About Irene Besse Keyboards

What started out as an organ-only retail store on 11th Avenue S.W. under the name JMJ Keyboards has now become the privately owned and operated Irene Besse Keyboards Ltd. with 2 Calgary locations, a music school of over 800 students, a Concert Hall seating over 275 people and a complete piano service and restoration centre.

While Irene was always involved in music from an early age, teaching, performing, selling, in 1981 she purchased an interest in an existing keyboard store in Calgary. As a managing partner, she developed a company strategy that guided the company into a dynamic growth pattern. In 1988 she bought out her two partners and became the sole owner of the business.

After extensive market research throughout Alberta she decided, in 1993, to make her dream a reality and was determined that she would have all appropriate service support, music education, retail showroom and a magnificent concert hall under one roof. Late in 1993 Irene opened her Dream Facility at the current 11th Street S.E location. Then in September of 1998 Irene Besse Keyboards opened a second Education campus at the Dalhousie Station Shopping Centre of northwest Calgary, complete with teaching studios.

For those long-time Calgarians, Irene's name is synonymous with sports. Irene will always be remembered for the magic she brought as organist for all of Calgary's major sports teams….The Calgary Flames Hockey Club, Calgary Stampeder Football Club, Calgary Cannons Baseball Club, Calgary Wranglers Hockey Team (W.H.L.), Calgary Boomers Soccer Club and briefly, the Calgary 88's Basketball Club.

When Calgary hosted the 1988 Winter Olympics, Irene was right there playing for 36 hockey games in 10 days - the first time in Olympic history that live music was a part of the hockey games. The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) aired two features on her, as one of the highlights of the games.

Irene has been the recipient of many awards and honours including the Consumer's Choice award for Best Musical Instrument Store in Calgary many years Running.  Most recently, Irene was recipient of the 2007 Steinway & Sons "Partners in Performance" Award, given to the Steinway Dealer who excels in the eight key areas of partnership.  This is Steinway's top Dealer Award. Personally, Irene was recognized as one of Global Television's Women of Vision Award in February, 2000. Irene and her staff continue their ongoing community involvement presenting free concerts, serving on many boards, working with seniors and mentoring teens, to name a few. Her staff have always been part of her commitment to the world of music in Calgary and she is quick to give credit to them, her support, in saying that she could not do it without them.