dance Space (9931 – 78 Avenue NW, Edmonton)
Jessica Ackerley, guitar. Jairus Sharif, saxophone. Mustafa Rafiq, guitar. Ron de Jong. percussion. Also featuring Jared Epp, electronics.
Internationally acclaimed guitarist and visual artist Jessica Ackerley returns to their hometown to work with an incredible group – Jairus Sharif from Calgary (saxophone), and local favourites Mustafa Rafiq (guitar), and Ron de Jong (drums). Their two-part set will begin with a solo guitar performance by Jessica Ackerley, followed by a group improvisation for quartet. Inspired by travels in the High Arctic, as well as the incredible natural environment of this province, the group will create something extremely special.
NME is also pleased to present a special guest for the evening, Jared Epp. Quickly becoming a key part of the experimental scene here as performer and presenter, Jared Epp is also a filmmaker, visual artist, and anthropology scholar. For this performance, he will premiere the first iteration of aggressive relaxation music, in which drones, noise, feedback and ambience, experienced like being under a waterfall!
Now Hear This 2026
Date: June 5-13, 2026
Venue: Mile Zero Dance Space (9931 – 78 Avenue NW, Edmonton) and Holy Trinity Anglican Church (10037 84 Ave, Edmonton)
Now Hear This 2026 features: Pigeon Breeders with Kate Stashko | Alicia Proudfoot; Echo Ensemble 悦耳歌; kirmeve | Borborygmi |Tamarack Cunningham | Tzadeka | Andrew Noakes and Julien Eveneshen; Standing Wave. Composers include Linda Catlin Smith, Dorothy Chang, Nicole Lizee, Bekah Sims, Makenna Graham, and Virginia Wan.
So it’s our 40th season and the 15th edition of our annual festival. Now Hear This continues to be the only festival in our region that features this variety of forward-looking, sound-centered creativity. It’s worth coming to the whole festival, even if you’re not sure what’s on: you will definitely come away with some unforgettable experiences, and gain a really great picture of the latest in sonic art and experimental music, instrumental composition, and multidisciplinary collaborations. On top of that, we love including a couple of participatory outreach sessions during the festival.
Thank you to our festival media sponsors Taproot Edmonton and Exclaim!, equipment sponsor Long and McQuade, and refreshment sponsor Sea Change Brewing Co!
Re-Zoning: Pigeon Breeders, with Kate Stashko | Alicia Proudfoot
Date: Friday, June 5, 2026 7:30 PM
Venue: Mile Zero Dance Space (9931 – 78 Avenue NW, Edmonton)
The 15th edition of Now Hear This kicks off with an exciting collaboration between some of Edmonton’s leading experimental artists: Pigeon Breeders (Myles Bartel and Will Scott) and dance artist Kate Stashko. Their new work, Re-Zoning, is a dynamic structured improvisation that transforms Stashko’s dance into a living expression pedal, guiding Pigeon Breeders—armed with a fascinating array of found objects and instruments—through her captivating movement language. The result is an electrifying journey that unfolds across the performance space, blurring the lines between sound and motion.
The evening also features Perennial by Alicia Proudfoot – a performance of sound and sculpture. The engulfing heave of metal and pulp and fibre that grows out from my harp is chronic illness.
管弦回響: Echoes of Winds and Strings
Echo Ensemble 悦耳歌 | Virginia Wan – Consensus 43
Date: Saturday, June 6, 2026 7:30 PM
Venue: Mile Zero Dance Space (9931 – 78 Avenue NW, Edmonton)
This is the NME début of Echo Ensemble, our city’s amazing collective of traditional Chinese instruments. Comprised of erhu, yangqin, dizi, ruan, sanxian, and various Chinese percussion instruments, Echo Ensemble will share a rich repertoire of works, ranging from arrangements of traditional Chinese songs to contemporary compositions, and selections from some of their favourite Anime, games, and films. If you’ve never heard a full ensemble of Chinese instruments before, this is a great chance! If you have, then you’ll know why this event is a must!
