Congratulations to Canadian composers Richard Gibson, Eileen Padgett, Suzanne Hébert Tremblay, John Palmer and Arsenio Girón, each of whom had substantial new works read by the National Arts Centre Orchestra (conducted by Gary Kulesha) in public performances at the NAC earlier this month.

Mme. Thérèse Boutin, Directrice generale of the Orchestre symphonique de Trois-Rivieres, has been elected as chair of the governing board of the Conservatoire de musique de Trois-Rivières. As well, she continues her work as vice chair of the board of Orchestras Canada, treasurer of the Conseil québécois de la musique and member of the planning committee for the Trois-Rivières Chamber of Commerce.

The National Arts Centre Orchestra has announced the retirement of Principal Librarian Margo Hodgson and Assistant Librarian Greg Hodgson, effective at the end of the 2009-10 season. As NACO artistic administrator Daphne Burt noted in her tribute, they “have transformed the Orchestra library into a perfectly tuned machine. Members of the NAC Orchestra and music director Pinchas Zukerman realize that Margo and Greg set the gold standard of library work. They will be sorely missed.” At the same time, NACO has announced the appointment of their successors: Nancy Elbeck, principal librarian; and Corey Rempel, assistant librarian. Ms Elbeck comes to the NAC Orchestra from both the Hamilton Philharmonic and the Buffalo Philharmonic, where she was principal librarian and assistant librarian, respectively. Mr. Rempel originally trained as a tubist, and has been the librarian of the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony Orchestra for the past year. The new team begins work at the end of August.

On June 16 and 17 in Ottawa, and June 20 in Montréal, the National Arts Centre Orchestra and the Orchestre Métropolitain will join forces – along with eight soloists and a 296-voice mass choir – under the leadership of OM music director Yannick Nézet-Séguin, for Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 8. The Ottawa performances mark the first-ever performance of the work by the National Arts Centre Orchestra and all three concerts are now completely sold out. The cast of soloists includes Erin Wall, Joni Henson, and Nathalie Paulin, sopranos; Susan Platts and Anita Krause, mezzo-sopranos, John MacMaster, tenor; Alexander Dobson, baritone; and Robert Pomakov, bass – and a chorus of 296 comprised of the Ottawa Choral Society (Matthew Larkin, Director), Cantata Singers of Ottawa (Michael Zaugg, Director), Ottawa Festival Chorus (Laurence Ewashko, Director), The Ewashko Singers (Laurence Ewashko, Director), Choeur de l’Orchestre Métropolitain (Alain Cazes and Pierre Tourville, Directors), and the Boys and Girls Choirs from Christ Church Cathedral, Ottawa (Matthew Larkin and Timothy Piper, Directors) – all under the direction of Duain Wolfe, Chorusmaster.

The performance on June 16 will also feature a very special presentation: her Excellency Michaëlle Jean will present a Governor General’s Performing Arts Award to Maestro Nézet-Séguin. Although the awards were “officially” presented in Ottawa on May 1, Maestro Nézet-Séguin was not able to attend, due to a previous conducting commitment – so a short on-stage ceremony (including a short film, produced by the National Film Board of Canada) will take place prior to the opening of the concert on June 16. For additional information, you can visit the NAC website here.

The National Arts Centre has released details of its summer 2010 music season, featuring “something for everyone – from big names to small ensembles – as well as orchestral, choral, and chamber music concerts, opera, pops, and jazz.” The program runs from June 12 to July 28 at the NAC and a number of other venues across the city. Featured artists include jazz phenom Nikki Yanovsky, opera stars Michael Schade and Isabel Bayrakdarian, pianist Stewart Goodyear, and a host of young artists from across the country. The program includes the fourth season of ‘Orchestras in the Park’, which encompasses four free outdoor classical, opera, and pop music concerts. The concerts are presented by the National Arts Centre Orchestra and the National Capital Commission at Lebreton Flats Park at 7:30 p.m. on July 22-25. Other Summer Music highlights include Canada Day celebrations, public concerts which are part of the NAC’s Summer Music Institute (SMI), public readings of new works by Canadian composers, masterclasses, and a jazz concert. All the concerts are open to the public and many of them are free. Summer Music at the National Arts Centre is under the artistic direction of Pinchas Zukerman, Music Director of the NAC Orchestra. In addition to Maestro Zukerman, guest conductors include Jean-Philippe Tremblay, Jacques Lacombe, and Edwin Outwater. The NAC program also includes highlight performances from the Summer Music Institute, which this year brings together 71 young musicians (ages 12 to 28), 10 young conductors and 11 young composers to work with an exceptional faculty led by Maestro Pinchas Zukerman; Co-Artistic Director Patinka Kopec; Maestro Kenneth Kiesler, Director, Conductors Program; and NAC Award-winning composer Gary Kulesha, Director, Composers Program. For more information, please visit the NAC’s website here.

