The Music + Explorers music enrichment program is created by the Red Deer Symphony Orchestra. It is about helping to foster better citizens, primarily among economically disadvantaged elementary students in Red Deer North. It is about making a difference through music.

In-Classroom Workshops

Arts Commons Presents - Unlock Creativity in Your Classroom as part of Arts ReimaginED 2025

Walter and Sam will be sharing their workshop ‘The Sky Speaks to Me’

What do you see when you look up at the sky? Join Samantha and Walter as they guide your students on a journey through space, blending science, music, and poetry. Using breathtaking images from the James Webb Telescope and the powerful poetry of Chief Dan George, this workshop explores the wonders of the cosmos through both Indigenous ways of knowing and modern astronomy.

This immersive experience will be truly out of this world!

The RDSO pays tribute to a rich tradition of storytelling through music. Prepare to be enchanted by Tchaikovsky's symphonic poem as it tells the story of Romeo and Juliet, then settle in for familiar tunes by quintessential Canadian troubadours. From Joni Mitchell to Gordon Lightfoot, BTO to Ian Tyson, you’d be sorry to miss this spectacular crossover finale.

What happens when a turkey from the sticks meets a Park Avenue pigeon? With the feel of an old-time radio show, Tough Turkey in the Big City follows the comic blunders of Tom Turkey, who leaves the farm to try his luck in the big city. There’s a close call with a menacing chef, a tussle at the Turkey Club, a brief romance with a pigeon, and a happy mix-up at the Thanksgiving Day parade. The story is brought to life by some of Calgary’s finest musicians and the puppet wizardry of Green Fools Theatre Company.  

Recommended for children aged 5 to 12 but created with the entire family in mind.

Sunday, May 4, 2025 – 1:00 PM and 3:30 PM

The University of Calgary Rozsa Centre: Eckhardt-Gramatté Hall

Adults $20 • Children/Students/Seniors $15

Brass Band Extravaganza on March 23rd will be a fantastic show for the whole family!! Get your advance tickets now @ altiusbrass.eventbrite.ca

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In partnership with the National Arts Centre, Samantha and Walter will be the artists in residence for a full day of workshops and performances.

In partnership with the National Arts Centre, Samantha and Walter will be the artists in residence for a full day of workshops and performances.

Inspired by the Land - A cross-cultural musical storytelling experience

Come join musician/storytellers Samantha Whelan Kotkas (trumpet) and Juno nominated Walter White Bear (courting flute/guitar/drum) on Saturday, March 8 for an unforgettable journey through stories, music, and cross-cultural sharing. Inspired by the land, water, and sky, this interactive performance blends Indigenous and Classical musical traditions, bringing nature’s beauty to life through melody and imagination.

Handel’s Messiah has been a Christmas season staple for nearly three centuries. Find out why as Juno-winning Rosa Barocca and Early Music Voices bring this masterpiece to Red Deer for the first time since 2018. With choir, orchestra, and a big “Hallelujah”, this concert will be a holiday hit!

Rosa Barocca’s mission is to present Alberta audiences with historically informed performances of Baroque music using period instruments to capture the spirit, stylistic approach and distinctive sound of that glorious musical era. Newly minted and comprised of musicians from across Canada, the ensemble had its debut in November 2016 with two greatly acclaimed performances of Purcell’s “Hail! Bright Cecilia” in Calgary and Red Deer under their Artistic Director Claude Lapalme. Since then, Rosa has performed more than a dozen concerts in collaboration with VoiceScapes, Luminous Voices and Spiritus Chamber Choir as well a concerts presented by Early Music Voices and the Red Deer Symphony; and with acclaimed artists such as Benjamin Butterfield, Andrew Mahon and Elinor Frey.

Every other year, Early Music Voices presents a full performance of Handel’s Messiah with guest soloists, Rosa Barocca and an outstanding small professional choir all led by Claude Lapalme. Our interpretation of this marvellous work with baroque instruments is not to be missed!

Altius Brass represents a unique collaboration of professional performers on brass and percussion instruments. Based in Calgary, Alberta, this eighteen-member ensemble under the musical direction of Mark Lennon, brings together musicians with a stimulating mixture of backgrounds, including professional orchestral performers from the Red Deer Symphony Orchestra, some of Calgary’s finest freelance performers, and instructors from Calgary’s public and separate school boards. All of these performers are united in their goal of exploring and expanding the musical repertoire for large brass ensemble, while continuing to increase the audience for such music.

