National Music Centre Names 10 Acts Selected for NMC Artist Mini-Residencies in Honour of 10-Year Anniversary
Residencies aimed at supporting local and regional artists and strengthening Alberta’s broader music ecosystem
(Calgary, AB — August 6, 2026) The National Music Centre (NMC) is pleased to announce the 10 Alberta-based acts selected for NMC Artist Mini-Residencies in celebration of NMC’s 10-year anniversary. The 10 recipients are avant-garde ensemble Ackerley, Sharif, Rafiq, de Jong Improvising Unit, folk-pop songwriter and producer Colin Carbonera, jazz and hip-hop outfit Hip Hip Thursday, neo-jazz singer Kreesha Turner, composer and electronic artist Noel Fanaeian, alt-rock Irish fusion project 0Stella, singer-songwriter Rachel Gleddie, neo-classical artist Sarah Houston, folk trio The Three Sisters, and shoegazers Witch Victim.
These condensed two-day residencies are designed to support local and regional artists and strengthen the broader music ecosystem in Alberta, ensuring that artists can live and create in their home province without ever having to leave. Each artist will be given access to NMC’s living collection of instruments and music technology, recording studios, and an expert studio team, allowing them to experiment, write, record, and explore new ideas in an environment unlike anywhere in the world.
“Alberta is home to an incredible range of musical voices, and this year’s residency artists showcase that richness beautifully,” said Stephanie Hutchinson, NMC’s Director of Programs. “As we celebrate NMC’s 10th anniversary, we’re excited to give these artists the time, space, and tools to dig deeper into their craft, and create something they might not otherwise have the opportunity to make. Supporting Alberta musicians in their home province as they grow and push their artistry forward is a big part of what this program is all about.”
Drawing on decades of experience within Alberta’s experimental music community and internationally recognized practices in improvisation and composition, the Ackerley, Sharif, Rafiq, de Jong Improvising Unit brings together four distinct artistic voices exploring free improvisation, sound collage, field recording, and contemporary creative music.
A songwriter and award-winning producer from Calgary, Colin Carbonera’s music combines pop and folk, with earnest songwriting that illuminates all of life’s sweet and poignant, personal but relevant moments, drawing influence from writers like Nick Drake and Joni Mitchell.
Hip Hip Thursday consists of six Calgary musicians that honour the traditions of jazz and hip-hop, while charting new creative territories with influences of funk, indie, and rock. HHT’s music is not solely about sound, weaving storytelling, emotion, and a connection to important events and the realities of the world around us into their compositions.
From Edmonton, Kreesha Turner is a Platinum-selling, chart-topping Canadian-Jamaican artist whose unmistakable voice and fearless genre fusion have earned her global acclaim. A five-time JUNO Award nominee, she’s best known for her breakout, pop hit “Don’t Call Me Baby.” After a decade away from music, she returns in 2026 with a jazz-inspired body of work including her new single "Utopia."
Noel Fanaeian is an Edmonton-based experimental composer working at the intersection of choral and electronic music. He collaborates with Pro Coro Canada and conductor Michael Zaugg, composing works where the human voice functions as both acoustic presence and electronically processed signal. Previously performing as hundredmillionthousand across 11 countries, Fanaeian has released two critically acclaimed albums.
Edmonton singer-songwriter Rachel Gleddie melds introspective lyrics and thought-provoking musical textures – a bit of indie-folk and a dash of alt-country – into a musical experience that has resonated deeply with audiences across the globe.
Sarah Houston is an award-winning pianist and multi-instrumental composer hailing from Calgary. Combining dynamic rhythmic elements, delicate layers of sound, and melodies that pierce through her compositions, Houston writes pieces that are intricately layered, creating a truly unique listening experience.
The Three Sisters are a Banff-based vocal trio featuring Heather Jean Jordan, Irene Poole, and Ji Won Baxter, blending rich three-part harmonies with piano, violin, ukuleles, and bass to create a genre-defying sound inspired by folk, jazz, and opera.
Incorporating gritty rock with Irish fiddle, bodhrán, and rebellious pop melodies, 0Stella is the project of Bentley, Alberta singer-songwriter and cyclist Liz Pomeroy, who has traversed the country on her bike. Her music embodies adventure, community, and the environment, with shows that feature crowd sing-alongs in both English and Irish, drawing audiences into a vibrant world of rhythm and storytelling.
Witch Victim is a Calgary-based five-piece creating psych-shoegaze defined by fuzzed-out guitars, dreamy vocals, and hypnotic motorik grooves that blur the line between nostalgia and experimentation. Following their 2024 self-titled EP, the band is building on their expansive wall of sound with a new album that pushes their atmospheric style even further.
Follow each artist’s creative journey with behind-the-scenes stories and videos on amplify.nmc.ca throughout NMC’s 10-year anniversary celebration, running until summer 2027.
Special thanks to Walt and Irene DeBoni for supporting NMC Artist Mini-Residencies.
About National Music Centre | Centre National de Musique
More than a museum, the National Music Centre (NMC) is a registered charity dedicated to amplifying the love, sharing, and understanding of music. NMC’s work is guided by five key focus areas: Exhibitions and Collections, Artist and Professional Development, Performance and Recording, Education and Learning, and Music and Wellness. From its headquarters at Studio Bell in the heart of Calgary’s East Village neighbourhood, NMC celebrates Canada’s rich musical legacy, honouring legendary artists, nurturing new voices, and bringing people together through music. As the home for music in Canada, NMC houses a vast collection of rare instruments, artifacts and memorabilia, world-class recording studios, and four national music halls of fame, including the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame, the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, and Quebec’s Adisq Hall of Fame. For more information about NMC’s onsite activities, please visit studiobell.ca. To check out the NMC experience online, visit amplify.nmc.ca.
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Media Contact:
Julijana Capone, Senior Manager, PR and Marketing
julijana.capone@nmc.ca | @nmc_canada