Thunder Bay, ON, February 6, 2026 – As part of the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium (TBCA)’s 40th Anniversary celebration, a bust of Ludwig Van Beethoven has been generously donated to the TBCA by the Browne Family. This bronze sculpture depicts Beethoven based on historical life-masks and portraits of the composer. The sculpture will be on display on the Mezzanine of the TBCA starting Friday, February 6 in conjunction with the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra’s Masterworks performance, which closes with Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7.
“Unveiling this sculpture as part of our 40th Anniversary celebration is a meaningful tribute to the shared history, creativity and community spirit that has shaped the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium,” says Andrew Edwards, Acting General Manager, TBCA. “We are honoured to give this unique piece a permanent home where it can continue to inspire all who walk through our doors.”
The bust is over a century old, and was sculpted by renowned Canadian artist, Emanuel Hahn, circa 1920. Hahn is best remembered as the artist who put the Voyageur, the Caribou, and the Blue Nose schooner on Canada’s silver coinage. He also created many significant civic monuments and war memorials during the 1920s &1930s, including the WWI Cenotaph outside Thunder Bay’s City Hall. Hahn’s German ancestry and his love of classical music resulted in this study of Beethoven.
This sculpture was donated to the TBCA by the Browne family, in memory of Hahn’s daughter Qennefer and her husband, Bob Browne. Both contributed to the construction of the TBCA as designer and architect, respectively, and Bob was a proud member of the Thunder Bay Symphony Chorus.
“My sisters and I are honoured to make this gift of art to the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium. We do so on behalf of our late parents, Robert and Qennefer Browne, who worked with many others to bring this building to life. This portrait of Beethoven is the work of the eminent Canadian sculptor Emanuel Hahn, who was Qennefer’s father. It was in attendance at the inaugural performance of the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra at the Auditorium. Now, in celebration of the fortieth anniversary of the Auditorium, it will have a permanent home in the place that continues to bring enjoyment of music and performance to Thunder Bay,” says Sylvie Browne, on behalf of herself and her sisters Sydney Browne, Sybil Taylor, Nigama Browne and Aurora Browne.
“The unveiling of the Beethoven bust is symbolic of the rich history our two organizations have shared since the TBCA first opened in 1985. We are thrilled to partner with the TBCA on this event as part of their 40th Anniversary celebrations,” says Brittany Moat, interim General Manager, Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra. “It is fitting that this unveiling happened at our Masterworks performance, a concert that featured Beethoven’s transcendent Symphony No. 7. This was a spectacular evening of music, thank you to all who joined us!”
