The 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 part of the landmark multimedia commission Life Reflected.
Her first commission from the NAC Orchestra was Cobalt, a concerto for two violins and orchestra, in 2009. In October 2020, in the midst of lockdowns due to COVID-19, the NAC Orchestra performed Jocelyn’s work Solace during its first-ever NACO Live concert, part of a series of livestreamed and on-demand performances.
Watch the concert recording of Jocelyn Morlock’s Solace.
“Far too soon the wonderfully kind, empathetic, beguilingly fun and brilliant artist that was Jocelyn Morlock has left us,” said Alexander Shelley, Music Director of the NAC Orchestra. “I cannot help but smile as I recall her charm, wit and quirky humour, her generosity, her razor-sharp mind and her x-ray like perception as we worked together at the NAC on My Name is Amanda Todd. That beautiful, special work, which has contributed so much to the conversation around cyberbullying and for which she justly won the JUNO Award for best composition, now another layer of tragedy etched into its contours. We will miss you very deeply, Jocelyn, and are endlessly grateful for the friendship, artistry and music that you gave us. For us all, you are gone far too soon.”
We are deeply saddened by this loss, but will always remember Jocelyn’s incredible contributions to Canadian orchestral music. Our thoughts are with her family and friends during this difficult time.
