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Violinist Justin Saulnier wins NACO Bursary Competition
April 26, 2023In an exciting weekend of spirited competition, a talented group of emerging young strings players gathered on the University of Ottawa campus for the National Arts Centre Orchestra’s Bursary Competition. The competition, held from April 21 to April 23, 2023, welcomed 23 aspiring strings…
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Donald Meakin — Grateful Memories
April 17, 2023Memory is a wonderful thing, and for Don Meakin the many performances he has enjoyed at the National Arts Centre over the years have enriched his bank of memories tremendously. And he is profoundly grateful. From a young age Don valued creative arts such as painting and writing poetry and,…
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Samantha Wrenshall Plavins – Giving with a Passion
April 17, 2023Samantha Plavins is unequivocal: “I love the NAC and am proud of all it does!” And those heart-felt feelings are based on first-hand experience. Sam was raised in Thunder Bay, Ontario. After graduating from Lakehead University in 1998 with a HBMus. specializing in piano, she moved to…
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The Great Canadian Orchestra Field Trip
April 11, 2023Planet Earth needs our help! Launching on Earth Day, Saturday, April 22, 2023, join conductor Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser and youth climate activist Aliénor Rougeot on an action-packed adventure from coast to coast – The Great Canadian Orchestra Field Trip. Learn how the natural world has…
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Big Stories – Oh Canada
March 31, 2023Thanks in no small part to Jully Black’s recent performance at an NBA all-star game, it has come to more general attention that “O Canada our home on native land” is another possible scan for the national anthem’s original wording of “our home and native land”. In recent weeks, in my role…
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One last dance for Cathy Levy. Looking back at 23 years at...
March 31, 2023Cathy Levy joined the NAC Dance team in 2000 with great enthusiasm. She set out to accomplish several things, including how to make Ottawa a prime destination for dance. Cathy, who had long been regarded as a visionary in the dance world, rose to the challenge with flying colours. In her…
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The NAC mourns the loss of composer Jocelyn Morlock
March 29, 2023The National Arts Centre is mourning the loss of Jocelyn Morlock, a remarkably gifted Canadian composer and a bright light for contemporary music in Canada. Her work was celebrated by many, including the NAC Orchestra, who commissioned her JUNO Award-winning work My Name is Amanda Todd as…
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Principal Guest Conductor John Storgårds extends collaboration with NACO
March 29, 2023The National Arts Centre (NAC) is pleased to announce that John Storgårds, Principal Guest Conductor of the NAC Orchestra, has extended his contract with the NAC Orchestra for five years, through the 2027-2028 season. The acclaimed Finnish musician first conducted the NAC Orchestra in…
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The Stories We Share
March 27, 2023I always knew that the NAC was special, a place where hearts and minds are transformed through the power of music, dance and theatre. But little did I know when I became head of NAC Communications in 2001 (and then CEO of the Foundation in 2009) what an amazing adventure I was embarking on,…
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The NAC is Alive with the Sound of Students
March 27, 2023You know when it’s student matinee day at the NAC. On those days, a quick trip to Equator coffee shop begs the question: “Do I weave my way through the hundreds of excited kids, or do I wait until later?” The caffeine enthusiasts among us will jump into the crowd and share the thrill, while…
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To The Moon and Back with Sarah Garton Stanley and the National...
March 27, 2023In July 2022, Sarah Garton Stanley (SGS) joined the NAC’s National Creation Fund as its new Artistic Producer. As an award-winning theatre maker, a change maker and a highly sought-after director and dramaturg, SGS seeks to forge connections between the performing arts and the questions of…
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Championing change and celebrating diversity in classical music
March 10, 2023Chineke! Orchestra kicks off its Canadian tour with a performance at Southam Hall on March 16. The orchestra, making its debut in Canada, was founded in 2015 to provide career opportunities for Black and ethnically diverse classical musicians in the UK and Europe. After its first concert…
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Spotlight on Women Leaders at the NAC
March 8, 2023On this International Women’s Day, we celebrate, elevate and support women leaders in the arts. The contribution of women to the vibrancy of the performing arts in Canada was in the spotlight at the NAC Gala on November 5, 2022. We took the opportunity to introduce some of the women who…
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“Canada’s Secret Source of Funding”
February 28, 2023This one goes out in honour of the memory of Peter Herrndorf. Peter passed away on Saturday February 18th, and is survived by his family and thousands upon thousands who were lucky to have known him. The National Creation Fund was established under his watchful eye, and every success the…
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Yao, artist and educator: Sharing a passion for words
February 22, 2023Throughout his career, Yao has struck the perfect balance of singer-songwriter and artist-educator. Hailing from Ottawa, with roots in Togo and Côte d’Ivoire, Yao is most famous for his work as a rapper and slammer and has led over a decade’s worth of writing workshops for high schoolers.…