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.”

For Artist-Educators
Ontario-based musicians looking to prepare themselves to work in school and community settings might want to consider the latest offering from the Royal Conservatory of Music:  the 30-hour Artist Educator Foundations Course.  Through the support of the Ontario Arts Council, Ontario artists can enrol in the program for only $60.  The course will be offered this spring in London, Mississauga, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ottawa, North Bay, Peterborough and Toronto.  For more information, and to see if you qualify, please visit the RCM website here.

Free Training Webinars for Charities by CanadaHelps
As part of its commitment to helping charities learn more about social media and online fundraising, CanadaHelps is offering a series of free hour-long training sessions for charities in the first half of 2010. The technical requirements are relatively minor:  all you need is an internet connection and speakers (or headphones) to join in.  Topics include:  Good to Great Emails; Watch It Grow: How To Cultivate Your Email List; The Value of Being Online and How to Get Your Board Onside; Putting Social Media to Good Use: A Case Study of the Salvation Army; Five Free Online Tools Your Charity Could Use;  Measuring the Impact of Social Media and (shades of Christmas in July), Planning for the Holidays … It’s Not Too Early! To learn more and to sign up, visit their website here.

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.

Last week, the Ontario Arts Council presented the Vida Peene Award for 2009 to the Sudbury Symphony Orchestra. The $5000 award was presented by OAC board member Adrien Lamoureux at the orchestra’s second of six concerts this season.

The SSO was identified by the peer jury as a “vital organization in this northern city, embraced by its community with a remarkable audience base, regularly playing to capacity houses.” Jurors further commended the orchestra for its “excellent education programs that build awareness and appreciation of music in children and youth.” Jury members included Dr. John Burge, Associate Director at Queen’s University School of Music; Vicky Dvorak, a violinist with the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony; Michael Grit, Theatre Manager of the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts; Glenn Klassen, Music Director of the Lethbridge Symphony Orchestra in Alberta and Mary-Liz Warwick, local business woman and active volunteer member of the Sudbury community.

The late Vida Peene was a Hamilton-based arts patron whose remarkable legacy continues to nurture the arts in Ontario and Canada. The Ontario Arts Council is one of eight specified organizations that receive income through investment earnings from Peene’s original bequest to the Canada Council for the Arts. Income from The Vida Peene Fund is given every two years to an Ontario orchestra other than the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (the TSO having been provided for separately through Vida Peene’s estate). Past recipients include the Windsor Symphony Orchestra (2007) and the Esprit Orchestra (2005). For many years prior to 2005, income from the fund helped to support the costs of the Ontario Festival of Youth Orchestras, a project then administered by Orchestras Canada.

Ontario arts managers will be interested to learn about changes to the Ontario Arts Council’s Compass program.  According to a recent announcement by the OAC, individual arts managers (whether independent or working within an organization) will be eligible to apply for assistance in job shadowing, coaching, mentorship and other kinds of professional development initiatives, starting with the December 2009 deadline.  With this change, OAC is responding to a key recommendation from the 2007 Compass program evaluation which was to increase support to the management capacities of people working within arts organizations, not just to the organizations themselves.  For more information on the Compass program, please visit here.