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This morning’s newsletter has a bit of an arts flavour to it. We've got two live music events worth circling on your calendar, from a video game symphony at the Jubilee Auditorium to an intimate afternoon of flute and piano celebrating women composers. But it's not all harmony: Calgary Public Library's new AI artist residency is stirring up some strong feelings in the local arts community, and we want to know what you think.

👀 In today's edition:

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If you've ever felt genuinely moved by the music in a video game, this one's for you. Award-winning composer and conductor Eímear Noone is coming to the Jubilee Auditorium on March 28 to lead the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra through music from some of the most beloved game soundtracks ever made — think The Legend of Zelda, Halo, The Last of Us, Fortnite, Fallout, and World of Warcraft, among others.

Noone is no stranger to this material. She composed some of World of Warcraft's most iconic music, reaching over 100 million players over nearly 15 years, and has recorded scores for Diablo III, StarCraft II, and Overwatch. She's also toured as conductor for The Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses and made history in 2020 as the first woman to conduct the Oscars' Orchestra. Her work has earned multiple industry accolades, including the Hollywood Music in Media Award for Best Video Game Score.

It's a reminder of just how far game music has come — today, many of these scores are recognized as serious artistic works in their own right, and hearing them performed live by a full orchestra is a genuinely different experience than playing through them at home.

Noone will be joined on stage by guest vocalist Carly Smithson and the Calgary Philharmonic Chorus. Tickets are available at the Jubilee Auditorium for the March 28 performance.

🏗️ Calgary needs $49 billion in capital spending over the next decade to fix aging roads, transit, water systems, and recreation infrastructure — and some councillors say higher property taxes will have to be part of the conversation.

🩸 Friends and family of Daphne, a Toronto mother of three battling a rare blood cancer, are holding stem cell donor registration drives across Canada — including Calgary — in hopes of finding a match.

⚽ Calgary Wild FC head coach Lydia Bedford is leaving after one season to take the reins of the England Women's Under-23 team. First assistant coach Sinead McSharry will step in as interim head coach ahead of the team's April 25 season opener.

🤖 Calgary Public Library is offering a 10-week AI artist residency paying up to $8,000 — and not everyone is on board. The announcement drew hundreds of mostly critical comments online, with artists raising concerns about plagiarism and the ethics of AI-generated work.

🥧 Mathnasium learning centres across Calgary are hosting free Pi Day celebrations on March 14, with games, prizes, and pizza — a low-key way for kids to explore math in a fun, no-pressure environment.

🦌 An Alberta man has been fined $8,400 and banned from hunting in Saskatchewan for two years after falsifying his big game draw applications for six seasons, claiming his uncle was his brother to gain priority access.

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It's a big week for live music in Calgary — and if Gamesymphonic has you in the mood for something a little more intimate, the Instrumental Society of Calgary has you covered.

The Women with the Golden Flutes takes place Sunday, March 22 at 3:00 p.m. at St. Stephen's Anglican Church in the Beltline, programmed by four of Calgary's prominent flutists: Lucie Jones, Gwen Klassen, Sarah MacDonald, and Emily Phernambucq. They'll be joined by acclaimed pianist Akiko Tominaga for a chamber music program featuring works by Canadian and American composers including Jean Coulthard, Rachel Laurin, and Colleen Athparia, among others.

It's the kind of concert that's easy to walk away from feeling like you discovered something — intimate, carefully curated, and celebrating composers who don't always get the spotlight they deserve.

Tickets range from $10 to $35, with student, senior, and arts worker pricing available. Grab them in advance or at the door at instrumentalsociety.ca/goldenflutes.

🍴 Juree's Thai Place: A long-standing Calgary favourite on 16th Avenue NW, Juree's Thai Place is known for its beautifully presented dishes, warm atmosphere, and an extensive menu that includes standouts like the signature tamarind fish and rich Panang curry — with most of the menu available gluten-free on request.

🍴 Tacos Mexico Macleod: A cozy cantina on Macleod Trail serving up classic Mexican dishes made with traditional recipes, Tacos Mexico is a casual, reliable spot for tacos, enchiladas, fajitas, and margaritas — with city-wide delivery available for nights you'd rather stay in.

Have a food or drink suggestion? Message us and we might share it!

🎟️ YYC Food & Drink Experience: The YYC Food & Drink Experience returns March 13–29 with its biggest lineup yet — 115+ restaurants offering curated prix fixe menus across the city, plus 12 chef-led culinary events and Stay & Dine hotel packages to make a proper night of it

🎟️ Pie Junkie Pi Day: Calgary's favourite pie shop is marking Pi Day (March 14) the only way it knows how — with limited-edition 'Pi' pies available for pre-order and in-store pickup on March 13 and 14 across its four Calgary locations, with city-wide delivery available for anyone who can't make it in.

Have an event suggestion? Message us and we might share it!

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We’ll see you back here on Tuesdays and Thursdays, same time, same place!