From the panoramic views of Lake Ontario through the floor-to-ceiling windows to the rich, warm tones of the wood walls of the Jennifer Velva Bernstein Performance Hall, there’s a magic to the Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts.
As both a performance hall and an educational hub for Queen’s University, the Isabel is a surprisingly energetic space, even when there isn’t a performance scheduled. A first-time visitor may be surprised to find the sun-drenched Alexander Murray Jeffery Grand Lobby bustling with visitors sitting down with cups of coffee and tea from nearby Juniper Café, taking in the lake views in the quiet ambiance.
It’s the kind of place that’s great to visit even when there isn’t a concert to attend, but those moments without an exciting performance are few and far between. 2024 marks the Isabel’s tenth year of programming, and over the season the hall will be filled with the sounds of inspiring and diverse music.
Carrying a legacy of progress
Since opening its doors in September 2014, the Isabel has earned itself a reputation as a premier destination in Kingston for international live music. According to Isabel director Gordon E. Smith, that was always the plan.
“The Isabel is a signature destination. In terms of the performing arts, there really is no other place like it.”
Built into the hillside overlooking the lake, the Isabel creates a heightened sense of awareness of your surroundings by capturing elements of the natural landscape. There’s intentionality to its design just as there’s intention to its purpose, which can all be traced back to its namesake: Isabel Bader, who, along with her husband, Alfred, led a legacy of generosity and philanthropy, both in Kingston and elsewhere. It is their legacy that’s expressed in the direction of the Isabel.
“Indigenization, equity, diversity, inclusion, anti-racism, accessibility. These are priorities at the university, but also at the Isabel,” says Smith. “These are pivot points for inspiration…These are exciting pathways that we can explore in terms of the performing arts.”
Inspiration and alliances
The theme behind the Isabel’s tenthanniversary is “Inspiration and Alliances,” a name and credo that embodies the selection of this year’s performers. This season sees both new and returning artists on the Isabel stage..
“This tenth anniversary season is a balance of returning artists,” says Smith, “but [also] looking to the future in terms of diversifying what we’re putting on the stage.”
This direction is clear to see in this year’s list of performers. Returning artists like virtuosic pianist Bruce Liu and Canadian Indigenous tenor and composer Jeremy Dutcher are slated alongside international artists making their Isabel debuts, like The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain and Finnish string quartet Meta4.
February will be filled with programming in celebration of Black History Month, including jazz master Branford Marsalis and British-American mezzo-soprano Andrea Baker’s Tales of “Transatlantic Freedom”.
Championing local artists
In the landscape of Kingston music venues, the Isabel cultivates a very different feel from other local spots like the Broom Factory and the downtown pubs where local artists tend to play. Over the years the Isabel has hosted many local artists, from blues singer Miss Emily to the occasional rock band like the Wilderness, and in its tenth season, the performance centre is launching a series specifically designed to welcome local performers into the space. “Friday Nights in the Recital Hall” challenges the notion of certain spaces being designed for certain artists and brings new energy into the space.
“I like to think of this as breaking that down a bit. It’s about accessibility and inclusion,” says Smith. “This is not meant to compete with anybody in the area, but to animate the space… in ways that engage the community.”
Up-and-coming local artists take to the stage of the Karen Hitchcock Recital Hall for intimate concerts at $20 per ticket. These include returning singer-songwriter Alex Mundy to musicians making their Isabel debut, like local multi-instrumentalist Chris Brown and singer Kate Fenner.
A must-see destination for any visit
From rousing performances in the Jennifer Velva Bernstein Performance Hall to quiet coffee chats by the water, the Isabel is a space unlike any other in town.
“It’s well worth coming by, at any time of year,” says Smith. “We love the place, and we like to share it with people.”
For the full list of performers, check the Isabel’s 2024/2025 brochure, and visit the website for show times and tickets.