Echo Ensemble: Nanyen Lau, Chris Leung, Joshua Ching, Huisun Lau, Alan Ching, Shawn Gan, Chloe Ching, Leeying Lau
Consensus 43 by Virginia Wan is a composition written for guided improvisation, a sonic exploration of spontaneous interaction between three instrumentalists. Given a visually stunning, graphic representation of suggested actions, the three musicians individually plot their way through a musical labyrinth, producing unpredictable, yet brilliantly collective sound. Consensus 43 will be performed by Ben Whittier, Alexander McNaughton, and Andreas Wegner
Listen To This! with Steph Patsula
Date: Wednesday, June 10, 2026 7:30 PM
Venue: audio ark (10745 124 Street NW, Edmonton)
Steph Patsula will be presenting a selection of music which has inspired and informed their music on high-end audio equipment at Audio Ark. Listen to This! is part of New Music Edmonton’s outreach programming.
Admission and refreshments by donation to Edmonton Food Bank.
Open Session For Women and Gender-diverse participants, St. Mary’s Highlands, with Steph Patsula
Date: Thursday, June 11, 2026 evening (TBD)
Venue: St. Mary’s Highlands (11203 68 St, Edmonton)
Open Session is a welcoming, low-pressure space for exploring sound, gear, and experimental music practices. This session centers women and gender-diverse communities, particularly those underrepresented in technical and experimental sound spaces. Participants are invited to experiment freely—whether that means plugging into unfamiliar gear, collaborating with others, or trying out new sonic ideas without expectation or hierarchy. No prior experience is necessary; curiosity and openness are the only requirements.
New Music Edmonton is pleased to be working alongside Steph Patsula, Bleeding Heart Art Space, and St. Mary’s Anglican Church. Attendance is limited, pre-registration is required.
Rising Sounds: A Celebration of New Voices from Amiskwaciy-wâskahikan (Edmonton)
Date: Friday, June 12, 2026 7:30 PM
Venue: Mile Zero Dance Space (9931 – 78 Avenue NW, Edmonton)
Featuring: kirmeve; Tamarack Cunningham; Borborygmi; Tzadeka; Andrew Noakes and Julian Eveneshen
Now Hear This, weekend 2, begins with an outstanding multiple bill featuring some of the most exciting early-career creative voices from the Amiskwaciy-wâskahikan (Edmonton) region. For NME, there is nothing more important than highlighting and supporting creatives from our city in the early stages of their careers. Be prepared to immerse yourself in wild and risky new ideas in music and sound performance covering a mind-blowing, awe-inspiring range of practices, and to come away inspired and ready for more – this is the newest generation of artists from your community!
And, speaking of emerging artists, if you can, why not donate to our Endowment Fund, administered by the Edmonton Community Foundation? Every cent of this fund will be used to support emerging artists!
Elusive Things: Standing Wave Ensemble | Makenna Graham
Date: Saturday, June 13, 2026 7:30 PM
Venue: Holy Trinity Anglican Church (10037 84 Ave, Edmonton)
Bringing the festival to spectacular close, New Music Edmonton is honoured to present our guests from Vancouver, Standing Wave, in an exhilarating program of new work that will take you to some very unexpected places. There are only a handful of Canadian ensembles comparable to Standing Wave: now in their fourth decade, the group has, since its inception, commissioned and performed dozens of new works by Canadian composers. With several albums to their credit, the group has been nominated for many Juno and Western Canadian Music awards. This concert offers a great selection of classical music behaving badly, and will include works by some of our country’s most important composers, each of them nominees or winners of several Juno Awards. Get ready for an onslaught of glitches, raucous psychedelia, misfiring thoughts, alongside some of the most profoundly meditative and ecstatically gorgeous music you will hear anywhere!
This double bill begins with world premiere performances of two new works for woodwind quartet by Makenna Graham. Get ready for Holy Trinity to be transformed into an immersive sonic space, as both works are performed from all four corners of the space.
Standing Wave: Christie Reside, AK Coope, Rebecca Whitling, Cristian Markos, Allen Stiles, and Vern Griffiths
Compositions: Bekah Simms, single Red flower; Linda Catlin Smith, Night and Day; Dorothy Chang, Of All Things Elusive; Nicole Lizée, Turntaazm; Bekah Simms, Metamold
Compositions by Makenna Graham: Nakalele (2024) and New Work (2026), for woodwind quartet. Performed by Makenna Graham, Ava Gustafson, Faith Whitehouse, and Ailene McMahon.
