Skip to content
  1. Home
  2. Mountain Guide

BISQFest announces 2023 schedule

“BISQFest 2023 promises to be an exceptional experience for the music lover.”
RMO Staff
20220829 Banff International String Quartet Competition (BISQC) JH 0003
The 14th Banff International String Quartet Competition returns for its every three-year performance at the Jenny Belzberg Theatre at the Banff Centre on Monday (Aug. 29). From left: Njioma Chinyere Grevious (violin), Rebecca Benjamin (violin), Brian Gadbow (cello) and James Chanha Kang (viola) of Abeo Quartet (USA) perform. JUNGMIN HAM RMO PHOTO

BANFF – Music lovers can prepare their schedule for the first few days of September.

Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity announced the Banff International String Quartet Festival (BISQFest) will return Sept. 1-3, with performers including several national and international musicians.

New Orford String Quartet, Viano String Quartet, Leonkoro Quartet, Michael Bridge, Ema Nikolovska, Alon Nashman, Carmen Braden and Larry Weinstein are among the musicians at the annual three-day event.

“BISQFest 2023 promises to be an exceptional experience for the music lover,” said Barry Shiffman, the director of the Banff International String Quartet Competition and Festival in a media release.

The annual performance, also known as BISQfest, was created in 2017 and came into existence out of the success of the triennial Banff International String Quartet Competition (BISQC).

BISQC began more than four decades ago to celebrate the art of chamber music as well as to support emerging and experienced musicians.

Though initially intended to be a one-time event in 1983 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Banff Centre, the success of the event led to it being held every three years and BISQFest was created to run in non-BISQC competition years.

The festival features concerts, movie screenings, artist talks and rehearsals open to the public. The first in-person festival since 2018 will have two dozen artists from North America and Europe.

Banff Centre is also partnering with the Violin Channel for the festival and ticket packages go on sale May 10. Individual tickets will be available in the early summer.

“We have assembled a roster of two dozen brilliant musicians from around the world who will descend on Banff to create, perform, and celebrate the incredible riches of the chamber music repertoire,” Shiffman said in a media release. “I look forward to welcoming you to Banff Centre and do hope you can join us in September. A magical weekend of music in the mountains awaits.”

For more information, people can visit: www.banffcentre.ca/banff-international-string-quartet-festival.