OTTAWA, April 4, 2018 —The 22^nd annual NAC fundraising Gala will take place on Wednesday, October 3^rd  and will star international icon Diana Ross and the NAC Orchestra. Tickets go on sale to the public on April 9^th.

Diana Ross — the legendary entertainer whose countless awards and accolades include the Presidential Medal of Freedom— will take to the NAC’s Southam Hall stage for a rare, knockout performance effusing her signature power, poise and panache.

“Diana Ross is beyond compare. Her career and successes have transcended borders and generations and are emblematic of the dedication, perseverance and vision that we aim to support in young artists across Canada through our vast education programs,” said Alexander Shelly, NAC Orchestra Music Director.

The glamorous red carpet fundraising soirée includes a pre-concert reception with live music by Montreal-based group Discothèque, complimentary beverages and hors-d'oeuvres prepared by NAC Executive Chef Kenton Leier.

Alexander Shelley and the National Arts Centre Orchestra will open the gala performance. Diana Ross will then be accompanied by the orchestra in a highly anticipated 75- minute set. The party continues after the concert with music throughout the NAC’s public spaces. Guests are encouraged to party the night away!

Proceeds from the 22^nd annual NAC Gala will support the National Youth and Education Trust which provides youth and education programming across Canada.

TIMES AND TICKETS

DATE:  Wednesday, October 3^rd, 2018.

WHERE:  The National Arts Centre’s Southam Hall.

WHEN:  

• 6:00 p.m. Red carpet and pre-concert reception.
• 7:00 p.m. Concert begins.

TICKETS: $229-$399 , available online and at the NAC Box Office

• On sale as of  April 9^th.
• Charitable tax receipts will be issued for allowable amounts.

SUPPORTERS

The NAC Gala is made possible by the tireless dedication of its organizing committee. We are pleased to announce that Sophie Grégoire Trudeau returns as Honorary Chair. We wish to thank Honorary Patrons Bonnie and John Buhler, for their generous support, and other supporters such as, The Asper Foundation, Mark Motors Audi, and Trinity Development. Their investment through the Trust, as well as individual and corporate donors from all across the country, help the NAC nurture and develop the creativity of young people in all regions across Canada and support the educators and artists who challenge and encourage them.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL YOUTH AND EDUCATION TRUST

The NAC Gala fundraiser benefits the National Youth and Education Trust by providing much-needed resources for the National Arts Centre’s youth and education programming all across the country. The Trust also supports masterclasses, online activities and youth programming for dance and theatre and donates tickets to children who might otherwise be unable to afford to attend performances at the NAC. Funds are raised through ticket sales, sponsorship and donations.

 

ABOUT DIANA ROSS

Diana Ross is considered the most successful recording artist and entertainer of all time. Her career began as a young girl on the North End section of Detroit, in a city in which she would help to create a cultural movement of racial integration and popular music called, Motown (a portmanteau of Motor and Town). From her landmark solo career to the early days as the leader of The Supremes, Diana Ross shaped the sound of popular music, changing the landscape and paving the way to contemporary music. Her voice, described as “honey with soulful sensibility,” produced 14 Top ten albums,18  number one songs and music sales exceeding 100 million units around the world. The latest in a string of number ones includes a new remix of the 1971 classic, “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough 2017” which topped the Billboard Dance Club Chart this year.

Ross’ international achievements were acknowledged by the prestigious Kennedy Center Honors in Washington DC (2007). The National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences celebrated her remarkable career with its highest honor, The Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012. Additional career milestones include induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, The Songwriters Hall of Fame, National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences Hero Award, NAACP Entertainer Award, Billboard’s Female Entertainer of the Century Award, The Soul Train Legend Award, the American Music Awards Lifetime Achievement Award and  two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

ABOUT THE NAC ORCHESTRA

Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra is a world-class ensemble of outstanding classical musicians from across Canada and around the world, under the inspiring leadership of Music Director Alexander Shelley. Formed in 1969, the Orchestra gives about 100 performances a year in Ottawa, across Canada and around the globe, working with diverse artists of international renown. It breaks boundaries with its regular commissions of new creations including the critically-acclaimed, immersive Life Reflected. The NAC Orchestra reaches a wide audience through national and international tours, recordings, extensive educational outreach across Canada and on tour, and via the websites NACmusicbox.ca and ArtsAlive.ca.

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