Canada's National Arts Centre

Canada’s National Arts Centre

Performance / Creation / Learning

2011-2012 Season

Education & Training

At the National Arts Centre

NAC Institute for Orchestral Studies

NAC Institute for Orchestral Studies - 2011-2012 Season

The Program

The National Arts Centre's Institute for Orchestral Studies (IOS) will begin its fifth year in September 2011. Established under the guidance of National Arts Centre Orchestra Music Director Pinchas Zukerman, the IOS is an apprenticeship program designed to prepare highly talented young musicians for successful orchestral careers, and is funded by the National Arts Centre Foundation through the National Youth and Education Trust.

Criteria for acceptance:

  1. Artistic excellence and talent, with consideration for potential as a professional musician;
  2. Demonstrated abilities to perform at a high level within a professional orchestra;
  3. Post-secondary and/or post-graduate music students of string instruments.

Program elements:

  1. Orchestral experience: Apprentices will rehearse and perform with the NAC Orchestra during select main series weeks of the 2011-2012 season.
  2. Individual coaching: Participants will receive individual instruction and coaching on orchestral excerpts from NAC Orchestra musicians and special guest artists, and may have the opportunity to perform in public masterclasses.
  3. Other: Apprentices will be coached in audition preparation, backstage and onstage deportment, as well as skills and career development.
  4. Applicants accepted into the Institute are encouraged to become members in good standing with the American Federation of Musicians.

Fees:

Participants in the Institute for Orchestral Studies will receive full support including travel, tuition, as well as room and board.

Applicants:

The Institute is open to qualified violin, viola, cello, and double bass applicants under the age of 30 as of June 3, 2012.

Weeks of Institute and Orchestra Programs:

Apprentices will sit within the NAC Orchestra for rehearsals and performances below.

September 19-October 6, 2011
Pinchas Zukerman, conductor
GLINKA Overture to Russlan and Ludmilla
TCHAIKOVSKY Romeo and Juliet Overture
RACHMANINOFF Symphony no. 2 in E minor
TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony no. 4 in F minor
PROKOFIEV Alexander Nevsky
SHOSTAKOVICH Symphony no. 1 in F minor
Piano Concertos by Rachmaninoff, Tchaikovsky, Shostakovich and Prokofiev

November 7-27, 2011 (including tour of Eastern Canada)
Pinchas Zukerman and Julian Kuerti, conductors
BRAHMS Symphony no. 1 in C minor
TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony no. 5 in E minor

January 9-13, 2012
Alexander Shelley, guest conductor
SCHUBERT Symphony no. 8 in B minor "Unfinished”
BEETHOVEN Symphony no. 6 in F major "Pastoral”

January 29-February 5, 2012
Pinchas Zukerman, conductor
WEBER Overture to Der Freischütz
SIBELIUS Symphony no. 2 in D major

Auditions format:

  1. The selection committee will be comprised of NAC Orchestra musicians;
  2. Candidates must submit a DVD of their audition (see Application Procedure below). The Audition requirements will include solo works plus orchestral excerpts, as specified for each of the five string instruments;
  3. Candidates must prepare one movement of solo Bach, one movement of a concerto of their choice, and five contrasting orchestral excerpts, including at least one from the orchestral excerpts that are available for download; contact IOS-IMO@nac-cna.ca for a password to access these excerpts.

Orchestral Excerpts

Application procedure:

  1. Those applying should be available for the duration of the program as listed above.
  2. Forward the required audition materials to the National Arts Centre. Applications will not be processed until receipt of all audition materials. (See below for details.)
  3. The main form of communication for this program will be by email. Applicants and those accepted into the IOS are advised to have an individual email address.
  4. School Studies: Any students accepted to the Institute must make arrangements with their school to attend the designated weeks of the Institute.
  5. Non-Canadian participants in the IOS will require a valid passport and all necessary documents including Visas. If you do not have a valid passport, you are urged to apply for a passport IMMEDIATELY.

The following Audition Material must be received no later than Monday, May 2, 2011:

  1. 1 copy, DVD (unedited recording) of your audition repertoire. The DVD should be clearly labeled with the following information:
    - "2011-2012 NAC Institute for Orchestral Studies"
    - Applicant's name
    - Instrument
    - Repertoire selections, including composer and movement(s).
  2. An up-to-date resumé and photo is required and should be emailed as an attachment to IOS-IMO@nac-cna.ca. Resumés should be a MS word or plain text file (.doc , .txt). Photos should not be more than 200k file size, (.jpeg).
  3. Complete the required on-line application and submit by the deadline date of Monday, May 2, 2011. Late applications accepted if space remains available.
  4. Those submitting audition materials from outside Canada are urged to use a courier service to ensure efficient cross-border delivery.

For further inquiries or questions, please contact:

IOS-IMO@nac-cna.ca
Phone: 613-947-7000 ext 325
Fax: 613-943-1400