Orchestras Canada

M. Guy Morneau, Chair of the board of Les Violons du Roy, has announced the retirement of Mme Louise Labelle, who has served as the orchestra’s Directrice generale since 2007, effective June 14. She will be succeeded by Mme Astrid Chouinard.

The Sudbury Symphony Orchestra has announced the appointment of Elizabeth Aman-Hume as the new Executive Director of the  Sudbury Symphony Orchestra and Music School, effective immediately. Elizabeth was most recently executive director of the Northern Orchestra in the Prince George region of British Columbia.

The Timmins Symphony Orchestra and Geoffrey James Lee School of Music has announced the appointment of Frances Shakov as their new Executive Director. Frances comes to the TSO from Ballet Jorgen, where she served as General Manager.

Toronto Arts Council is pleased to announce that Christy DiFelice has joined as the Grants Officer responsible for its Music programs. Christy has worked with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra since 2006 as Manager of the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra. Prior to that she worked with the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir and the Fine Arts Cultural Studies Department at York University. A graduate of York University (MA, Ethnomusicology/Musicology; 2008), her studies focused on musics and cultures of the African Diaspora, with a specialization in North American Jazz and Blues. Christy will assume her duties at TAC on July 19, 2010.

The Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards has just announced the winners for 2010, and they include two people central to orchestral life in Canada – Walter Homburger (Life Time Achievement Award) and Yannick Nezet-Seguin (National Arts Centre Award).  Here are excerpts from the citations for these two great Canadians:

Orchestra manager, consultant, impresario and artist manager, Walter Homburger has been a driving force in the development of orchestras and classical music in Canada for over half a century. He has promoted a succession of extraordinary artists (including Glenn Gould, Victor Braun, Jan Rubes, Louis Lortie, and James Ehnes), and his unrivalled 25-year term as managing director of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) set new standards for orchestra management in Canada and became a model for following generations of music directors and managers.

Yannick Nézet-Séguin is one of the fastest-rising stars on the international classical music scene. Acclaimed by musicians, audiences and critics alike for his musicality, dedication and charisma, he is in great demand as a symphonic and operatic conductor and has appeared with leading orchestras around the world.

The awards will be presented in Ottawa on May 1.

The Ontario Arts Council has announced that the Heinz Unger Award for 2010 has been awarded to Michelle Mourre, Artistic Director of the Brandon Chamber Players.  The award is presented every two years to an emerging professional conductor who has experience at a professional, semi-professional and/or community orchestra.  The jury noted that Ms Mourre has a “lot to offer and say as a Canadian musician and conductor.”  Prior to joining the Brandon Chamber Players, Mourre distinguished herself as Conductor in Residence with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, and more recently, with her successful debuts at the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and Symphony Nova Scotia.

The Prince George Symphony has announced a restructuring of its staff team in response to its financial situation.  General Manager Elizabeth Aman-Hume has stepped down; a number of her duties will be assumed by Ruth Langner.