Kensington Sinfonia, 2024/25

A celebration of beauty with compositions old and new, the 2024/25 season will excite, sooth and provoke. Sweeping strings, new commissions and thrilling soloists checker this season’s Mainstage programming, while the Village Sessions return once again! Come for the classics, stay for the variety. 

Tell the student musicians in your life that we will host our biannual Concerto Competition on May 3/4, 2025. Winners receive a performance with Kensington Sinfonia on a Mainstage Concert. 

The Kensington Sinfonia survives through the generosity of those that strive to preserve and engage with the musical arts. The Kensington Sinfonia is always accepting donations, and these donations go a long way in helping us continue to bring creative ideas and the best performances possible to you.

Main Series - All concerts begin at 3PM at St. Stephen's Anglican Church

1121 14 Ave SW, Calgary, AB

Tickets are $35 each / free for students up to 18 years old

Concert 1 - October 20, 2024: Returns

Concert 2 - February 9, 2025: New Romantics

Concert 3 - June 1, 2025: Quiet, Slow, Boring - click here for tickets

On June 1, 2025, the Kensington Sinfonia presents “Quiet, Slow, Boring”, a concert celebrating calmness and introspection. The program features two exciting new commissions, each exploring this theme in unique ways. Mark Limacher’s Variations for Piano and Chamber Orchestra, performed by Canadian pianist Chloe Weston, reflects on the nature of memory through a series of musical variations that reinterpret and transform an original theme, mirroring how our memories evolve over time.

Roydon Tse’s Wok Hei adds a playful and innovative dimension to the program, performed as a collaborative effort between the Kensington Sinfonia and the Gai Lan Ensemble. Inspired by Ma Po Tofu, a signature dish, this piece captures the steps of the recipe through music. From the sizzling sounds of ingredients in a wok to the aromatic climax of the dish, Tse uses creative effects and textures to bring the cooking process to life. The composition serves as a sensory journey through culinary art, intertwining food and music in a vibrant celebration of memory and creativity.

The concert culminates with Mendelssohn’s Octet, a groundbreaking work written when the composer was just sixteen. While its virtuosic brilliance is undeniable, the Octet also offers moments of calm introspection, wistful reflection, and playful whimsy—all facets that connect it beautifully to the concert’s theme. From the poignant Andante to the lively scherzo and the expansive finale, the Octet mirrors the idea of embracing quietness and contemplation while finding creativity and meaning in stillness.

Despite its tongue-in-cheek title, “Quiet, Slow, Boring” promises an afternoon of reflection, creativity, and musical brilliance—a perfect retreat from the hustle and challenges of daily life.

Click here to secure your tickets now

Village Sessions - All concerts begin at 8PM at Village Brewery

5000 12a St SE, Calgary, AB

Tickets are $35 each - all tickets include one free beer!

Every Village Session features a guest artist performing with our string quintet.

Session 1 - October 24, 2024: Cutting Edge with Mirabelle Jien. Flute.

Session 2 - February 13, 2025: Galentines and Palentines with Yavé. Guitar

Session 3 - June 12, 2025: Folkin’ Amazing with Peter Stone (100 Mile House) - click here for tickets