Sally Benson, a beloved member of the NAC Orchestra, left us far too soon earlier today. After recently being diagnosed with a brain tumour, she passed away this afternoon at the Elisabeth Bruyère Continuing Care Hospital.

Sally joined the Orchestra in 1970, a year after the National Arts Centre opened to the public. Always a popular member of the Orchestra, Sally has been surrounded by her NACO friends for the past few weeks, and this outpouring of affection gave her great comfort.
 
Sally loved to tour, and only a month ago, she said she would be willing to play either violin or viola in order to have the chance to participate in the Orchestra’s Northern Tour next fall. I’ve asked that the NAC flag be lowered in Sally’s honour as a way of marking her contribution to the musical life of the Orchestra and the Ottawa community.

A member of a highly musical family, Sally was a native of Rochester, New York. She studied at the Eastman School of Music and graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree and a Performer’s Certificate. She continued her studies at Indiana University where she earned an M.A. in Music and was taught by Carroll Glenn and Josef Gingold.

She will be greatly missed by us all.

Rosemary Thompson
Director of Communications and Public Affairs 
National Arts Centre
53 Elgin Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1P 5W1
(613)947-7000, ext. 260
Rosemary.Thompson@nac-cna.ca