Black Music Village

Where Discerning Kinsmen Gather…

Preserving | Presenting | Promoting

Music Rooted in Black Culture

Reimagining African Art Music today…

We connect generations of composers and their storytellers who share their work for much longer after they’re gone
Our audience is discerning and open to what is possible…

Here, we are Kinsmen

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“I had not played my flute since I got married and had our first child, now we look forward to the Make Music Family program every Sunday.”

Mosope Idowu

Ecosystem & Industry Collaboration

There is a community… of creatives, of families, of young and adventurous, multi-disciplinary artists, immigrants and touring musicians from the Black community that carry a deep desire to make work here, to live here and to share here.

We commend the genuine work of many of our community partners who have been working to serve a broader audience and include Black music in their programmings. This means a lot.

Still, there is room to deepen this work. So, in the spirit of collaboration, not to show how it's done but to work with our partners who have been doing this work to really to pull the community together, as we work towards sharing rich artistic works by, with and for the black diaspora audience. We want to contribute to making it easy for our young creatives to be rooted in their identity and to take pride in their heritage as we connect with the broader Canadian audience in meaningful ways.

Our Village Radio
City of Calgary
National Music Centre
Calgary Foundation
C-Space Projects

We could never attempt to do this work alone. There is so much ahead of us but some have already walked these paths and made room for us… We are grateful for all our funders, partners and supporters.

Our Village Radio

Programming and presenting on-air, music rooted in black culture and the people behind the work. Our Village Radio is a Collaborative Partner helping us advance our mission.
City of Calgary

City of Calgary supports our work financially, including the Make Music Family program that helped us process a question in music education and family involvement.
National Music Centre

The National Music Centre is a Collaborative Programming Partner and supports us in reaching a wider audience riding on the wings of the incredible work they already do in music; programming and presenting artists of all background, including black musicians globally
Calgary Foundation

With the Foundation’s funding, we are able to program a family-centred music appreciation program. We are so thankful for these
C-Space Projects

C-Space supports our operating space in the Beltline, making it possible for us to gather, program and support other musicians meet their goals with an equipped intimate music practice, residency or programming space.
JazzYYC

JazzYYC has been programming and featuring Black musicians from across the globe and we are continuously seeking opportunities to collaborate and bring the community together either through masterclasses or through concerts and festivals. Their strength, reach and proven track-record meets our work in music appreciation and community connection

Upcoming:

Zikora!

Feb. 5, 2027 | National Music Centre’s Studio Bell | Calgary, AB

A "restorative community experience."

For the discerning audience who values heritage, healing, and the power of storytelling through music.

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Timely. Necessary.

At the Black Music Village, our focus is preserving, elevating, and documenting Black and African art music (which encompasses classical, avant-garde, traditional art forms, and choral traditions).