Enjoy an evening at Studio Bell as part of the 2026 Honens Festival, featuring an inspiring program of music and artistry.
6 pm
Pre-Concert Chat
Topic: Collaboration through the lens of becoming the Complete Artist
Speakers: Winston Choi, Jon Kimura Parker, and Élisabeth Pion
7 pm
Concert
From the elegance of the Baroque court to the fire of the modern concert hall, dance forms take centre stage in this journey across centuries. Beginning with deconstructed versions of grand historical works leading to energetic modern pieces, each reimagines—with shifting combinations of violin, harpsichord, and piano from Winston Choi, Carter Johnson, Jon Kimura Parker, and MingHuan Xu—what it means to dance with both grace and fire.
Program
INVITATION TO THE DANCE
FRANÇOIS COUPERIN Concert Royaux Suite No. 4
I. Prélude
II. Allemande
III. Courante Françoise
Jon Kimura Parker
MAURICE RAVEL Prélude from Le Tombeau de Couperin
Carter Johnson
ERIK SATIE Sarabande No. 1
Carter Johnson
ARNOLD SCHOENBERG Suite Op. 25
I. Präludium
II. Gavotte
Carter Johnson
IGOR STRAVINSKY Introduzione from Suite Italienne for violin and piano
MingHuan Xu, Winston Choi
STYLIZED STEPS
FRANÇOIS COUPERIN Concert Royaux Suite No. 4
VII. Forlane
VI. Rigaudon from
Jon Kimura Parker
MAURICE RAVEL Forlane from le Tombeau de Couperin
Winston Choi
JEAN-PHILIPPE RAMEAU Rigaudon I – Rigaudon II et Double from Suite in E minor
Jon Kimura Parker
MAURICE RAVEL Rigaudon from le Tombeau de Couperin
Winston Choi
BÉLA BARTOK 6 Romanian Dances for Violin & Piano
MingHuan Xu, Winston Choi
INTERMISSION
OF GRACE AND FIRE
MAURICE RAVEL Menuet from le Tombeau de Couperin
Jon Kimura Parker
IGOR STRAVINSKY Minuetto e Finale from Suite Italienne for Violin and Piano
MingHuan Xu, Winston Choi
LOUIS COUPERIN Unmeasured Prelude
GYÖRGY LIGETI Hungarian Rock
Carter Johnson
KELLY-MARIE MURPHY Dance Me to Your Beauty with a Burning Violin for Violin & Piano
MingHuan Xu, Winston Choi
MAURICE RAVEL Toccata from le Tombeau de Couperin
Carter Johnson
About Honens
So many piano competitions, so little time. Canada’s Honens Competition, however, may be on to something.” —The New Yorker
Honens, home of Canada’s international piano competition, cultivates piano artistry, supports remarkable young artists, and inspires a richer understanding of the piano and its music.
Esther Honens created a legacy of musical excellence to be enjoyed for generations. In 1991, Mrs. Honens gave $5 million to endow an international piano competition in her hometown of Calgary, Canada. Today, the triennial Honens International Piano Competition is considered one of the world’s most prestigious events of its kind. Honens prepares its Laureates, who embody the philosophy of the Complete Artist, for professional careers in music, through a comprehensive and customizable three-year artistic development and career accelerator program which creates opportunities for exposure and holistic growth.
Community events and initiatives, along with the annual Honens Festival, are intended to share Mrs. Honens’ love of world-renowned music, and provide every Calgarian access to barrier free, enriching musical experiences. Her generosity, vision, and love of music continue to touch the lives of musicians and music-lovers at home and around the world.
Honens Legacy Partners support the ongoing growth and development of Esther Honens’ vision by securing the organization’s future. The Legacy Partners Endowment Fund enables Honens to provide wide-reaching programming through its annual festival and other enriching community education and outreach initiatives.