The Orchestre symphonique de Quebec has launched its summer 2010 season as well, and it sees the full orchestra (as well as small ensembles from its membership) performing throughout its home city, at the Port of Quebec, afloat on the St. Lawrence River, and at some of the province’s major summer music festivals. The program includes parks concerts (by the full orchestra, as well as its brass quintet), a pair of programs at the Agora of the Port of Quebec, an opera-inspired program at the Festival de Lanaudière, a performance at the Inaugural Le Festival d’été de Québec à New Richmond featuring legendary chanteuse Ginette Reno, a pair of programs at Domaine Forget (including its gala opening performance), and participation in a series of Sunday evening dinner cruises throughout July and August. Conductors for the summer concerts include former OSQ resident conductor Richard Lee (now resident conductor with the Winnipeg Symphony), current resident conductor Airat Ichmouratov, Stephane Laforest, Emmanuel Vilaume, and – of course – OSQ music director Yoav Talmi. For more information about the program, please visit the OSQ’s website here.

Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra has announced its 9th annual Baroque Summer Institute and 2nd annual Baroque Summer Festival, running from May 28 to June 20. The Institute sees pre-professional and professional musicians from around the world gathering in Toronto for an advanced training program led by some of the world’s best musicians in the field of baroque performance, and the Festival includes a number of free concerts in different venues around Toronto, visits to local schools, and family-friendly workshops at the Ontario Science Centre. For more information about the Festival and the Institute, please visit the orchestra’s website here.

This week, we’re highlighting a couple of imaginatively-programmed concerts from two very different orchestras, aimed at very different audiences!

This Saturday, the National Arts Centre Orchestra presents an hour-long, bilingual family program entitled Happy Mother’s Day: A Musical Tribute to Moms. The concert will be led by Boris Brott, and will feature popular Canadian cartoonist Lynn Johnston, her trumpeter brother Al Ridgeway, musical families within the NAC Orchestra, a performance of Robert Munsch’s Love You Forever – and, as a special treat, three members of the astoundingly gifted Leong-Mach family. The mother-son trio includes 13-year old Ottawa violinist Kerson Q Xun Leong, who recently won the top prize in the under-16 category at the prestigious Menuhin Competition in Oslo, Norway – his very first international competition. He will perform with his cellist brother Stanley, and his mother, Tu Mach, an accomplished pianist and music teacher. As well, one lucky mother will be selected from the audience to conduct the NAC Orchestra! The fun begins in the lobby 45 minutes prior to each concert, and includes: a thematic book display by the Ottawa Public Library; musical activities by Music for Young Children; a display of “Chuckle Brothers” comic strip artwork by Brian Boychuk, violinist with the NAC Orchestra; activities by the Kanata Gymnastics Club; a brass and woodwind instrumental petting zoo organized by Canterbury High School; origami flower and finger puppet crafts; a special appearance by KAOS the Cat, official mascot of The Ottawa Academy of Martial Arts; and an information table by the Ottawa International Children’s Festival.

On May 15 in Toronto, the Aradia Ensemble (led by Kevin Mallon) presents Thunderbird: A First Nations/Baroque Collaboration. The program features mezzo soprano Marion Newman, a regular collaborator with Aradia, and a native Canadian – and it is built around the traditional legend of the Thunderbird. The program includes traditional first nations song and dance (including an elaborate Thunderbird mask, carved by Master Carver Victor Newman), weather- and storm-related music of the Baroque era by Locke and Clerambault, , and the world premiere of a work by composer Dustin Peters. Here’s what Marion Newman has to say about the program:

