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On the evening of June 16th, His Excellency Bruce Heyman, U.S. Ambassador to Canada, and his wife Vicki Heyman, hosted a special reception in celebration of the 16th edition of the National Arts Centre’s Summer Music Institute (SMI).
The event took place on the grounds of the U.S. Ambassador’s beautiful Rockcliffe residence overlooking the Ottawa River. This was the first time the new Ambassador and Mrs. Heyman has hosted such an event on behalf of the National Arts Centre. It was the perfect opportunity for the Heymans to find out more about the NAC’s national and international work in performance, creation, and learning.
Jayne Watson, CEO of the National Arts Centre Foundation, gave an inspiring speech that compared the SMI to the current soccer World Cup. It’s an apt comparison. Summer Music Institute students come from all over the world: Armenia, Australia, China, France, Germany, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Netherland, Russia, South Korea, the United Kingdom, United States and Canada.
Since its inception in 1999 the Summer Music Institute has trained 1,019 participants from across Canada and 39 other countries. With the addition of all 2014’s 75 participants, that number grows to an impressive 1,094.
David McGown, VP Government Relations and Public Affairs for CIBC, spoke to the guests about the pride CIBC feels as the lead partner of the National Youth and Education Trust, which supports the Summer Music Institute. SMI donors in attendance had the opportunity to meet the exceptional young musicians they are supporting. The students got to know the donors better and talked about their studies, their homes, their career aspirations, and their experiences in Ottawa. Two things these young artists have in common? A love of music and their gratitude to the donors who make their studies at the Summer Music Institute possible.
The NAC Summer Music Institute is made possible through the generosity of individual donors, corporations and the NAC’s National Youth and Education Trust, and its Lead Partner CIBC. If you would like to support the next generation of performing artists, please donate to the National Arts Centre Foundation today.
