Hunter Noack Brings 1912 Steinway to Banffs Mount Rundle for Outdoor Concert
On Sunday, June 28, 2026, a 1912 Steinway grand piano will rise from the prairie and settle on the foothills of Banff, Alberta, where American pianist Hunter Noack will perform for an audience that will listen through wireless headphones. The event, part of Noack’s “In a Landscape: Classical Music in the Wild” series, begins at 4 p.m. in the Shaw Amphitheatre, with the rugged silhouette of Mount Rundle looming in the background.
Noack launched the series in 2016 after a backpacking trip to Yosemite convinced him that music could be shared outside the polished walls of a concert hall. Since then he has hauled a 1,000‑pound Steinway to remote corners of the American West—from the summit of Schweitzer Mountain to a desert stage and a cliffside venue. A flat‑bed trailer and a custom rig allow the piano to be moved wherever an off‑road vehicle can reach. The instrument has survived temperatures ranging from –2 °C in Big Sky, Montana, to 109 °F during a heat wave in Oregon, yet it remains fully playable.
The Banff performance follows Noack’s tradition of tailoring repertoire to the environment. In previous shows he has altered programs on the fly—switching from a Schumann piece to a Frederic Rzewski work when a group of motorcyclists appeared near a venue. At Banff he will invite listeners to walk, lie down, and take in the sun, wind, and scents of the park while the piano plays. Headphones let the music cut through the natural sounds without disturbing other visitors.
“In a Landscape” is a registered non‑profit that aims to remove barriers to fine arts. Each year the organization distributes roughly $100,000 worth of free tickets to people who might otherwise be unable to attend. The program was inspired by the Works Progress Administration’s Federal Music Project, which brought free concerts and plays to public parks during the Great Depression. Noack says the goal is to bring fine arts to “democratic spaces” such as public lands, rather than exclusive concert halls.
Mount Rundle, a 9,675‑foot peak overlooking Banff, has long been a landmark for hikers and skiers. Its rugged slopes and alpine meadows provide a dramatic backdrop that reinforces Noack’s concept that the environment itself becomes part of the musical narrative.
The Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, which hosts the event, has a long history of presenting public concerts and arts programs. The Shaw Amphitheatre, located near the centre’s grounds, offers an open‑air setting that complements Noack’s vision. The concert will be the second time the series has visited Banff, following a previous appearance that drew attention to the unique combination of piano and landscape.
As the event approaches, the Banff Centre has confirmed the schedule and the availability of wireless headphones for attendees. Noack’s team has prepared the piano for the Canadian climate and has arranged for a small crew to handle setup and teardown. The concert is expected to attract a diverse audience, including local residents, tourists, and members of the Indigenous communities that surround the park.
In summary, Hunter Noack’s June 28 performance will feature a historic Steinway grand piano played outdoors in Banff’s natural setting, with listeners hearing the music through headphones while enjoying the scenery of Mount Rundle. The event is part of a broader effort to make classical music accessible in public spaces and to honor the legacy of the WPA’s federal music projects. The concert will take place at 4 p.m. in the Shaw Amphitheatre, and the non‑profit organization will continue to distribute free tickets to support community access to the arts.