“The biggest thread that ties together Baroque and Aboriginal culture would be the beat that music provides. It starts with the heartbeat, it moves to the drum, the instruments strike up, people’s feet begin to twitch and dance is born. It may seem like a crazy thing to be combining such forces, but in my heart and mind it makes perfect sense that we are doing this concert. I’ve been involved in various projects that combined my two worlds of First Nations culture and classical music. The Magic Flute with Vancouver Opera was the biggest thus far. It was very successful and really made me want there to be more of that kind of good collaboration in my career. The kind of collaboration that helps people to understand that First Nations culture is still very much alive and that we are evolving and yet keeping our traditions close to our hearts. As part of the stage of healing from past wrongs, we need to share, discuss, make new art, create music that makes us happy and that opens the table for healthy discussion and understanding. My uncle, George Taylor, has been touring around the world, singing our traditional songs and sharing our dances with people in an open and respectful way for a long time. I have always been encouraged by my family to be a spokesperson for our culture. Someone who can show that we are not all stereotypical, in the movie and bad news way, but that we are open to questions and that we want people to understand that very many of us are healthy and happy, living productive lives”.

Ottawa Mayor Larry O’Brien has declared May 10-16 as the fourth annual National Arts Centre Orchestra Week. This year, the week focuses on ‘The National Arts Centre Orchestra in the Community’ and includes a number of private and free public concerts (performed by small NAC Orchestra ensembles) and education and outreach events held in venues around the city, as well as the usual schedule of NAC Orchestra performances at the National Arts Centre and at other locations. High-profile concerts at this year’s NAC Orchestra Week – during the 40th Anniversary Season of the National Arts Centre — will be performed in the Centre Block of Parliament Hill, at Ottawa City Hall, and in various schools, community centres, and retirement homes in Ottawa. Also taking place during NAC Orchestra Week will be a ‘Music for a Sunday Afternoon’ concert at the National Gallery of Canada as well as several events at the NAC itself, including an open student rehearsal, the NAC Orchestra Bursary Competition Finals, and three CTV Pops Series concerts.

You don’t even need to be in Ottawa to take part: during NAC Orchestra Week, the National Arts Centre website will have a special feature including a calendar of events, a daily blog written by a member of the NAC Orchestra, a bilingual audio presentation by NACO Assistant Principal Double Bass Marjolaine Fournier, and a website contest which asks the musical question ”If you could be anybody in the NAC Orchestra, who would you be – and why?”

The Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra has just announced the appointment of their new music director, Arthur Post – and the orchestra has launched its 50th anniversary season at the same time!  Maestro Post has been music director of the San Juan Symphony (of Colorado and New Mexico) for the last eight seasons, and has also served as Assistant and subsequently Resident Conductor with the Pittsburgh Symphony, Associate Conductor of the Israel Philharmonic and Resident Conductor of the New World Symphony.  He trained at Yale, the Juilliard School, and Tanglewood – and has been specifically cited for his “groundbreaking programming that combines the masterworks of the orchestral repertoire with music reflecting local cultures and concerns”.  Maestro Post will assume his duties with the TBSO in the fall of 2010.

While we’re still in Thunder Bay, we’ll convey hearty congratulations to TBSO General Manager Leanne Atkinson and her husband Johnnie, who have just welcomed 9 pound, 14 oz. baby boy Nolan to the world!  Ms Atkinson will be on parental leave until mid-February 2011; Clint Kuschak is serving as Interim General Manager during her leave.

Thirteen Strings Chamber Orchestra of Ottawa has just announced the appointment of Kevin Mallon as its new Artistic Director, beginning with the 2010-11 season. Mr. Mallon is founder and Music Director of the Toronto-based Aradia Ensemble, and is also Music Director of the Toronto Chamber Orchestra. Each group has a recording contract with Naxos, and under Mr. Mallon’s direction, they have made more than 50 recordings for the label. Commenting on his new appointment, Mr. Mallon said “I am delighted to have been chosen to be the next Music Director of The Thirteen Strings! Our work together in January was rewarding. We all had a terrific time working together – the glove fit!”  For more information about Thirteen Strings, you can visit their website here.

Lucie Paquin, head of media relations at the Orchestre symphonique de Montreal for the past three years, has recently left the post for a communications role at the Muséums Nature de Montréal. During the transition period, OSM programme editor and coordinator Caroline Louis will be filling the role.

