Winspear Centre
The growing needs of Edmonton's performing arts
community were met with
the construction of the
Northern Jubilee Auditorium
in 1955, but by the 1980s, demands began to overwhelm. Many musicians felt the acoustics of
the auditorium were unsuitable for a symphony orchestra and booking
conflicts between the orchestra and the Edmonton Opera often arose. Two
groups of Edmontonians, one helmed by radio announcer and jazz musician Tommy Banks, set out to find ways to remedy the situation.
They joined together and formed the Edmonton Concert Hall Foundation in
1983, with the lofty goal of raising enough money to build a proper music
facility for the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and its patrons. The group
consulted architects and acousticians, researching structures from around
the world including over 70, 19th and 20th century performing arts
facilities. Much of the early fundraising efforts relied upon the
generosity of the general public. Ambitious campaigns were launched to
promote the idea of a music hall and in 1988, the Foundation put in a bid
for the old police station across from Sir Winston Churchill Square in
downtown Edmonton. The lease was finalized soon after, with the city
offering a 90-year lease on the property for one dollar a year.
Despite public and civic support, the Foundation still needed millions of
dollars to complete the project. Help came from an unprecedented donation
by Dr. Francis Winspear who committed six million dollars to the project,
the largest single private donation to a performing arts facility in
Canada. In turn, the Alberta government matched the donation, initiating
construction on the Francis Winspear Centre.
The state of the art facility opened in September 1997. The goal of
acoustic excellence was met while maintaining an esthetically appealing
design and a close and welcoming atmosphere. Airtight walls suppress all
outside noises, while the interior design serves to reflect the sound back
to the musicians so they can hear themselves play.
Home to the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, the Winspear Centre also plays
host to a number of touring concerts each year and graduation ceremonies
for local high schools and community colleges.
[Back]
[Top]
|