One of the actions outlined in OC’s new Strategic Plan is to “use our newsletter and the blogging capacity on our website to feature in-depth stories about members’ successes and challenges”. It’s time to admit the truth: while we sincerely strive to make Orchestra News as fresh and interesting as possible (46 times per year), the format does not always lend itself to in-depth coverage of the interesting and innovative work going on onstage and behind the scenes at Canadian orchestras – nor does OC’s tiny but mighty staff team know everything that’s going on.

We could moan about this, or we could ask for help. We’ve chosen the latter course: if your organization is working on something you think is interesting, innovative, perhaps even game-changing – write it up! We’ll edit for consistency, ensure that it’s translated, and post it on our website as a Letter from the Field.

We’re inaugurating this new approach with a post from Sophie Galaise, Directrice générale of the Orchestre symphonique de Québec, who tells the story of Contact Culture, a remarkable collaboration spearheaded by the OSQ that is providing cultural managers in Québec’s national capital region with real-time information about audiences. You can learn all about it, here.

Late last week, Mme Sophie Galaise, Directrice generale of the Orchestre symphonique de Quebec, was recognized as a “Woman of Distinction” in the field of arts and culture by the YWCA of Quebec at their annual Gala. She was cited for her track record of developing and transforming the organizations for which she has worked, the positive impact she has had in the cultural milieu, and her unique combination of business acumen and sensitivity to music and the arts – and, in particular, the numerous accomplishments of the OSQ since her arrival in 2007. Congratulations!

The New Brunswick Youth Orchestra has announced the appointment of Antonio Delgado as its new Resident Conductor, effective September 2010. Maestro Delgado, himself a product of the highly regarded El Sistema of Venezuala, will play a joint role, conducting the NBYO Senior Orchestra, and also driving the growth of the Sistema movement in New Brunswick, which officially launched in Moncton earlier this year. Born in Caracas, Venezuela, he was most recently a conductor with the world famous Sistema Nacional de Orquestas Juveniles e Infantiles de Venezuela, (National System of Youth and Children’s Orchestras of Venezuela). He has conducted every major orchestra in Venezuela, has worked in Ecuador and Puerto Rico and has been a guest conductor in Italy, Cuba, Guatemala, and Panama. In 2006 he was appointed the Music Director of the National Theatre “Teresa Carreño”, where he conducted major Venezuelan professional orchestras in Symphonic concerts, Ballets, and Operas. He began in the National System’s (El Sistema) “Nucleo La Rinconada”, where he studied violin and music theory.

Congratulations to Mme Sophie Galaise, directrice générale of the Orchestre symphonique de Quebec (and board member of Orchestras Canada), who is one of three nominees for the YWCA of Quebec’s Women of Distinction Award for 2010 in the Arts and Culture category.  The award will be presented May 19 in Quebec.

The Lindsay (ON) Concert Foundation has announced the appointment of Steve Haviaras as its first General Manager.  His mandate is to help transition LCF from a volunteer run to a professionally managed presenting organization, and he began work on February 22.  Mr. Haviaras’s career spans more than twenty years working with symphony orchestras, opera companies, theatre companies and educational institutions throughout North America, as well as being the long standing President of Arts Consulting International.  For more information on the Lindsay Concert Foundation, please visit their website here.

The team at Orchestras Canada would like to thank emerging arts administrator Diann Missal, who completed a five month Cultural Human Resources Council-funded internship with Orchestras Canada yesterday.  Since her arrival in early November, Diann (a graduate of the Humber College Cultural Management program), has done amazing work as our Conference Marketing and Logistics Associate – keeping us on track with program and logistics planning, website and on-line registration set-up, and unceasing fundraising research and proposal development.  She has been a positive presence, and she has helped us accomplish more than ever before.

Diann will be continuing her work with OC one day per week until the end of June, and will be joining us in Winnipeg for the National Orchestras Meeting.  We are grateful to Diann, and to the Department of Canadian Heritage CHRC for facilitating the creation of this position.