09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Banff's Live from the Rockies concert series returns with classical string duo
BANFF – Live from the Rockies, formerly known as Music @ The Juniper, returns for its third year, presenting a classical string performance from The New Cohort on Mother's Day (May 11).
Coming to Banff's historic St. George- in- the-Pines Anglican Church is husband and wife duo, Keith Hamm (viola) and Julie Hereish (cello), who make up The New Cohort.
As members of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and Banff Centre alumni, the pair are eager to be back on a Banff stage.
'Banff is really close to our hearts. Anytime we can get back to perform there is amazing,' said Hamm.
The couple started The New Cohort in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, putting together a comprehensive viola and cello program that eventually led to a Maritimes tour in 2022.
'The program is so nice for us to revisit, it's really special to us,' said Hamm. 'To share a little more [of the program] in Alberta is exciting.'
Hamm and Hereish love playing in smaller venues and feel their program is a great fit for a performance at one of Banff's landmarks and the town's oldest active church.
'There's just two of us with a cello and a viola and to have a space that's really intimate like that but also has phenomenal acoustics. It's just perfect for what we're doing.'
The classical performance will mark Live from the Rockies' 18th concert since their inception in March 2022.
Hamm thanked Lev Nesterov, founder and artistic director of Live from the Rockies, for his work in starting the Bow Valley concert series.
'There's obviously wonderful offerings at the Banff Centre, but to see people in the community expanding the performing arts vibe in depth is really exciting to see,' said Hamm.
The show begins at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 11 at St. George in the Pines Anglican Church in downtown Banff.
'I know everyone is celebrating differently, but we're inviting our specific audience to add a little music activity to their day,' said Nesterov.
Following a performance from the Amelie Patterson Trio in April, this is the final concert in the Live from the Rockies 2025 spring concert series.
Seating is assigned on a first come first serve basis. Tickets are $30 a person and available for purchase at:
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The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada. The position covers Îyârhe (Stoney) Nakoda First Nation and Kananaskis Country.
