June 4, 2024
Commuting through downtown may soon elicit jazz hands and tapping feet, as a new pilot between the City and the Winspear Centre will have symphony music playing in LRT stations throughout downtown. LRT patrons will now hear music recorded by the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra (ESO) while they wait.
"We couldn't be more thrilled to share this specially curated playlist of Edmonton Symphony Orchestra recordings,” said Annemarie Leenhouts-Petrov, President and CEO of the Winspear Centre and Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. “While awaiting the LRT, you can now enjoy the amazing artistry and passion of the professional musicians that make up your ESO, experiencing delicate melodies to thundering crescendos, moments of tension, joy and exhilaration. It is a great honour to pilot this initiative to feature local musicians and artists' works as a way of contributing to a vibrant and welcoming downtown Edmonton."
The recording playlist is wide-ranging, featuring classical composers like Beethoven and Tchaikovsky, familiar modern music of Broadway and Hollywood, and even local composers, like Edmonton's John Estacio.
“Small actions can have a big impact on increasing the vibrancy in our downtown,” said Tom Girvan, Director of Downtown Vibrancy and Safe City. “We have an incredible arts community in our downtown core, especially with the Arts District at its heart, and we want to find new and exciting ways to make it accessible for people visiting the neighbourhood, whether it’s through music, a mural or an activation.”
Music will be broadcast through the speakers at Government Centre, Corona, Bay/Enterprise Square, Central, Churchill and MacEwan LRT stations during operational hours, from 5 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily. Priority will be given to station and train announcements to ensure accessibility.
