A century after the birth of Oscar Peterson, his influence remains everywhere.
The legendary Canadian pianist, composer and humanitarian changed what was possible at the piano, built a career spanning more than six decades and became one of the most celebrated jazz musicians in the world.
Now, Calgary audiences have more time to explore that legacy.
The National Music Centre’s Timeless: 100 Years of Oscar Peterson has been extended at Studio Bell through January 3, 2027. Originally opened in July 2025 to commemorate the centenary of Peterson’s birth, the exhibition brings together instruments, archival materials, awards, personal artifacts, interviews and multimedia installations to tell the story of one of Canada’s most important musicians.
Peterson was born in Montreal in 1925 and grew up in the city’s Little Burgundy neighbourhood, a historically Black working-class community with a rich musical history. From those beginnings, he went on to become an internationally renowned performer whose virtuosity earned him nicknames including “The Maharaja of the Keyboard” and “The Man with Four Hands.”
His career brought extraordinary recognition. Peterson became the first artist inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1978 and later received honours including the Glenn Gould Prize and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. His influence can be heard across generations of musicians, including artists such as Herbie Hancock and Diana Krall.
At Studio Bell, Timeless looks beyond the accolades to explore Peterson as an artist, innovator, educator and advocate.
The exhibition includes equipment from Peterson’s home studio, including vintage synthesizers, electronic instruments and recording gear. The collection offers a closer look at a side of Peterson that audiences may know less about: his early adoption of electronic music technology and continued interest in how new tools could expand his work.
Visitors can also experience performance footage and explore the history of “Hymn to Freedom,” Peterson’s composition that became closely associated with the Civil Rights Movement.
The song remains one of the clearest examples of how Peterson’s work reached beyond technical brilliance.
“Oscar wasn’t just a jazz pianist, he was a mentor, a trailblazer, and a force for social change,” said Kelly Peterson, widow of the late musician, when the exhibition was launched.
Created in collaboration with the Peterson estate, the exhibition brings together material from across his life and career, offering audiences an opportunity to encounter both the public musician and the person behind the piano.
Peterson was also deeply committed to music education. That part of his legacy is reflected through a dedicated kids’ zone featuring interactive instruments and a curated playlist designed to introduce younger listeners to his music.
The exhibition’s original centenary programming also brought Peterson’s influence back to the stage. On August 15, 2025, what would have been Peterson’s 100th birthday, JUNO Award-winning Canadian pianist and former Peterson student Andy Milne performed at Studio Bell. Milne later joined a discussion about Peterson’s artistic influence, with Calgary pianist Sheldon Zandboer performing selections from his work.
For National Music Centre President and CEO Andrew Mosker, Peterson’s legacy is tied to both innovation and possibility.
“Oscar Peterson was a pioneering Canadian artist who redefined what was possible with the piano,” Mosker said at the exhibition’s launch.
That possibility is still worth encountering.
Peterson died in 2007, but his recordings, compositions, mentorship and influence continue to move through jazz and popular music. Timeless places that history in the room, from the instruments he played to the technology he explored and the music that made him one of the defining Canadian artists of the 20th century.
For anyone who missed the exhibition during its original run, the extension offers another chance to spend time with that legacy.
Exhibition Information
Timeless: 100 Years of Oscar Peterson
National Music Centre at Studio Bell
Level 5, National Bank Special Exhibitions Gallery
850 4 Street SE, Calgary
On view until January 3, 2027
The exhibition is accessible with regular paid admission to Studio Bell. Visit studiobell.ca for current admission, hours and visitor information.