The No Normal Podcast
Co-produced by NME Artistic Director Ian Crutchley and local radio veteran, Oskar Zybart, each episode will introduce listeners to interviews and music from sound artists from Edmonton and abroad. The No Normal podcast will also include stories, guest interviewers, conversations with friends, local organizations, and much more! You can listen to The No Normal on Soundcloud or subscribe via your favourite podcast service.
Outreach
Swimming in Sound Some More, with Ethan Bokma and Ian Crutchley
Date: Wednesday, November 5, 2025 7-9 PM
Venue: Harcourt House Gallery (3rd Floor, 10215 – 112 Street NW, Edmonton)
New Music Edmonton is excited to bring back another installment of Swimming in Sound. There is no experience necessary to take part, just an interest in getting together with others to create a gorgeous, unrepeatable sonic environment. We will have lots of soundmaking things for you to try out, and feel free to bring your own – just look around for anything you have that isn’t a conventional instrument, but makes interesting sounds! Thank you to Harcourt House Artist Run Centre for making this event possible! This event is 18+. Attendance is limited, and pre-registration is advised.
Drawing and Sound Gathering with Asal Andarzipour and Michael Reinhart
Date: Saturday January 17, 2026 2-4 PM
Venue: The Maggie and John Mitchell Art Education Studio, Harcourt House Annex (10215 – 112 Street NW, Edmonton)
We’ve had such a great time with our Drawing and Sound gatherings, that we want to have at least one more! So, come along on what is almost certain to be a wonderful, wintery Saturday afternoon and make some visual art! We’ll have all the paper, pastels, pencils, crayons and other stuff you could ask for, and some incredible, live sound to inspire you. Once again, your hosts will be amazing artist Asal Andarzipour and brilliant sound artist Michael Reinhart. You can sit and draw, colour to your heart’s content, just like when you were a kid! Thank you to Harcourt House Artist Run Centre for making this event possible! All art materials will be supplied by Harcourt House and New Music Edmonton. This event is 18+. Attendance is limited to 15, and pre-registration is advised. There is a fee of $10 to cover supplies.
Listen to This! k.burwash at Audio Ark
k.burwash plays other people’s records
Date: Wednesday April 22 7:30 – 9:30 PM
Venue: Audio Ark (10745 124 Street NW, Edmonton)
k.burwash will be presenting a selection of music which has inspired and informed his music on high-end audio equipment at Audio Ark. Listen to This! is part of New Music Edmonton’s outreach programming.
Admission and refreshments by donation to Edmonton Food Bank.
Accessibility
Mile Zero Dance Space (9931 – 78 Avenue NW, Edmonton): accessible building with multiple all-gender washrooms, 2 with grab bars. There is a wheelchair accessible front door with wave opener. The #523 bus stops at 99 St and 78 Ave, approx 120 meters from the venue (stop #1542 SB, stop #22729 NB), and the #8 bus stops at Whyte Ave and 99 St, approx 500 meters from the venue (stop #1035 EB, #2824 WB)
Street parking in the area, and guests should allow extra time to find parking during peak times.
Holy Trinity Anglican Church (10037 – 84 Ave NW, Edmonton): Venue is wheelchair accessible with a lift at the rear entrance. Gendered, multi-stall washrooms. Transit stop ID 2890 or 2681, about 300 meters (2 1/2 blocks) from venue.
Street parking is available, and a small parking lot.
Harcourt House (10215 – 112 St. NW, Edmonton) Wheelchair access from the building’s underpass via the basement art studios can be arranged with Harcourt’s staff at tel. 780-426-4180. Gender single stall washrooms with handrails. Seating in the art galleries to be arranged with Harcourt’s staff upon request.
Harcourt House Annex Building (10211 – 112 St. NW, Edmonton) Please ring buzzer upon arrival for art education programs. Art Education Rooms are located at the street level of the building; wheelchair accessible. Gender single stall washrooms (no handrails). Seating provided for all art education programs.
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