Last week, Premier Jean Charest presented Yoav Talmi, Music Director of the Orchestre symphonique de Quebec, with the province’s highest honour:  an appointment to the position of Officer of the Ordre national du Québec, the highest distinction granted by the Government of Quebec.  The presentation took place at the OSQ’s opening concert of the 2009-10 season.  
 
The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra has announced that three of its current first violinists will rotate in the role of Interim Concertmaster for the 2009-10 season.  The ESO’s Concertmaster, Martin Riseley, is taking a leave of absence in 2009/10, returning to his native New Zealand to take advantage of a rare teaching opportunity with the New Zealand School of Music in Wellington.  This season, Broderyck “Broddy” Olson, Eric Buchmann, and Richard Caldwell will each occupy the the Concertmaster’s chair.  “We have an enormous resource of talent in this orchestra,” says ESO Music Director William Eddins, “and in the end, we decided to take full advantage of it.  Broddy, Eric, and Richard all bring something different to the table, and each is an experienced and skilled leader.  I’m looking forward to having the opportunity to work with each of them in the hot seat.”
 
The Kingston Symphony has appointed a new Principal Horn: Austin Hitchcock.