IRENE BESSE
IN THE NEWS

Articles & Newsclips of Note

"They Call It Canada" wins Golden Voices

Terence Leung, For the Calgary Herald
Published: Sunday, May 11, 2008

Amongst a throng of jubilant audience members, Victor Harbidge took home the crown of the Golden Voices competition Saturday at Southcentre mall.

Twelve singers competed at the mall's centre stage after three preliminary rounds this past month at the Fountains of Mission, a retirement residence.

"It was just great to be a part of it really and to experience all of these great people competing and it has just been a marvellous thing to do. I really enjoyed it very, very much and it gave me a chance, you know, to get to sing some of the songs I like to sing, too," said Victor Harbidge who sang They Call it Canada by Freddy Grant.


A little prayer is basically what I did. I just asked God to settle me down," he said.

Harbidge has been singing since he was five years old and has spent the past 35 years as a gospel singer and choir director. He also spent some of his youth training as a singer.

As winner of the Neighbours Golden Voices competition, Harbidge took home a mountain rail journey for two from Anderson Vacations, $500 gift certificate from Handy Luggage, Southcentre mall gift certificates, passes to Stage West, a one-year membership in the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra (CPO) Revoice program and an opportunity to perform with the CPO, tickets to a CPO concert and a digital piano and lessons from Irene Besse Keyboards and Roland.

Judging criteria for the three judges were a combination of expression, intonation and pitch control, tempo and rhythm, stage presence and professionalism, and entertainment value.

"Our community is such an amazing place and it's filled with compassion and talent. They picked such great songs and it's great to see the sweetness and sincerity that is within people," said judge Michael Hope, who is also a vocalist and musician for the CPO.

Hope's reason for choosing Harbidge was simple.

"Isn't it great to see someone who loves to sing? And that's what I got out of Victor."

Third place resulted in a tie between Joe Rino, who sang Italian classic O Sole Mio, and Eunice Scutchings, who sang Someone to Watch Over Me by George Gershwin.

In a shimmering green dress, Gladys Sands wowed the crowd with her rendition of My Heart Belongs to Daddy by Cole Porter.

Saddledome Hosts the Grand playoff Event

See the VIDEO here!

Saturday, March 29th, the day that the Calgary Flames and the Edmonton Oilers faced off to secure their spots in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, was billed as the “Battle of Alberta”. But the hockey game wasn’t the only battle taking place at the Saddledome in Calgary that night.

March 29th also saw two contestants compete in the Grand Piano Playoff, a promotion co-sponsored by Irene Besse Keyboards, Roland Canada and the Calgary Flames, that gave two randomly selected players the chance to win at $15,000 Roland Digital Grand piano. For several weeks prior to the event, a Roland KR-115 Digital Grand Piano was on display in the Saddledome concourse during Calgary Flames home games. Some 600 people entered their names into a ballot box with the hope of being randomly drawn as one of two contestants who would get to compete in the Grand Piano Playoff.

On game night, at the beginning of the second period intermission, the Roland Digital Grand Piano was wheeled onto centre ice accompanied by both contestants as well as Irene Besse, President of Irene Besse Keyboards, and Doug McGarry, Executive Marketing Manager of Roland Canada.

Each contestant was required to play a 30-second piece in front of the Saddledome crowd, who would ultimately determine the winner. As neither contestant had much experience playing piano, let alone playing piano in front of a capacity crowd of some 19,000 spectators, each was assisted by an Irene Besse Keyboards representative during the competition. Kevin Anderson and Brent Hay helped each contestant play their pieces with punchy enthusiasm that brought cheers from the crowd,

After each contestant finished their piece, the crowd was asked to show support for their favourite player by applause. At first it seemed like a close race, but a second round of applause determined Laurie Hnatiuk from Calgary as the victor and the winner of the Roland KR-115 Digital Grand Piano. However, runner up Jennifer Trigger also from Calgary did not go home empty-handed and was awarded a Roland E-09 Interactive Arranger Keyboard for her fantastic effort.

February 12, 2008

IBK Proud to be part of CTV's "Media Idol"

Drew Allen took his audition seriously.

The director of new business development with Corus Radio did his audition at Irene Besse Keyboards Ltd. in southeast Calgary with an authentic nine foot Steinway concert grand piano.

"I've been playing the piano all my life and I studied music all the way through school and even took a music degree in university. Music has always been a real passion of mine growing up," said Allen, who has worked in radio for the past 28 years.

"When Canadian Idol first came on the air I loved the fact that there is a national program out there that people can audition for to find new talent, and look at some of the talent they found, people like Kalan Porter . . . I (also) love the fact that now there's an opportunity for those of us in the media to participate."

Flex said Media Idol is a great way for the press to put themselves in the shoes of the competitors.

"There's no better way to tell a story than have experienced it . . . These are all people who are in the public eye already, as broadcasters, radio announcers, etc. and to see them still nervous in this circumstance is a real testament to how difficult it is to get up in front of people and sing."

see full story here

January 17, 2008

Irene Besse Keyboards wins Prestigious Top Award from Steinway & Sons

"Partners in Performance"

We are pleased to announce that Irene Besse Keyboards Ltd. has been awarded the prestigious Steinway “Partners in Performance Award” for 2007. This award is given to the Steinway Dealer who best manifested the vision and spirit of the founder of Steinway & Sons and who excelled in all aspects of the Steinway Partnership Programs. These programs include:

Concert & Artist Program
Sales Training & Product Knowledge
Family of Steinway Designed Pianos Promotions
Family of Steinway Designed Pianos Sales Performance
Institutional Sales
Customer Service
Merchandising
Advertising & P.R.

We are very proud to be hand-selected from over 200 dealers for this prestigious award.  We sincerely thank our friends and clients without whom this momentous event would not be possible.

November 15, 2007

Henry Z. Steinway has been chosen to receive the prestigious National Medal of Arts Award from the National Endowment of the Arts at the White House today. Article

November 7th, 2007

Irene Besse, "Totally in tune", Alberta Venture Magazine Feature Article
see article here

November 3rd, 2007

Karl Lagerfeld, Piano Man...Globe & Mail Article on Limited Edition Art Case Steinway...by Leah McLaren

"It compares to your average baby grand the way Prada compares to Adidas..."

See article here

View piano details here

     (Available for Purchase)

September 28, 2006

Epcor Centre receives gift of 2 new Steinway grands see the article here.

September 30, 2007

"It [the Steinway]...has the most transparent sound of any piano I've every played.  I adore it."  Glenn Gould  (Celebrating 75 years since his birth) .

See the Glenn Gloud Article here.

October 10, 2007

Rosza Centre receives gift of new Steinway D see the article here.