Telemann - Latin Magnificat in C

JS Bach - Cantatas 137, 140 & 147 (excerpts)

JS Bach - Dona nobis pacem

Mozart - Regina coeli, KV 276​

With Guest Chorus:

UCalgary Concert Choir

Kathryn Parrotta, Director

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​Calgary Bach Choir and Chamber Orchestra

Terry Edwards, Artistic Director​

Adult: $30

Senior: $25

Student over 18: $10

Student under 18: Free

Professional Development for the entire Staff at Sam Livingston by Samantha and Walter.

In partnership with the Red Deer Symphony Orchestra and the National Arts Centre, Walter White Bear (guitar/flute/drum), and Samantha Whelan Kotkas (trumpet/flugelhorn/piccolo trumpet) will be presenting their musical workshop ‘Inspired by the Land’ in select schools in Central Alberta.

Cross-curricular teaching artist duo, Walter White Bear and Samantha Whelan Kotkas, guide educators through their indigenous and cross-cultural approach to music.  Walter and Samantha share their experiences of bringing a cross-cultural mentality and philosophy to Alberta classrooms and answer any and all questions about how to be part of reconciliation at this time in Canada.

What if we used artmaking to learn about others and the world around us? What if we allowed students to make and create, and then take it out into the world to share? What if students lingered in the process of art making to discover instead of making a product?

This May, Arts Commons is sending local teaching artists to Calgary schools for 135+ workshops to activate the imagination and inspire curiosities – for FREE! 

In partnership with the Red Deer Symphony Orchestra and the National Arts Centre, Naomi Delafield (violin), Walter White Bear (guitar/flute/drum), and Samantha Whelan Kotkas (trumpet/flugelhorn/piccolo trumpet) will be presenting their musical workshop ‘Inspired by the Land’ in select schools in Central Alberta.

If you don’t recognize this concert title, you’ll still recognize the music. From Star Wars to Schindler’s List, Jaws to Jurassic Park, composer John Williams is the musical mastermind behind them all, and the RDSO is thrilled to present his greatest hits - live! With an epic orchestra and spectacular scores, there’s no better way to wrap up this standout season. May the Fourth be with you!

May The Fourth Be With You is sponsored by ATB Wealth.

Shows at 1:00pm and 3:30pm. Come and enjoy an afternoon listening to stories and some of Canada’s finest musicians. Storyteller/Musician Samantha Whelan Kotkas and her friends will entertain you and your children with musical interactive tales of child-accessible hikes in the Rocky Mountains. Teach your child about courage, unity, joyfulness, and caring in an afternoon of fun and adventure. An event for the whole family that you will want to be a part of. 

Recommended for children aged 5 to 12, but created with the entire family in mind.

Come one hour before the show & enjoy family friendly activities. Stay after to meet the performers.

Tyler Hornby - Drums, Chris Andrew - Piano, Pat Belliveau - Saxophones, Aaron Shore - Guitar, Stephen Shepard - Bass

$15 adults/ $12 students/children/seniors

Hear a special performance of Mozart’s Requiem, reminiscent of our first performance in the Bella Concert Hall in 2015. The program will also feature works both accompanied and unaccompanied by Andrew Balfour, Owain Park, Jeffrey Ryan and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Our performance proudly features soloists who are all long-time members of Luminous Voices.

NATIVE AWARENESS TRAINING

LIMITED to 20 Participants

WHO: White Bear Services.

Facilitators: Walter MacDonald White Bear and Samantha Whelan Kotkas

WHAT: Native Awareness Training

WHERE: # Arts Commons, 205 8 Ave SE, Calgary, AB T2G 0K9

Arts Learning Center Room

When: Feb 12-2024, 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.

Why: To meet the accreditation requirements for staff that work with Native people in social services and correctional services, or to expand your knowledge!!

HOW: COST-FREE!! rainsky44@yahoo.ca or TXT 403-714-2398

PLEASE NOTE:

The session will be Videotaped for promotional purposes. Waivers are to be signed

SO YOU ARE AGREEING TO BE FILMED

No audio will be used for the session. But optional brief interview at end of day