Topics: musique

Florent Vollant: restoring dignity and pride through music

On January 30, the NAC Presents series, in partnership with the BMO Financial Group,  welcomed Florent Vollant, an artist and prominent figure from the Innu arts community. The singer-songwriter from Maliotenam, Québec, and former member of the famous folk‑rock duo Kashtin, returns to his…

From Sunrise to Sunset: MAP Saskatchewan

Well, it’s 5:00 a.m. on this cold morning, November 27th, which means I’ve got to get up and get going if I want to make it to Manor School on time. I get ready quickly and start loading my gear: 5 cords, 4 instruments, 3 stands, 2 speakers, 1 microphone…and a partridge in a pear tree. Oh,…

NAC Party Makes the List of Canada’s Hottest!

The Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards Gala has been named by The Globe and Mail as one of the Top 10 Canadian parties of 2016! Canada’s highest honour in the performing arts, the Awards recognize our country’s top artists and arts volunteers for their outstanding lifetime…

Students discuss the Rita Joe Song Project

In her autobiography, Rita Joe challenges Indigenous youth to find their voices, share their stories, and celebrate their talents. Inspired by this idea, the National Arts Centre asked teachers and students from five Indigenous groups across Canada to create a song based on Rita Joe's…

The Young Artists Program: the next generation of orchestral musicians

Founded by Pinchas Zukerman in 1999, the National Arts Centre's Young Artists Program is an intensive training program for outstanding classical musicians. Alumni include NAC Orchestra musicians Jethro Marks (principal viola), Donnie Deacon (principal second violin), Jessica Linnebach…

Christmas Music and Eggnog with Patricia O’Callaghan

Q & A with Patricia O’Callaghan For the past fifteen years, Patricia O'Callaghan’s career has taken her across genres, continents, and a range of disciplines and passions. Last October, she released her first Holiday album called "Deepest December", full of wonderful gems, from 15th…

Young Artists Program teaches students to take musical risks

When 24-year-old flutist Lara Deutsch was accepted into the National Arts Centre (NAC)’s Young Artists Program (YAP), she was thrilled. Already an accomplished musician, Lara, was keen to sharpen her skills by learning hands on experience from the program’s internationally-renowned…

Inspiring Children through the Arts: Hip Hop Week at Rankin Inlet

Students in Rankin Inlet were treated to some very special performing arts lessons when Hip-Hop artists Godson, Nelson Tagoona and local throat-singer Kathleen Merritt shared their skills at Simon Alaittuq School (SAS) from November 24 - November 26. Following the success of last year’s…

An important stage for Canadian artists like Emilie-Claire Barlow

Emilie-Claire Barlow, a Juno Award and National Jazz Award winning vocalist from Toronto, calls it a dream come true. On December 18th, Emilie-Claire and the NAC Orchestra will perform together in Southam Hall as part of the NAC Orchestra and NAC Presents 2015-16 Season.  “I’m very much…

WolfGANG Sessions: What chamber music was meant to be

A chamber music concert is, by nature, more social than an orchestral performance. The smaller number of performers and more intimate setting create a more informal, inclusive vibe, and in turn, expands the musical conversation between players to include the audience. The NAC Orchestra's…

Tribute to Mario Bernardi 1930 – 2013

As the founding conductor of Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra in 1969, Mario Bernardi helped realize the vision of a national centre for the performing arts in Canada. Under his leadership, the Orchestra flourished artistically, touring and recording widely. Notable among his…

Sounds of Jazz Age: NAC Orchestra’s Roaring 20s Festival

For five unforgettable nights (Oct-8-17), Music Director, Alexander Shelley and the NAC Orchestra brought the sounds of Jazz Age “Storytelling music” to the stage. Featuring the music of Elgar, Cole Porter, Sibelius, Weill, Gershwin, Stravinsky, Prokofiev, Ravel, and even Charlie Chaplin,…

Welcoming a new maestro to the podium: Alexander Shelley begins his tenure

It’s like visiting an old friend. That’s how Alexander Shelley, the NAC Orchestra’s new Music Director, describes the joy we feel when we listen to live classical music.  “There’s nothing that compares with revisiting pieces you know and love, and the enjoyment of having them performed…

Lang Lang’s 101 Pianists Gives Young Musicians the Opportunity of a Lifetime

On September 18, 100 talented Ottawa students, paired on 50 Roland pianos, had the opportunity of a lifetime, when they joined world renowned piano virtuoso Lang Lang and Alexander Shelley on Southam Hall stage for 101 Pianists, a thrilling one-of-a-kind public masterclass and performance…

Moments on stage: A mother’s story