Journée de la Francophonie

Celebrate Francophone culture and heritage through music at Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre. Admission is free! Join the National Music Centre for a full day of activities to celebrate Canadian and Albertan Francophone culture through songs and stories. With International Francophonie Day falling in March and the Government of Alberta proclaiming 2026 as the Year of the Francophonie, NMC is proud to showcase our vibrant Francophone community alongside celebrations happening throughout the province and around the world. Francophone music is foundational to Canada’s cultural identity, reflecting centuries of storytelling, resilience, and artistic innovation rooted in French-speaking communities across the country. From traditional folk to contemporary genres, it continues to shape Canada’s national sound while celebrating the linguistic and cultural diversity that defines us. This event provides an opportunity to highlight the vibrancy and energy the Francophonie brings to Alberta. Journée de la Francophonie will feature performances by Ariane Mahrÿke Lemire (Regina, SK), Jeremy Gignoux (Calgary, AB), Marc Beaudin (Edmonton, AB) and Tina Hartt (Calgary, AB), as well as a panel discussion with the artists discussing how culture and music intersect. National Music Centre is also home to the Adisq Hall of Fame, which celebrates the Quebec and Francophone Canadian music industry. Visitors can dance to Francophone hits in the silent A-DISCO, and young music fans can play in the kids’ craft station. Schedule All day Kids’ Craft Station Canada Music Square, Level 1 All day Silent A-DISCO Party ADISQ Hall of Fame, Level 4 11:00 am – 11:30 am Jeremy Gignoux Duo Canada Music Square, Level 1 12:00 pm – 12:45 pm Voices of Canada Panel Performance Hall, Level 2 1:00 pm – 1:30 pm Jeremy Gignoux Duo Canada Music Square, Level 1 1:30 pm – 2:15 pm Ariane Mahrÿke Lemire Performance Hall, Level 2 2:30 pm – 3:00 pm Tina Hartt Canada Music Square, Level 1 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm Marc Beaudin King Eddy 3:15 pm – 4:00 pm Ariane Mahrÿke Lemire Performance Hall, Level 2 About Ariane Mahrÿke Lemire A seasoned musician, Ariane Mahrÿke Lemire has performed at major musical events: the Vancouver Olympics; Festival en chanson de Petite Vallée in Gaspésie; Coup de coeur Francophone and the Place des arts in Montreal; European festivals such as Les Rencontres d'Astaffort and Les Déferlantes Francophones in France; appearances on several television broadcast artist profiles (UNIS TV, CBC, SRC, BEBE, SaskTel Max). Four time nominee and two time Western Canadian Music Award winner, Ariane is a prominent figure in both the English and French music scenes in Western Canada. During the summer of 2017 she was an artist in residence at the National Music Centre in Calgary where she recorded and performed new works and gave a workshop performance. About Marc Beaudin Originally from Sept-Îles, Quebec, Marc Beaudin is a now veteran of Alberta’s music scene. A bassist, composer, and arranger, he leads Alberta’s premier showband, the Retrofitz, and has earned two Global Music Awards. His latest project, Prairies Funko-Fone, is a genre-blending tribute to Western Canada, celebrating the landscapes and communities that have shaped his two-decade career. A Warrant Officer with the Canadian Forces Music Branch, he led a 35-piece European tour and later completed a Bachelor of Professional Studies at Berklee College of Music in 2019. In 2025, with Samantha King and the Midnight Outfit, Marc received a JUNO nomination for Blues Album of the Year for their debut album. About Jeremy Gignoux Jeremy Gignoux is a Calgary-based violinist and composer, classically trained in France and active across styles from country fiddle to jazz and experimental music. His work balances tradition and exploration, composition and improvisation. He leads projects including The Acoustic Ensemble (Parisian swing-inspired originals), Canadian Folf Music Award-nominated Calgaréal (trad-infused improvisation), Odd Stillness (experimental recording), and Icarus 3, an improvising trio. Jeremy collaborates with artists such as Mike Tod, Notas de 4, and Matt Masters, and has performed with William Parker, Nick Fraser, and Sarah Davachi. He also works in dance and theatre, contributing to productions with Decidedly Jazz Danceworks, Rosebud Theatre, and Jacqueline Russell’s Allergic to Water. Jeremy will be performing as a duo with guitarist Wayne Garrett. About Tina Hartt Calgary-based jazz vocalist Tina Hartt is a Montreal-born singer, composer, and musician. She has performed across Canada and gained national recognition with her album Absence of You, nominated for Jazz Recording of the Year at the 2023 YYC Music Awards and reaching #1 on DFBX’s Specialty Jazz Charts. Known as the “jazz singer with a French twist,” Tina performs bilingual originals, jazz standards, and French chansons. She has been featured on CBC/Radio-Canada and performed at major festivals and venues including JazzYYC International Jazz Days, Jack Singer Hall, the National Music Centre, Yardbird Suite, and Ironwood Stage & Grill. A regular guest with the 18-piece Ninth Avenue Band, she is currently working on her next album and planning upcoming Ontario performances.