From January 19 to 31, the resident companies of the Grand Théâtre de Québec will take part in a collaborative fundraising campaign for the Red Cross’s relief efforts in Haiti.  Participating organizations include the Grand Théâtre de Québec , the Club musical de Québec, the Opéra de Québec, the Théâtre du Trident and campaign organizer, the Orchestre symphonique de Québec.  How will it work?  Quite simply, patrons at events presented by the five organizations will be asked to dig deep, and donate to the Red Cross’s Haitian earthquake relief fund, with donation boxes available at each and every event presented during this period. In addition, donations may be made directly at the offices of the OSQ. 

Staff, volunteers, artists and board members of the five organizations have banded together in this effort, and have set the tone by making their own leadership gifts to the campaign.  For more information, you can visit the OSQ’s website here.

Alternatively, you can visit the website of the Canadian Red Cross here.

On January 31, the Kingston Symphony will present the world premiere of a new work for violin, viola and orchestra, featuring Kingston Symphony principal players (and long-time friends) Gisèle Dalbec, violin; and Eileen Beaudette, viola.  The new work is entitled Centre Street Scenes, and it was written for the two string players by Kingston Symphony timpanist and jazz musician Greg Runions.  kingstonsymphony.on.ca

The Orchestre symphonique de Québec, under music director Yoav Talmi, will present its first opera in concert in over fifteen years on January 20 and 21 at the Grand Théâtre de Québec .  In a performance the OSQ describes as “a new year’s gift”, the orchestra will perform Gluck’s Orpheus and Euridice with a cast comprised of Susan Platts, Karina Gauvin and Ilana Davidson, along with the OSQ Chorus, prepared by David Rompré.  osq.qc.ca

February 4-6, the National Arts Centre Orchestra will present its first ever full concert performance of a musical, when the orchestra (led by Principal Pops conductor Jack Everly) performs the complete Guys and Dolls.  The “show” stars Kristen Plumley, Gary Beach and Megan Lawrence, and will be staged by David Levy.  nac-cna.ca

Late last month, the Orchestre symphonique de Québec presented its second annual Cadeaux au Château event at the Château Frontenac, this year featuring singer/cellist  Jorane and host Jacques Leblanc.  In the process, the orchestra raised a remarkable $220,000.

Honorary chair of the event was M. René Hamel, CEO of SSQ Groupe financier.  Other highlights of the evening included an appearance by the OSQ String Quartet, a special menu prepared by Château Frontenac executive chef, M. Jean Soulard, and a fabulous silent auction featuring works of art, jewellery, and unique travel experiences.

Encouraged by the success of the event, the OSQ has already announced Voix et cadeaux au Château, which will take place 12 November 2010, this time under the honorary chairmanship of René Rouleau, board chair of La Capitale Groupe financier.

On the heels of two significant seasonal surpluses, last week the Orchestre symphonique de Québec announced its first ever major fundraising campaign, with a target of $2 million.  $500,000 in gifts and pledges has already been received.

The campaign’s chair is M. Pierre Moreau; other members of the high-powered campaign cabinet are Paul Desmarais Jr, of Power Corporation, Paule Gauthier of Stein Monast, Dominique Lebel and Claude Lessard of Cossette Communications, Andrew T. Molson of RES PUBLICA consulting group, Claude Rousseau of Groupe Les Remparts de Québec, and Charles Sirois of Télésystème Ltée, along with Sophie Galaise (the orchestra’s General Director).

Special guests at the launch include Régis Labeaume, Mayor of the City of Quebec, and Christine St-Pierre, minister of Culture, Communications and the Status of Women for the province of Quebec.

The campaign is intended to take three years, and at its close, the orchestra will have endowment funds in place to support educational programming, sound recording, special projects and touring initiatives.

For more information about the OSQ and its plans, please visit here.

The Orchestre symphonique de Québec has announced the appointment of one of its executive committee members to the board of the National Arts Centre. M. Claude Gauvin, a chartered accountant and partner at Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton was appointed to the NAC board on October 27. 

