Downtown Prince George will see Knox Performance Centre open its doors with a concert starring internationally acclaimed Canadian concert pianist Angela Hewitt March 9 at 7:30 p.m.
With more than $300,000 in renovations almost complete the former Knox United Church, 1448 Fifth Ave., a 285-seat venue, will be celebrated as Prince George’s newest performance space. Trinity United Church and the Community Arts Council of Prince George & District partnered to make this project a reality.
The premiere event will include a ribbon cutting ceremony and a champagne reception with the artist following the concert.
Angela Hewitt is one of the world's most sought-after concert pianists and appears in recital and as soloist with major orchestras throughout Europe, the Americas, Australia, and Asia.
Hewitt is regarded as the world's foremost performer of the music of J.S. Bach. The Prince George concert will feature major works by Bach, Brahms and Scarlatti.
Hewitt will perform these works on a Fazioli concert grand piano, one of the most prestigious piano brands in the world. The person in Northern BC who owns the grand piano, wishes to remain anonymous, and is generously donating the piano for Hewitt’s use. A tuner from Alberta specializing in the Fazioli will be brought in to make sure the instrument is in fine form for the performance.
On March 10 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Hewitt will be teaching a master class to a small group of piano students from the Conservatory of Music. This event will offer a unique experience for the public to observe the teachings of this highly sought-after international artist.
“It is incredible that the first major event at the Knox Performance Centre will be with such a high-calibre international artist as Angela Hewitt,” Reverend Bob Fillier of Trinity United Church said. “This event is the culmination of several years of dedicated work in collaboration with the arts community and we are so pleased to have it launch a new chapter in performing arts for the region, and downtown Prince George in particular.”
The Knox Performance Centre is in the old Knox United Church. The original church building facing Brunswick Street is part of the Prince George Heritage Building Registry and the performance centre is in the sanctuary constructed in 1955. After the Knox congregation merged with the former St. Andrew’s congregation in 2018 Trinity United wanted to continue its mandate of inclusive fellowship and providing joyful service to all. The plans to renovate to convert part of the space at Trinity Downtown into a full time performance venue started.
With funding from Northern Development Initiative Trust, Heritage Canada, the Prince George Community Foundation, Downtown Prince George, the BC Arts Council, Trinity United Church and the United Church of Canada Foundation the renovations are almost complete and features the latest and greatest performance lighting and sound system in Northern BC.
“The CAC has long striven to have a dedicated space for us to present performing arts and live entertainment, in addition to our 55-year history as a leader in activating visual arts spaces in the community,” Eli Klasner, CAC Executive Director, said. “Our vision has always been to lead the development of our community into a recognized centre of creativity, and the opening of the Knox Performance Centre is a major milestone in our efforts to help make this a reality."
Tickets for the concert are $75 and $40, and all attendees can attend an elegant reception with the artist for an additional $25. Public admission to the March 10 Masterclass is $25. Tickets for all events are available for purchase via studio2880.com and trinitypg.ca.