The National Arts Centre Orchestra has just appointed violinist Jessica Linnebach as its Associate Concertmaster, following a successful audition. Ms Linnebach, 27, has been a valued member of the NAC Orchestra family for two decades. She first performed as a soloist with the Orchestra in 1990 at the age of seven, joined the Orchestra on a tour of Europe and the Middle East a decade later, and participated in the NAC’s Young Artist Program (YAP) in 2000, 2001, and 2002. Ms Linnebach then joined the Orchestra as a full-time member in the 2002-2003 season. A passionate chamber musician, Jessica is a founding member of the Zukerman ChamberPlayers, a string quintet led by Pinchas Zukerman that was formed in 2003.

Immediately following the national launch of Culture Days, the Ontario Arts Council announced the appointment of Aubrey Reeves as Ontario’s Culture Days Animator/Coordinator for the next six months. Aubrey will be a resource for Ontario artists and arts organizations interested in participating in culture days. Aubrey will work in partnership with the Ontario Culture Days Task Force and the national steering committee. She will: Provide organizing advice to potential presenters on how to develop a free, participatory activity for Culture Days or incorporate an existing arts activity on that weekend; Connect groups or artists in the same community that wish to share spaces or other resources for their Culture Day activity; Work with the national steering committee to develop tips and tools for successful events; Facilitate communication and networking between Ontario Culture Days participants; Support alliances between artists and municipalities. She can be reached by email at on@culturedays.ca or by phone at Toll-free 1-800-387-0058 ext. 5077, or 647-258-5077 in Toronto.

Congratulations to Jacques Lacombe, music director of the Orchestre symphonique de Trois-Rivieres, for his critically acclaimed debut in the role of Music Director of the New Jersey Symphony. You can read the New York Times review of the performance here.

The Ontario Arts Council has also announced the appointment of artist, educator, producer and arts administrator Aengus Finnan as Touring and Audience Development Officer. In his new role, Aengus will work to reinforce OAC’s ongoing commitment to touring, presenting and audience development for the arts. “We consider the issue of building audiences the biggest challenge facing artists and arts organizations today,” said John Brotman, Executive Director. “With his 15-year experience as an established artist and at the helm of a successful music festival, we know that Aengus will bring leadership to this area.”

The National Arts Centre has announced the renewal of Maestro Pinchas Zukerman’s contract as the NAC Orchestra’s Music Director for four more years, to August 31, 2015.  The decision to renew Mr. Zukerman’s contract was unanimously approved by the National Arts Centre Board of Trustees, on the recommendation of NAC President and Chief Executive Officer Peter Herrndorf.  In a statement Mr. Herrndorf said, “Pinchas Zukerman’s gift of music has delighted audiences across Canada and internationally. For more than a decade the National Arts Centre has benefitted from his leadership on the podium, his extraordinary artistry as a soloist, and his deep commitment to music education. We are thrilled this relationship will continue.”

Congratulations to Bernard Labadie, music director of Les Violons du Roy and La Chapelle de Quebec, who will make his debut with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra this weekend in Bach’s St. Matthew Passion.  He will not be the only Canadian on stage, either:  celebrated contralto Marie-Nicole Lemieux will be one of the six soloists for these performances.

A number of member orchestras have announced their 2010-11 seasons, and here is a round-up of recent launches

Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony announced its 66th season recently, and its fourth under the leadership of Music Director Edwin Outwater.  Major works on the season include Holst’s The Planets, Dvorák’s Symphony No. 9 “From the New World”, and Sibelius’ Fifth Symphony, and world premieres include a new work by composer Brian Current featuring visual artist and second-generation Sufi mevlevi whirling dervish, Mira Hunter.  As well, the orchestra also announced a new social networking site for its fans: www.Kwsocial.ca, designed to connect the orchestra to its community in a new and dynamic way.  You can learn more here.

The Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra (led by Music Director James Sommerville) has announced its 2010-11 season – a season that includes Strauss’s Death and Transfiguration and Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique, along with pops and chamber programs.  For more information, you can go to their website here.

The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra has announced its 2010-11 season – its 6th under the leadership of Music Director Bill Eddins, who will conduct concerts on each of the orchestras’ many series.  Among many other highlights, the season will include the return of Late Night with Bill Eddins; The ESO Presents, a new series that invites brilliant international soloists to perform with the orchestra in the first half of the program, followed by solo recitals after intermission.  The season also includes the ESO’s annual outdoor event, Symphony Under the Sky.  For more information, you can visit the ESO’s website here.