In honour of the Canadian Music Centre’s 50th anniversary, the CMC has chosen to publicly recognize 50 outstanding Canadian performers and conductors who have played exceptional roles in shaping the Canadian music scene.  It’s a terrific list that includes many, many stellar figures from the current and past membership of Orchestras Canada, including Mario Bernardi, Robert Cram, Victor Feldbrill, Peter Gardner, Gwen Hoebig, Gary Kulesha, Veronique Lacroix, Eduard Minevich, Alex Pauk, Olga Ranzenhofer, Bramwell Tovey, Alain Trudel and Lorraine Vaillancourt.  Congratulations one and all!  For the complete list, you can visit here.

Orchestras Canada and the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres have announced the appointment of Diann Missal as our (shared) Conference Marketing and Logistics Associate.  Ms Missal is a recent graduate of the Arts Administration – Cultural Management program at Humber College, and she will divide her time between PACT and OC until March 31, 2010.  The position has been made possible through the Youth Internship Program of the Cultural Human Resources Council.  You can reach Diann at OC by phone at 416-366-8834 x223 or by email at diann [at] oc [dot] ca.

The Orchestre symphonique de Quebec held its annual general meeting of members on September 25 - and the OSQ had good news to share. 
 
Buoyed by successful fundraising events and strong attendance, the OSQ recorded its second consecutive operating surplus in 2008-09, and eliminated almost $250,000 from its accumulated deficit.  The deficit is now 50% of what it was at the end of the 2006-07 season. Pierre Moreau, chair of the board of the OSQ, noted the key role that both staff and board had played in achieving these exceptional results. 
 
Artistic highlights for the season were also emphasized, and they included

• a performance of Carmina Burana and the 1812 Overture on the Plains of Abraham for an audience of 60,000 people during Quebec’s 400th Anniversary celebrations;
• the recognition conferred by the winning of a series of awards, including the Ville de Quebec award and the Prix Opus for “concert of the year” for the OSQ’s presentation of Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 in March 2008;
• the release of well-received two recordings, Bach Metamorphoses (led by Maestro Yoav Talmi) and the Grand-messe by Gilles Vigneault (led by former resident conductor Richard Lee). 

Through live performance, broadcast and webcast, the orchestra reached some 400,000 people during the season - an amazing record!  For more information on the OSQ, you can visit their website here.

On September 30, the Orchestre symphonique de Québec released its most recent recording - its first with pianist (and now, conductor) Louis Lortie.  Repertoire on the all-Mendelssohn recording (released on the ATMA Classique label) includes both piano concertos (with the soloist doubling as conductor) and the composer’s Symphony No. 5 “Reformation”.   For more information on the recording, you can visit ATMA’s website here.

Orchestra News sends hearty congratulations to Laura Thomas, Associate Conductor and Principal Percussionist of the Niagara Symphony, who was presented with the Excellence in the Arts Award at the 25th Annual City of St. Catharines Trillium Awards.  Says Ms Thomas: “I want to thank the City of St. Catharines and the Culture Committee for this honour.  I have always enjoyed making music in this community and I look forward to doing so for many more years.  My musical “home” is the Niagara Symphony - in many ways the region’s most significant, professional musical asset (get your tickets now!).  I am grateful to them for the tremendous opportunities and support they have given me.”
 
The Orchestre symphonique de Québec has announced two key appointments in its Marketing and Communications department:   Maurice Rhéaume is the OSQ’s new Director of Marketing and Development, and Hélène Barbeau is the new Director of Communications.  M. Rhéaume has most recently served as Director of Marketing at the Festival de Lanaudière, and has also held positions with l’Accademia Americana in Rome, Tohu, and at contemporary opera company Chants Libres.  Mme Barbeau first joined the OSQ in the communications department five years ago, and this represents her third promotion within the organization.  She has a background in broadcasting, having held roles with TQS, TVA and Radio-Canada, and a strong interest in music and publishing. 
 
The Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra will recognize Calgary philanthropists Bill and Judy Kilbourne with the ARC Energy Trust Golden Baton Award at one of its concerts in November.  The ARC Energy Trust Golden Baton award is given annually to individuals or an organization who have exhibited exceptional generosity, civic responsibility and philanthropic leadership. Both Judy and Bill Kilbourne have been actively involved in the continued development and financial well-being of the CPO for well over a decade. As a leading member of the Friends of the CPO and Musical Heritage as well as the CPO Foundation, Mr. Kilbourne has contributed greatly to securing the long-term sustainability of the Orchestra. He was instrumental in restructuring the articles of the CPO Foundation, ensuring the retention of capital within the Foundation. Judy Kilbourne has a long history with the Orchestra in many capacities: as a board member, a volunteer and a staff member. “We have loved every minute of our long and fulfilling relationship with the CPO,” says Judy Kilbourne. “It has grown and flourished in a magical way, and we are proud indeed to be part of the amazing CPO family.”
 
On September 26, the Orchestre symphonique de Longueuil was awarded the Prix Claude Gladu at the City of Longueuil’s Gala de la Culture, for its classical concert series.  In receiving the award, the orchestra’s artistic director, Marc David, thanked the city for its strong support of the arts, and for recognizing that the orchestra’s “Grands concerts classiques” are are the heart of its work.

Tomorrow night’s National Arts Centre Gala, featuring cellist Yo-Yo Ma, pianist Avan Yu, the National Arts Centre Orchestra and NACO music director Pinchas Zukerman, is sold out. The Gala benefits the National Youth and Education Trust which provides funds for the NAC’s wide array of performing arts programming for young artists, young audiences and schools.  The event includes a pre-concert reception for all patrons at 5:30 p.m., followed by the concert at 6:30 p.m., and a post-concert reception for Encore patrons and Gala sponsors, followed by dinner on the Southam Hall stage.  Janet Yale, TELUS’ executive vice president, Corporate Affairs, is the Chair of the Gala Committee for the fourth year. Mrs. Laureen Harper is the Honourary Gala Chair.  Of note:  Pinchas Zukerman and members of the National Arts Centre Orchestra have donated their services for the concert.
 
Last night, the Nova Scotia Liquor Commission hosted the 2009 Port of Wines Festival Winemakers’ Dinner, a five-course feast pairing the flavours of foods and wines New Zealand.  All proceeds from the event - which included a live auction with selections of rare and unique wines, as well as a trip to the vineyards of New Zealand - will support the work of Symphony Nova Scotia.  “We’re so grateful to NSLC for their support of Symphony Nova Scotia,” says Symphony Nova Scotia CEO Erika Beatty. “Their assistance allows us to partner with up-and-coming Maritime artists like Jenn Grant, David Myles, and MIR to present concerts combining Maritime and symphonic music in our Maritime Pops Series.”  

The Port of Wines Winemakers’ Dinner has raised in excess of $180,000 for Nova Scotia causes over the last five years.
 
Earlier this week, the Volunteer Committee of the Kingston Symphony Association launched the 50th Anniversary of their remarkable Book Fair.  The event, named one of the top five used book sales in Canada, has been a reliable source of support for the orchestra from its early beginnings.  For more information on the Book Fair - including location and hours - please visit the Kingston Symphony’s website here.
 
The Orchestre symphonique de Quebec has announced details of a gala event the orchestra will be hosting at the iconic Chateau Frontenac on November 27.  Entitled Violoncelle et cadeaux au Château avec Jorane, the event will include a performance by the remarkable singer/cellist Jorane, delicious seasonal fare, and - just in time for holiday shopping - a silent auction.  Honorary chair for the event is René Hamel, president and CEO of SSQ Groupe financier.  For more information on the event, please visit the OSQ’s website here.

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.