What are the possibilities when a performing arts organization has the opportunity of turning a parking lot into something new? If you are The Winspear Centre and home of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, you dream big, and turn it into a sparkling new hall full of multipurpose spaces that are alive with music-making from early morning until late at night.

When Connexionarts President, Alison Kenny-Gardhouse, was first approached about working on the project, she was intrigued. “I didn’t know a lot about Edmonton at the time but had heard the wonderful Edmonton Symphony Orchestra in the Winspear’s acoustically brilliant main hall. When I later met with CEO Annemarie Leenhouts-Petrov and heard about the vision for a building that would have a wide community reach, architectural significance and careful attention to the very specific needs of a world-class orchestra, I couldn’t say no!”

An early part of the work in the consulting process was the creation of The Tommy Banks Centre for Musical Creativity, visioning and creating the design for all the possibilities for the types of programs that the new space would eventually house. Concurrent with that was the start of building the Musical Creativity team, a group of multi-faceted educators and artist-teachers. Over the next decade, Alison took on the role of the Winspear’s VP of Music & Engagement, and researched, piloted and refined a wide range of programming, aimed at reaching all ages and stages of the community.

Although the expansion project was mid-construction with the COVID-19 pandemic hit and caused a predictable slowdown, it provided new opportunities for ESO musician recordings of smaller ensembles and new works. Evolution of the Arts in a Digital World Symposium, a series of online sessions reaching the international arts community over several weeks, was also launched during this time.

Currently, the Winspear is bursting at the seams with activity and the need for the finished space is intense. Fortunately, construction is back full swing and the opening of the Tommy Banks Centre for Musical Creativity is anticipated for fall of 2027. We can’t wait!