The Annual O.N.C.E. (Operations in Non-Permanent Collective Extemporization) music performance is on Saturday, February 21, 2026, at Felice Café in Edmonton. Doors open at 7:00 PM, with the show starting at 7:30 PM.

Inspired by the late British guitarist and improviser Derek Bailey and his Company music making performance gatherings. This year’s event promises again to be an enriching opportunity for invited musicians to create innovative and captivating improvised music through randomly selected ad hoc groupings.

We have a remarkable group of twelve musicians featured this year!

• Alberta born, NYC/Honolulu based guitarist, visual artist, and composer (currently in their PhD Composition, University of Hawaiʻi) – Jessica Ackerley.
• Sound artist, composer, instrumentalist, and sound technician – Nico Arnáez (PhD Music Composition).
• Percussionist, O.N.C.E. founder and artistic director – Ron de Jong.
• Guitarist and tunesmith – Paul McGurk.
• Iranian born contemporary qanun (ancient Middle Eastern plucked string instrument) player –Afarin Nazarijou.
• Saxophonist and recent U of A MMus graduate – Melvin Picazo.
• Harpist and visual artist (interdisciplinary and sculpture) – Alicia Proudfoot.
• Amplified w/ effects enhanced spinning wheel/weaving loom sound artist and textile/New Media artist – Kelly Ruth.
• Guitarist, composer, and visual artist – Jason Lee Scott.
• Iranian born pianist and performance artist – Maryam Soufisiavash.
• Trumpeter and bandleader – Eric Weiden.
• Calgary based soprano saxophonist, concert organizer, creative writer, spoken word artist, and poet – Jonathon Wilcke (PhD English).