The Music of Hans Zimmer

Join us for a cinematic journey through sound!

Red Deer Symphony Orchestra

Wandering with Wonder, written and created by Samantha Whelan Kotkas with original compositions by Chris Andrew, Jordan Andrew, Matt Epp, Sherryl Sewepagaham, and Walter MacDonald White Bear, tells the tale of a girl, Wonder, who loses her song and looks to her friends Turtle, Bear, Beaver, and Eagle to help her find it.

Through this story with film by Roadwest Pictures and orchestrations by Claude Lapalme, we learn we all have a little Wonder in each of us, which allows us to speak to the animals and listen to the trees. And when we are silent, we can hear our songs in the wind.

Sleeping Beauty”

Puppets by Dean Bareham & Green Fools Theatre
Samantha Whelan Kotkas, narrator
Music by Tom Smail & Daniel Dorff
Claude Lapalme, conductor
And an ensemble of Calgary’s finest musicians

The classic fairy tale Sleeping Beauty gets a creative retelling with live music and the puppet wizardry of Green Fools Theatre. Join us for a magical afternoon of music-making and storytelling. 

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

Sunday, May 3, 2026 – 1:00 PM and 3:30 PM

The University of Calgary Rozsa Centre: Eckhardt-Gramatté Hall

Adults $20 • Children/Students/Seniors $15

Tickets will be available for sale after September 1, 2025.

What happens when Baroque brilliance meets modern brass power?

Bach to the Future invites audiences on a time-traveling musical journey that connects the elegance of the past with the energy of the present. Centered around the music of Johann Sebastian Bach, this concert explores how his bold ideas, intricate counterpoint, and unmistakable musical voice continue to inspire composers and performers centuries later.

Altius Brass pairs timeless works by Bach with contemporary pieces and modern reinterpretations that echo his influence—revealing surprising connections between Baroque forms and today’s musical language. From crystalline chorales to rhythmically driven modern works, the program highlights the versatility, power, and expressive range of the brass ensemble.

Thoughtful, exciting, and accessible, Bach to the Future is a celebration of musical continuity—showing how great ideas never fade, they simply evolve.

Roots to Sky: Live Revue! | April 11, 2026 | 7:00 - 9:00 PM

Join Audrey Lane Cockett, Skylar Kay, Shone Thistle, Samantha Whelan Kotkas, Sheri-D Wilson, and John Wort-Hannam for an immersive, poetic and musical offering.

Featuring light projections by Mackenzie Bedford and live performances, this gathering invites audiences into a night of language, rhythm, and shared wonder.

The Magic of Mozart

Featuring the 2025 Red Deer Festival Winner!

Red Deer Symphony Orchestra

Samantha and Walter White Bear will be on stage at the Bear Street Hub for their unforgettable winter celebration during the SnowDays Festival. Join us for some snow-filled fun.

Nestled in the forest, where the foothills meet the mountains, come and enjoy an evening of song and stories with Sam and Walter. Location: The Site (Old Camp Kiwanis)

Early Music Voices presents their Sing Along Messiah. A Christmas tradition for many, sing along in the choruses with Rosa Barocca and hear the solos sung by our auditioned Debut Singers. Or just sit back and enjoy the beautiful music.

Join Altius Brass for their Christmas Time concert, filled with beautiful brass and stories for the whole family!

Cross-curricular teaching artist duo, Walter White Bear and Samantha Whelan, guide you through their indigenous and cross-cultural approach to storytelling and music. Walter and Samantha will share their experiences of bringing a cross-cultural mentality and philosophy to Alberta classrooms. In this presentation, you will meet Walter and Samantha and hear about their experiences as a cross-cultural team and participate in an interactive activity. They will leave time in their presentation to answer questions about what it means to be part of the reconciliation process in Canada at this time in history.

Walter and Samantha will be performing ‘Bear Love’ with the Mount Royal Wind Ensemble. Originally composed by Walter White Bear, a Cree singer-songwriter and storyteller, with words by Samantha Whelan Kotkas, a storyteller and musician, it was adapted for concert band by Calgary educator Jay Michalak. ‘Bear Love’ is drawn from the larger work ‘Wandering with Wonder’, created by Samantha Whelan Kotkas. It tells the story of Wonder, a young girl who loses her song and journeys through the natural world to find it again—with the help of Bear.

This arrangement offers students a rich opportunity to explore identity, belonging, and connection through music by working with Sam and Walter in a collaborative and inspiring setting. The instrumentation includes Indigenous courting flute played by Walter, narration and trumpet solo performed by Samantha, and sweeping textures that invite students into meaningful reflection.

 Thank you to CADME for their support of this project.

Experience Oscar—a joy-filled performance celebrating the life and extraordinary talent of Canadian jazz icon Dr. Oscar Peterson. Through live music, storytelling, dance, and imagination, this uplifting production celebrates one of Canada’s greatest pianists—his childhood dreams, his boundless curiosity, and his love of the piano.

This world premiere expands on the story told in the book Oscar Lives Next Door by Bonnie Farmer, imagining Oscar’s life after illness and following his path from a gifted young pianist to an international music legend. Experience the emotional highs and challenges Oscar faced as a young Black artist, while also being exposed to a range of artistic practices and cultural traditions.

Oscar is proudly made possible through the generous support of Andrea Brussa and Irene and Walt DeBoni.

Register for your free tickets here: https://www.honens.com/events/oscar-2025-10-23-1030-am/

Oscar

with Samantha Whelan Kotkas, Priscille Bukasa, and Chris Andrew

Sunday 24 August at 2 pm

Engineered Art Bandstand, Heritage Park | 1900 Heritage Drive SW

Join storytellers Samantha Whelan Kotkas and Priscille Bukasa, and jazz pianist Chris Andrew for a lively and heartwarming performance of Oscar—a jazz-infused musical tale inspired by the childhood of Canadian legend Oscar Peterson. Perfect for families and music lovers of all ages, event brings history, imagination, and melody to life in the open air.

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

Be the first to hear about our upcoming shows. Sign up at MailChimp and we'll let you know all the details! http://eepurl.com/bexGaf

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.