The Oscar Peterson Centennial celebrations continue with a new exhibition honouring the life and times of one of Canada’s musical legends. On July 16, Calgary’s National Music Centre (NMC) unveiled Timeless: 100 years of Oscar Peterson, a retrospective exhibition honouring Peterson’s Centennial which officially takes place on August 15.
Through archival materials, interviews, instruments, awards, personal artifacts, and multimedia installations, the exhibition explores Peterson’s life from his upbringing in Montreal’s historic Little Burgundy to his rise as a powerful force in the world of jazz. The exhibition was produced in collaboration with Peterson’s family and his official estate.
“Oscar wasn’t just a jazz pianist, he was a mentor, a trailblazer, and a force for social change,” says Kelly Peterson, his widow. “This exhibition captures the heart of who he was as a musician, and as a human being. It’s very exciting to now have the full breadth of Oscar’s collection being shared with the public, allowing people to see some aspects of Oscar they did not know, and might not expect. It is my hope that by celebrating and honouring the 100th anniversary of his birth in this way, people will feel they know more about Oscar, that they have a fuller understanding of the artist and the man he was.”
Visitors will also have a chance to explore and engage with artifacts such as Peterson’s personal musical instruments from his home studio, while immersing themselves in video footage exploring the stories behind some of Peterson’s timeless songs, including “Hymn to Freedom” which became a theme song for the American Civil Rights movement.
Starting in August, NMC will unveil special programming in conjunction with the exhibition, including a special concert on August 15 featuring JUNO award-winning pianist Andy Milne, who was a former student of Peterson.
Timeless: 100 Years of Oscar Peterson is on display now until July 2026. For more information, visit studiobell.ca/exhibitions.