The Orchestre symphonique de Québec has released details of its 2010-11 season, its final season under the leadership of Maestro Yoav Talmi after a highly successful 12-year tenure.  The music of Beethoven is featured extensively, with performances of all of his symphonies and major concertos.  As well, the season will feature a massive performance of Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 “Resurrection”.  For more information, you can visit the OSQ’s website here.

Symphony Nova Scotia has announced its 2010-11 season, designed and led by Music Director Bernhard Gueller.  Features of the season include great symphonic works, a performance of Mozart’s Requiem, and a Scandinavian festival featuring the music of Grieg and Sibelius.  Pops programming includes guest appearances by Red Green and the Barra MacNeils.  www.symphonynovascotia.ca

The National Arts Centre Orchestra has announced its 2010-11 season, its 12th under the leadership of Music Director Pinchas Zukerman.  Highlights include a Mozart-Haydn Festival, a stunning array of Canadian and international soloists, the world premiere of Malcolm Forsyth’s Ballad of the Canadian Land, and works by Peter Paul Koprowski and André Mathieu.  For more information, you can visit the orchestra’s website 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

Orchestra London has announced that Timothy Vernon, with the orchestra for the last ten years, will conclude his tenure as music director at the end of the 2009-10 season.  “Timothy Vernon has had a tremendous impact on Orchestra London and the arts in this city,” says Board President Brent Kelman. “He is a brilliant conductor, impassioned speaker, and dedicated advocate for the arts, among many other things, and we wish him all the best during the next stage in his career.”  Vernon’s current contract expires at the end of this season and he has elected not to seek an additional renewal, citing the time commitments associated with the expansion of Pacific Opera Victoria’s season from three to four productions yearly, and the preparation of performing editions of Richard Strauss’ operas in reduced orchestrations suitable for smaller ensembles.   “I have been honoured to work with such a talented group of musicians over the past ten years, and as Conductor Laureate look forward to an ongoing relationship with this great orchestra,” says Vernon.  “The unwavering devotion of the board members, musicians and loyal audience has been an inspiration to me.”

The Ontario Arts Council has announced that its Executive Director, John Brotman, will be retiring in 2010.  He has been at the OAC since 1989, beginning with an appointment to the Music Office in 1989.  As OAC’s Music Officer, Mr. Brotman worked closely with all areas of the music community in Ontario.  He introduced the innovative Popular Music program in the 1990s, initiated the Changing Arts Practice workshops for orchestras in Ontario with the Guildhall School of England and made OAC’s music programs models of accessibility for all musical genres.  In 1999, he was appointed Director of Arts Programs, and in 2001, he became Executive Director.

The Orchestre symphonique de Trois-Rivières has announced the appointment of three musicians to its ranks, following regional auditions.  Violinist Ana Drobac has been promoted to the position of Associate Principal 2nd violin, cellist Caroline Milot is the new Associate Principal Cello, and trifluvian musician François Toutant has joined the orchestra’s cello section.  Félicitations à tous!

The National Arts Centre Music Department has announced that the Concertmaster Audition Committee has voted to award violinist Yosuke Kawasaki tenure in the position of Concertmaster of the National Arts Centre Orchestra.  Pinchas Zukerman, Music Director of the NAC Orchestra, said “I was extremely overjoyed by Yosuke Kawasaki’s tenured appointment to Concertmaster. The leadership he has demonstrated, along with his incredible sound, have already produced tremendous changes in the orchestra. In addition to his musicianship, his work ethic is second to none, and he is simply a superb human being. NACO is delighted to have such a wonderful person as its concertmaster, and Canada is very lucky to have such an extraordinary musician representing the country.”

The Saskatchewan Band Association has recognized Saskatoon musician and educator Wayne Toews with its 2009 Distinguished Band Director award.  The award recognizes his outstanding contribution to band, strong musical leadership and consistent promotion of musical excellence in the province of Saskatchewan.  Among his many contrubutions include the establishment of the band program in City Park Collegiate, his role as music director at Aden Bowman Collegiate and of the Saskatoon Youth Orchestra, and the creation of a school for conductors that has attracted students from around the world. Toews is a founding board member of the Saskatchewan Orchestral Association, chair of the orchestra division of Musicfest Canada and serves on the board of the Canadian Music Centre, Prairie Division.