NAC Foundation
The National Arts Centre Gala held on Saturday September 22 was a great success both artistically and financially. Lang Lang, the man known for his flying fingers and dazzling style, brought Saturday night’s NAC Gala crowd to their feet with stunning performances of Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No.1, and Chopin's Andante spianato and Grande Polonaise brillante. We are thrilled to announce that the event raised a net amount of $760,000. The entire amount goes to the National Arts Centre’s National Youth and Education Trust, which invests in young Canadians through the performing arts.
Warmest thanks to our generous sponsors, especially Presenting Sponsor CIBC, Associate Sponsors Vale and Shaw Communications Inc., and Major Sponsor A&E Television Networks. We are grateful to our dedicated Honorary Chair Laureen Harper and Gala Committee Chair Arnie Vered: their tireless efforts ensured that the evening was a resounding success. It was also a wonderful evening to thank Sara Vered and the Vered family for their leadership gift to the NAC’s Summer Music Institute. A special thank-you to our amazing National Arts Centre Orchestra and our inspirational Music Director Pinchas Zukerman, all of whom dedicated their services this evening to help us invest in the future of Canadian artistic excellence.
Proceeds raised help the NAC provide vital programming that encourages creativity and instills a life-long love of the performing arts in young people across Canada. The NAC Gala has raised more than $7.7 million over the past 15 years to support the National Youth and Education Trust. Established by the NAC Foundation in 2001, the Trust is the primary resource for youth and education funding at the NAC. Supporters of the Trust help the National Arts Centre provide a wide range of artistic and educational programming that nurtures and develops the creativity of young people in the National Capital Region and across the country.
