Orchestras Canada

On Saturday, November 5, Orchestras Canada executive director Katherine Carleton presented the Betty Webster Awards for 2011 for regional contributions to cellist and musician leader Marsha Moffitt at a Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra main series concert at Hamilton Place. This follows the September 30 presentation of the Betty Webster Award for national contribution to Dr. David Leighton at a concert by the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa, and completes the presentation cycle for 2011.

It’s humbling to be in the presence of people who have given so much for the cause of orchestras, and a true honour to be able to thank these people in the presence of their friends and fans. Orchestras Canada would like to thank our colleagues at the National Arts Centre and the Hamilton Philharmonic for their willingness to host the presentations, and for doing so with such impeccable style:

For the National Arts Centre Orchestra:
Christopher Deacon, Peter Herrndorf, Stefani Truant

For the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra:
Annelisa Pedersen, Robin Marritt, Kari Hueber

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.