Getting to Know You - An Interview with Lara Deutsch

Ottawa flutist Lara Deutsch will be performing in the upcoming My First NAC on Tuesday May 29th at 7:30pm in the National Arts Centre Studio.  Lara also participated in the Summer Music Institute in 2010 as a member of  l’Orchestre de la francophonie, and in 2011 as a member of the wind…

2nd Annual “My First NAC” Showcase Concert Features Canada’s Star Musicians of...

When Canadian music students come to the NAC to participate in programs like the “Manhattan on the Rideau” jazz broadband masterclasses or the Summer Music Institute, they don't expect to get called back, months or even years later, to be awarded a $1,000 prize and perform as part of a…

“As Long As You’re Communicating, It’s Music”

It was late May in the band room of Hillcrest High School in Ottawa. Ms. Jeannie Hunter’s music students were working with the funny and gregarious Canadian composer Tim Brady, and two throat singers—Nancy Mike of Iqaluit and Kathleen Merritt, originally from Rankin Inlet. The kids were…

NAC Presents all Canadian season marks first season with success.

One day it's the Bolshoi ballet, the next day Canadian singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright. From the Russian classics, to the great emerging young talent of the Canadian music scene, the National Arts Centre is finding new audiences with a series of all-Canadian programming called NAC…

Not your typical Saturday at Fifth Avenue Court…

For local shoppers, thirsty cyclists, and music lovers alike, the brick walls of the atrium at Fifth Avenue Court in the Glebe were filled with an assortment of high-end musical pickings. Following the Capital BrassWorks’ finger snapping rendition of the Pink Panther and the Can-Can, I had…

Living in the moment with Schubert

Our quintet has just returned from performing Schubert's great C major string quintet, usually referred to as "the cello quintet". Our two cellists were Margaret Tobolowska and Leah Wyber, the other violinist  my husband Mark,  and the violist Paul Casey ( who was the 2011 NACO Bursary…

From medieval plainchant to J.S. Bach’s ‘Crab Canon’

Today (Wednesday) showed a dramatically different side to NAC Orchestra Week. There have been a number of concerts this week – as well as three student matinees in the last two days – but this afternoon’s event was quite different. Sean Rice and Vincent Parizeau appeared at Centre…

Summer Music Institute Donor Profile: Marg Campbell

The following is a conversation with Marg Campbell, a long-time NAC Foundation donor and dedicated supporter of the National Arts Centre’s Summer Music Institute (SMI). The Summer Music Institute offers the opportunity of a lifetime to promising young musicians from across Canada and around…

Congratulations to our 2012 Bursary Winners!

For the eight aspiring orchestral musicians who were selected (from 30 candidates) by the jury, Monday’s final round was an opportunity to show off their skills and compete for a total of $19,000 – with a top prize of $7,000. Earlier this week, 30 musicians between the ages of 16 and 24…

Meet Meiko Taylor: Orchestra Operations Associate

My name is Meiko Taylor and I have the privilege of working for the National Arts Centre Orchestra. Most days you’ll find me running around the backstage of Southam Hall, but this week I’m running all over Ottawa and Gatineau with various members of the orchestra. We’re celebrating NAC…

Happy Music Monday everyone!

Music filled the air in Canada’s National Capital Region this afternoon when approximately 500 elementary students along with the NAC Orchestra’s Rideau Lakes Brass Quintet performed a special 20-minute concert at Ottawa City Hall in celebration of Music Monday.  Music Monday, celebrated…

Sunny skies and soaring hearts

It’s Official!

King Lear in Rehearsal – A Look Inside the Dream

As the English Theatre Company continue rehearsals for next week’s opening of the much anticipated production of Shakespeare’s King Lear, Kevin Loring prepared a blog about being part of this one-a-kind production. Kevin speaks of the dream August Schellenberg had about an all-Aboriginal…

Meet Keith Barker: Cornwall, King Lear