Piano Heist is Coming to Calgary!

Lifelong friends, and colleagues, Nico Rhodes, and Patrick Courtin, shocked and appalled by the realization that piano just isn’t cool anymore, set off on a divine quest to redeem the keyboard and reinstate its reputation as the greatest instrument of ALL TIME! Armed with the music of the greatest composers, songwriters and performers of the past 300 years, and the technology of the 21st century – their virtual orchestra D.O.U.G.I. (Digital Orchestral Ultimate Gizmo Intelligence), Nico and Patrick deliver everything from classical piano raptures to bombastic boogie woogie, from romantic piano ballads to 80’s keyboard synth battles in their show Piano Heist! What ensues is a mishmash of theatrical wonder, comedy, audience participation, heartfelt stories, a pinch of history, and a world of musical madness.

Brought to you by ARMTA Calgary Branch

Visa and Mastercard only

DATE

Sunday February 16, 2025
7:00 pm

BUY TICKETS

ADMISSION

$30 Regular Admission
$20 Students Grades 1-12

LOCATION

Brentview Baptist Church
3512 Charleswood Dr. NW Calgary, AB

NICO RHODES

is a genre jumping, multilingual musician who collaborates with other artists and artforms to experience and explore music in as many styles as possible. Growing up touring around the globe surrounded by artists and the world of theatre – he is equally comfortable playing jazz, classical, funk or roots music, orchestrating a symphony, writing musicals, and conducting choirs. He begins his day with an expresso and practicing his Japanese, the language he is currently embracing. Nico Rhodes is one of the most in demand young arranger/musical directors in Canada, with 40 stage musicals to his credit. He’s written 400 original compositions, four original musicals and arranged two symphonic pops concerts. He’s been nominated for two Jessie and five Ovation Awards and in 2019 was honoured with Nanaimo’s Emerging Cultural Leader Award. He composes for stage, screen, and media, collaborates with multiple choirs, plays with several jazz trios and tours in a duo with his mother, renowned chanteuse Joelle Rabu. In 2022 Nico produced a series of four multi-artist multi-genre concerts entitled Chapters for The Port Theatre in Nanaimo B.C.

PATRICK COURTIN

is first and foremost a pianist, but also, he is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger, music director and teacher. From his first professional gig accompanying a choir at the age of 14, Patrick has been a career musician. He is classically trained (Royal Conservatory of Music) and completed grade 10 by the age of 17. He then went on to complete a bachelor’s degree of Music in Jazz Studies at Vancouver Island University. For the past decade, Patrick has directed musical theatre productions, played in recording sessions, created music for film + TV, and toured across Canada, the United States and China. Patrick is comfortably at home in many musical settings, having played in professional ensembles in a variety of genres from jazz and classical, to rock and funk. Patrick’s eclectic experience of musical collaboration has included accompanying silent film, opera singers, swing dancers and historical theatre productions.

WHAT THE AUDIENCES ARE SAYING ABOUT PIANO HEIST

“Awesome, awesome, awesome. A wonderful performance by both Patrick Courtin and Nico Rhodes…they are phenomenal musicians, but they’re also phenomenal showmen. Comedy is sharp, hilarity ensues - they even dance! Don’t miss this gem of a performance!” RS Hope, BC

“One of the most enjoyable evenings ever. A mixture of incredible musical talent and warm humour. Loved it, loved it, loved it, you absolutely nailed it for fun… on par with the Smothers Brothers and Victor Borge” G. Bowers, Nanaimo, BC

“Piano Heist was a delightful evening of innovation, comedy and a creative history of piano tunes wrapped in a feelgood presentation... a musical extravaganza by two young men with endless talent… Wow! Two hours of familiar music, delivered in dynamic formats and good humour, even the audience could not help but participate.” SK Hope, BC

“A very enjoyable evening…If you ever get to see or hear these two it is worth your time and money, at some points, I was laughing so hard I was crying!” HW Cedar, BC

“Musical expertise beyond compare, humourous antics, audience participation, great selection of songs spanning 300 years! Patrick and Nico are such endearing performers who know how to deliver to an audience of any age or musical taste. A must-see show.” MB Nanaimo, BC

“Amazing show! Laughed and smiled so much our jaws are sore! So much fun, thank you!!” Parksville, BC