09/28/2026
THE CELLIST’S JOURNEY: A Tribute to Ben Davenport
Wed. September 30 (doors open at 11:30)
ProArts is non-profit. Donations at the door are appreciated.
A Concert of Seven Cellos, Seven Ages, and One Enduring Legacy
How does a child’s first hesitant pluck of a string transform into a lifetime of artistry, intellect, and community devotion?
This unique all-cello performance celebrates the growth of a boy into a man—and the enduring legacy of Calgary’s own Ben Davenport. Seven young cellists take the stage to form a living timeline of a musician’s life, tracing the journey across seven distinct milestones from early childhood to adulthood.
We watch the pure wonder of a 2-year-old blossom into the mature artistry of a 17-year-old. Standing at the threshold of his final year of grade school, this eldest young man is ready to carry his melody forward into university years ahead.
Yet, no musician walks this path alone. Behind every note are the quiet architects of character: the parents, the teacher, colleagues, and peers. This performance honours the profound role of Ben’s own parents, whose unwavering love guided him through the trials of youth. Beside them stands the cello teacher—the mentor who coaxes music from small hands, teaches resilience through difficult scales, and serves as a steady anchor through turbulent teenage years. Enriching this path are mentorship programs such as the Mount Royal Academy Program, the Civic Symphony Orchestra, the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra – each and every Concert Society (thank you ProArts!). Musician peers form a vital network of friendships whose shared trials and camaraderie transform individual practice into a lifelong Love.
Through the deep, soulful voice of the cello, we mirror the life of Ben Davenport. He balanced the strict logic of law with the profound grace of music, pouring his heart into Calgary. By supporting these young artists, we honour the collective devotion of parents and teachers, passing the musical torch to the next generation.
THE PERFORMERS
Morag Northey (Teacher), Magnus Lindskog-Kelly (Age 2), Viggo Lindskog-Kelly (Age 5), Joshua Chung (Age 7), Callum Grant (Age 12), Benjamin Cheng (Age 13), Tony Yuen (Age 16), and Aaron Janse (Age 17)
Morag Northey and Aaron Janse serve as the collaborative cellists for all accompanied works.
Morag Northey is a distinguished Canadian award winning cellist and dedicated teacher whose career spans solo, orchestral, chamber, and choral performance, alongside more than three decades of inspiring musicians of all ages. Equally at home on the concert stage and in the teaching studio, she is passionate about developing both technical mastery and artistic individuality.
Morag has performed major orchestral and concerto repertoire, including Edward Elgar’s Cello Concerto with the Rocky Mountain Symphony Orchestra and with the Hershey Symphony Orchestra in Pennsylvania. Her collaborative work includes performances of Jocelyn Morlock’s Exaudi for solo cello and choir with Andrea Ciona and Spiritus Chamber Choir, as well as works by Eric Whitacre with John Morgan and the Mount Royal Kantorei. She has performed in a wide range of chamber and contemporary music settings.
Morag began studying cello at the age of twelve with Judith Fraser at the Vancouver Academy of Music. Her education continued at The Banff Centre, where she studied with internationally renowned artists including Zara Nelsova, Aldo Parisot, and Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi. She holds an Associate of Arts in Pedagogy and Performance from the Victoria Conservatory of Music and Camosun College, a Professional Orchestral Training Program certificate from Toronto, a Bachelor of Arts in Performance from the University of Texas at Austin, and a Master of Music from the University of Calgary.
She currently leads the “Hello My Cello” School and has conducted Early, Teen, and Adult Cello Camps for 36 years. From a child’s first bow hold to advanced artistic and professional development, Morag’s teaching is grounded in inspirational nurturing, technical excellence, and a lifelong love of music.
Aaron Janse is a 17-year-old cellist from Calgary who has studied under the tutelage of Morag Northey since the age of three! He is a student of the Mount Royal Conservatory’s Advanced Performance Program, as well as a rotating principal cellist for the Calgary Youth Orchestra.
Aaron was selected as a winner for the 2025 Rotary Calgary Concerto competition, performing the Elgar Cello Concerto alongside the Calgary Civic Symphony. He was also awarded 2nd in the 2025 Frank Simpson Concerto Competition and 3rd in the 2024 Frank Simpson Concerto Competition.
As a passionate chamber musician, Aaron participated as a member of the Trout Quintet, placing first in both the chamber divisions of the 2026 CPAF festival and AMFA Provincial Festival. He is also a co-founder of the Rocky Trio alongside pianist Charlotte Giraudeau and violinist Bowen Li. Their achievements include: First in the 2024 Youth Chamber Division in the IPPA Conero International Piano Competition; First in the 2024 Chamber Music Junior Division of the Lancaster International Piano Festival; Second in the 2024 Nouvelles Étoiles Online Music Competition, and Second in the 2023 Music Junior Division of the Lancaster International Piano Festival.
This concert is presented in memory of Benjamin Henry Davenport (1971 – 2017, Cellist B.Mus, LL.B, BCL) and former Artistic Director of the ProArts Society
