May 25 – June 8, 2025

The National Arts Centre Orchestra, its creative partners, and Alexander Shelley will celebrate Canadian artists through performances, cultural exchange opportunities and community events. The tour pays tribute to jazz legend Oscar Peterson on his 100th birthday and features international premieres by contemporary composers Kelly-Marie Murphy and Keiko Devaux.

Display all performances by: Locations Performance dates

Canada

May 14–20, 2025

Be part of our international journey–no passport required!

Join us in Ottawa and Toronto to wish the NAC Orchestra and Alexander Shelley a warm bon voyage and hear the mesmerizing music they’ll perform abroad: two of Richard Strauss’s cinematic musical poems, Ravel’s jazzy Piano Concerto in G major with Korean superstar Yeol Eum Son, NAC Orchestra-commissioned works by Canadian composers Keiko Devaux and Kelly-Marie Murphy, and Beethoven’s iconic Symphony No. 5.

  • National Arts Centre Orchestra
  • dscf9130-curtis-perry-2-cropped
    Music Director Alexander Shelley
  • Composer Kelly-Marie Murphy
  • Composer Keiko Devaux
  • yeol-eum-credit-marco-borggreve-3-cropped
    Piano Yeol Eum Son
  • Piano Olga Scheps

Republic of Korea

May 29–31, 2025

The NAC Orchestra’s debut in Korea. Alongside Korean pianist Yeol Eum Son, our musicians will perform works by Ravel, Richard Strauss, and Beethoven and engage local artistic communities through masterclasses, performances, and workshops. Together, these programs will showcase the vitality of Canadian culture while shining light on the Orchestra’s history of inspiring artistry and musical storytelling.

The Orchestra’s concert in Seoul on May 31 is a signature event at the closing of the Korea-Canada Year of Cultural Exchanges.

  • National Arts Centre Orchestra
  • dscf9130-curtis-perry-2-cropped
    Music Director Alexander Shelley
  • Composer Kelly-Marie Murphy
  • yeol-eum-credit-marco-borggreve-3-cropped
    Piano Yeol Eum Son

Japan

June 3–7, 2025

The NAC Orchestra returns to Japan for the first time in 40 years to perform works by Rachmaninoff, Beethoven, and Japanese Canadian composer Keiko Devaux.  

A special concert at Expo 2025 in Osaka will celebrate the late Oscar Peterson’s 100th birthday. Joined by the Oscar Peterson Centennial Quartet, led by Robi Botos, and pianist Jaeden Izik-Dzurko, the NAC Orchestra and Alexander Shelley will present a piano solo and NAC-commissioned arrangements of two of the jazz legend’s most inspiring works: Trail of Dreams and Hymn to Freedom.

  • National Arts Centre Orchestra
  • dscf9130-curtis-perry-2-cropped
    Music Director Alexander Shelley
  • Composer Keiko Devaux
  • Piano Olga Scheps
  • Piano Jaeden Izik-Dzurko
  • Music Ensemble Oscar Peterson Centennial Quartet
  • Music Ensemble OrKidstra
  • Tour Champions Earle O'Born & Janice O'Born, C.M., O.Ont.
  • Education Partner Dasha Shenkman, OBE, Hon RCM
  • Supporting Partners Adrian Burns, LL.D. & Gregory Kane, K.C.
  • Supporting Partner R.N.C. Tennant