The Isabel at 10

The Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts opened in 2014, welcoming students, faculty, staff, and visitors to its unique design that mixes heritage wood, glass, and textured steel. Since opening, the international team of Ottawa-based architects N45 and Oslo’s Snøhetta has won architectural awards for the centre’s design, and the state-of-the-art performance venue has become a destination for artists and concertgoers near and far.

To celebrate its tenth anniversary, The Isabel is putting on a large and diverse range of programming for the 2024-25 season, including approximately 300 events, nearly eight times the extent of the programming in the Isabel’s inaugural 2014 season.

The 10th anniversary season kicked off this summer with a concert by the National Youth Orchestra of Canada, marking the launch of its summer tour. The anniversary continued in September with concerts by two outstanding Indigenous musicians – Inuk opera singer Deantha Edmunds, and Polaris award-winning performing artist Jeremy Dutcher. To mark the 10th anniversary, a special event was held at the Isabel on Sept. 21 for friends and supporters of the centre. The event featured a presentation in the Isabel performance hall by the Snóhetta and N45 architects and Arup sound engineers on the story of the design of the Isabel, which was followed by a reception in the Isabel’s lobby atrium.

A special part of this occasion was to remember with deep gratitude the generosity of Isabel (LLD’07) and Alfred Bader (Sc’45, Arts’46, MSc’47, LLD’86), whose support made the Isabel possible.

Marg Foster, the niece of Isabel Bader, welcomes attendees of the 10th anniversary celebration on behalf of Bader Philanthropies and the Bader and Overton families. (Queen's University/Garrett Elliott Photography)

The 10th anniversary season at the Isabel is curated around the theme of “Inspiration and Alliances.” Gordon E. Smith, Director of the Isabel, explains that “the theme signifies a celebration of the wonderful relationships with artists, staff, faculty, students, and communities, the Isabel has formed since opening in 2014, as well as celebrating new and innovative pathways in the performing arts as the centre moves into its second decade.”

Building on Inspiration and Alliances, the anniversary season includes performances by returning artists, along with new and diverse artists. Featured returning ensembles are Les Violons du Roy with soprano Karina Gauvin and contralto Marie-Nicole Lemieux, and Tafelmusik in a special concert dedicated to Tricia Baldwin, beloved former director of the Isabel. The Isabel is also welcoming back the legendary Branford Marsalis, pianists Angela Hewitt and Bruce Liu, alongside a debut performance by pianist Misha Dichter.

In addition, the Isabel is proud to present debut performances by a diverse array of artists: pianist Megumi Masaki, cellist Nicolas Alstaedt with pianist Fazil Say, violinist Melissa White with pianist Pallavi Mahidhara, pianist Michelle Cann with the Imani Winds, the Viano String Quartet with guitarist MILOS, The Kingdom Choir, singer Andra Bader and composer, conductor, and keyboard player, Howard Moody, VOCES8, Meta4, Près de votre oreille, and the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain. A highlight of the season will be a three-day residency of the Vancouver Chamber Choir, followed by a performance by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.

The Isabel also recently announced the re-naming of the Karen Hitchcock Rehearsal Hall to the Karen Hitchcock Recital Hall, which aligns with the increasing use of this wonderful space for performances as well as rehearsals. In the anniversary season, the Isabel is offering a new Friday series of concerts featuring local artists in this intimate setting.

The Karen Hitchcock Rehearsal Hall was recently renamed as the Karen Hitchcock Recital Hall, aligning with the increasing use of the space for performances as well as rehearsals. (Queen's University/Garrett Elliott Photography)

When the Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts opened in 2014, the vision was for a world-class performance centre and a leading-edge teaching and learning space.

“Looking back on the past decade it is clear the Isabel has achieved this, and more,” Dr. Smith notes. “It is now a major home for the performing arts at Queen’s, and a space for vibrant artistic study, creation, and performance, and a creative hub for teaching and learning.”

The fully-equipped spaces offer students from the Dan School of Drama and Music, the Department of Film and Media Studies, and others from across campus, up-to-date learning opportunities in classrooms, labs, and rehearsal facilities. During the academic term and beyond, the Isabel has become a home to students, faculty and staff, reinforcing the centre as an innovative educational space at Queen’s.

The Isabel’s educational and public programming has expanded and embraced the increasingly critical realities of Indigenization-Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Anti-Racism and Accessibility.

“These are ongoing, strategic priorities in all aspects of the Isabel’s programming and operations, challenging, yet rich with possibilities for the performing arts,” Dr. Smith says. “We are ever grateful for the gift of this special place, its traditions, and exciting potential for the future as we highlight inspirations and alliances in the Isabel’s 10th season.”

View the 10th Anniversary 2024-25 season brochure.

Tickets and more information are available on The Isabel website.

The story originally appeared in The Gazette.