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“A gift to the trumpet repertoire”
November 26, 2024John Estacio’s concerto gets NAC premiere with Karen Donnelly Karen Donnelly, who’s been the NAC Orchestra’s Principal Trumpet since 1999, will be the featured soloist for the Southam Hall premiere of Canadian composer John Estacio’s Trumpet Concerto in performances on November 27…
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Jack Everly: 20 years of Pops magic with the NAC Orchestra
October 3, 2024This week, the NAC Orchestra marked 20 years of Jack Everly’s leadership as Principal Pops Conductor, an era defined by passion for bringing Broadway magic and Hollywood blockbusters to life in Southam Hall. Jack began his journey with the NAC Orchestra during its 1999-2000 season, already…
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Rita Joe’s I Lost My Talk: A poem for reconciliation
September 27, 2024As Canada observes the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30, a day dedicated to acknowledging the legacy of residential schools and the ongoing journey toward healing, we invite Canadians to engage with I Lost My Talk, the heartfelt poem of Mi’kmaw elder Rita Joe. In…
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New season, new faces: NACO welcomes four new members
September 24, 2024As the NAC Orchestra (NACO) begins another jam-packed season, we are thrilled to welcome four new musicians to our ranks. Jeffrey Dyrda (violin), Jessy Kim (violin), Sam Loeck (Principal Bass), and Andrew Johnson (percussion) started with the Orchestra at the top of the season, and you may…
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Kimiko’s Pearl: A ballet forged across generations
May 29, 2024A tribute to the strength and resilience of the Japanese Canadian community The internment of Japanese Canadians during World War II is the inspiration behind Kimiko’s Pearl, premiering at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre in St. Catharines on June 22. Supported by the National…
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Trombonist Don Renshaw’s legacy continues in memorial award
April 26, 2024The legacy of beloved principal trombonist Don Renshaw continues to resonate within the National Arts Centre as the inaugural Don Renshaw Memorial Award for Brass has been bestowed upon 17-year-old trombonist Constance Prost. Renshaw, described as a cherished figure within the NAC…
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New Resident Conductor position opens with NAC Orchestra
February 1, 2024The National Arts Centre Orchestra (NACO) announces the creation of a new Resident Conductor Program for Canadian conductors, beginning in the 2024-25 concert season. Supporting professional development for early career artists is a strategic priority of the National Arts Centre. The new…
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Margarete Mrak: A gift that transcends time
December 18, 2023Margarete Mrak, the beloved matriarch of the Mark Motors Group, passed away on October 30, 2023, eleven years after her husband, Louis. Among the many gifts she leaves her children, including the qualities of grace, integrity and acceptance of people and circumstances, is an appreciation…
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Ready, set, apply! The NAC Orchestra Bursary is back
November 30, 2023Making the cut It’s 1981 and a $1,000 prize is on the line in the first-ever edition of the National Arts Centre Orchestra’s Bursary Competition. Anything could happen. You make the cut. You get to compete in the NAC Orchestra Bursary competition! You’ve rehearsed the concerto on repeat,…
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Strauss reimagined: NACO commissions four new works
November 22, 2023Contemporary Canadian composers create companion pieces to Strauss classics “This is a musical adventure that pushes the boundaries of creativity. We are thrilled to have these distinguished Canadian composers join us on this incredible journey, reimagining Strauss’s masterpieces with…
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The NAC Gala: An annual event to ensure the future of the...
October 24, 2023It’s with great excitement that the National Arts Centre is getting ready for its most glamorous fall event. The 25th NAC Gala, featuring world-renowned soprano Renée Fleming with the NAC Orchestra, is Wednesday, November 1, 2023, in Southam Hall. From classical opera to beloved Broadway…
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NACO welcomes new faces, fresh sounds
October 11, 2023If you’ve attended one of our concerts this season, you may have already spotted some fresh faces on stage! We’re thrilled to introduce Zachary Bond, our new bass trombonist at the NAC Orchestra, and Tovin Allers, the newest member of our Orchestra’s viola section. Tovin Allers is no…
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Five minutes to fall in love with Clara, Robert and Johannes
September 11, 2023We asked Alexander Shelley, music director of the NAC Orchestra: What are the five minutes you’d play to make a friend fall in love with Clara Schumann? Robert Schumann? Johannes Brahms? Read on and listen to all the moods of Clara, Robert and Johannes: passionate, peaceful, terrifying,…
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Sarah Jennings: Sharing a lifelong passion for opera
June 15, 2023Sarah Jennings, political and cultural journalist and author of the book Art and Politics: The History of the National Arts Centre is a longtime friend and champion of the NAC. Her most recent gift to the NAC Foundation supports the NAC Orchestra’s in-concert performances of Mozart’s Don…
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Mozart meets Ivany: Two opera stars connect in the 21st century through...
June 8, 2023Joel Ivany knows opera. He is founder and artistic director of Against the Grain Theatre in Toronto; Artistic Director of Edmonton Opera; a familiar face to opera fans in Los Angeles, New York, Washington, Norway, Australia, and elsewhere; writer of at least seven librettos for various…
