NACO June 15-July 1: 10th edition of NAC Summer Music Institute - public events

The 10^th edition of the NAC’Äôs Summer Music Institute offers a wealth of public events from June 15 to July 1

Ottawa, Canada ’Äì The National Arts Centre’Äôs 10^th Summer Music Institute (SMI) will see 90 talented young musicians, conductors and composers from across Canada and around the world gather in Ottawa from June 9 to July 1 to study with an international faculty headed by Pinchas Zukerman, the Music Director of the NAC Orchestra. The celebratory 10^th edition of the SMI offers more opportunities than ever for the public to view these exceptional participants in performance.

The NAC Summer Music Institute was founded by Pinchas Zukerman in 1999, his first year as Music Director of the Orchestra. With this summer’Äôs edition, the SMI will have provided training to 581 participants from 34 countries including Canada. The SMI consists of the Young Artists Programme (YAP) for highly talented string, wind and piano musicians ’Äì and this year for the first time, a vocal quartet; the Conductors Programme (CdP), added in 2001 giving experienced conductors the chance to hone their skills in workshop format; and the Composers Programme (CmP), added in 2003 during which composers develop an original work on a live ensemble. All three programmes include concerts showcasing the talents of these stars of the future. (A chronological list of public events follows.)

The 2008 Young Artists Programme (YAP) offers 68 highly talented students from across Canada and around the globe the opportunity to take part in junior and senior levels of technical study. Exceptional students aspiring to be tomorrow’Äôs best classical musicians are chosen by audition to participate in this intense programme of study. Chamber music coaching is a key element of the students’Äô instruction and all the participants perform publicly in their chamber ensembles. There also three open masterclasses.

Two separate concerts of piano and string ensembles will take place at the Canadian Museum of Civilization on June 18 and 19 using Glenn Gould’Äôs famous piano. Attendance at Glenn Gould I and II is free with admission to the Glenn Gould Exhibit currently taking place. Three concerts will take place on June 24, 25 and 26 under the Plaza Bridge beside the NAC as part of the NCC’Äôs Noon Under the Bridge series. Three final recitals will take place at the University of Ottawa: Spotlight on Winds on June 24, and two Spotlights on Strings and Vocals on June 29 and 30. And finally, members of the YAP will participate in the Canada Day concerts with the NAC Orchestra led by Pinchas Zukerman on July 1. Summer Music Institute public events also include three masterclasses ’Äì with Pinchas Zukerman and Patinka Kopec on June 20, with Hans Jorgen Jensen on June 21 and with vocal coach Benita Valente on June 27. The NAC Summer Music Institute is presented in collaboration with the University of Ottawa.

The NAC Composers Programme (CmP) concludes with a Celebration of Future Classics on June 25 at which the audience joins the performers on the stage of Southam Hall to hear compositions by the participants and their mentors. An earlier Celebration of Future Classics on June 23 will feature works by Gary Kulesha (Lead Composer of the 2008 CmP), and Canadian composers Alexina Louie and Ana Sokolovic. It will also feature renowned percussionist Colin Currie performing the Canadian premiere of Time Release by American composer Steven Mackey.

The NAC Conductors Programme (CdP) concludes on June 26 with the five skilled participants leading the NAC Orchestra in a concert of musical classics. For the first time this year, the Conductor Programme has the benefit of the full-sized Orchestre de la francophonie canadienne to practice on throughout the programme under the expert guidance of Kenneth Kiesler, conductor and mentor-to-conductors, as well as Pinchas Zukerman.

Canadian participants of the Summer Music Insitute ’Äì senior YAP, conductors and composers ’Äìare considered for full scholarships, and private donations help provide partial scholarships for Junior Strings and international students. The National Arts Centre Summer Music Institute is generously supported by private and corporate donations and through the NAC Foundation’Äôs National Youth and Education Trust (Founding Partner TELUS). Major supporters include: Scotiabank, Universal Music, University of Ottawa, Galaxie ’Äì The Continuous Music Network through its Galaxie Rising Stars Program of the CBC and the NAC Foundation Donors’Äô Circle.

CHRONOLOGICAL CALENDAR OF SUMMER MUSIC INSTITUTE EVENTS

Sunday, June 15 at 6:30 pm

Friends of NACO Young Artists Programme Appreciation Concert

Freiman Hall, Perez Building, University of Ottawa

Tickets: $5 (free for members of Friends of NACO; memberships on sale at door)

Wednesday, June 18 at 12 noon

In Honour of Glenn Gould I

Chamber music by piano and string ensembles of the Young Artists Programme

Canadian Museum of Civilization

Free with admission to Glenn Gould Exhibit

Thursday, June 19 at 7 pm

In Honour of Glenn Gould II

Chamber music by piano and string ensembles of the Young Artists Programme

Canadian Museum of Civilization

Free with admission to Glenn Gould Exhibit

Friday, June 20 at 7:30 pm

Summer Music Institute Masterclass

Pinchas Zukerman and Patinka Kopec, violin and viola

Freiman Hall, Perez Building, University of Ottawa

Tickets: $5 at the door

Saturday, June 21 at 9:30 am

Meet the Maestro: Kenneth Kiesler

Behind the Music, presented by Friends of the NAC Orchestra

Freiman Hall, Perez Building, University of Ottawa

Tickets: $14 (Friends of NACO members: $12; Students: $6)

Saturday, June 21 at 7:30 pm

Summer Music Institute Masterclass

Hans Jorgen Jensen, cello

Freiman Hall, Perez Building, University of Ottawa

Tickets: $5 at the door

Monday, June 23 at 7:30 pm

Celebration of Future Classics: Time Release

National Arts Centre Orchestra

Members of the Orchestre de la francophonie canadienne

Jean-Philippe Tremblay, conductor

Julian Wachter, conductor

Colin Currie, percussion

Southam Hall

Tickets $15 (or all 3 Celebration of Future Classics for $30 ’Äì June 23, 25, 28)

Tuesday, June 24 at 12 noon

Noon Under the Bridge

Outdoor chamber music with participants in the NAC Young Artists Programme.

Presented in collaboration with the National Capital Commission
Plaza Bridge (beside the NAC)

Alternate site in case of rain: Freiman Hall, Perez Building, University of Ottawa

Free ’Äì no tickets required

Tuesday, June 24 at 7 pm

Young Artists Programme: Spotlight on Winds

Chamber music by the highly talented Canadian and international young musicians of the YAP in recital.

Tabaret Hall, University of Ottawa

Tickets: $10 ($15 for two concerts; $22 for all three ’Äì June 24, 29, 30)

Wednesday, June 25 at 12 noon

Noon Under the Bridge

Outdoor chamber music with participants in the NAC Young Artists Programme.

Presented in collaboration with the National Capital Commission
Plaza Bridge (beside the NAC)

Alternate site in case of rain: Freiman Hall, Perez Building, University of Ottawa

Free ’Äì no tickets required

Wednesday, June 25 at 7:30 pm

Composers Programme: Celebration of Future Classics

Ensembles from the NAC Orchestra and l’ÄôOrchestre de la francophonie canadienne

Jean-Philippe Tremblay, conductor

Gary Kulesha, conductor

Roberto Sierra, guest composer

Sit on Southam Hall stage with the performers and experience brand new creations by members of the sixth annual Composers Programme and their mentors.

Southam Hall: onstage seating

Tickets: $15 (or all 3 Celebration of Future Classics for $30 ’Äì June 23, 25, 28)

Thursday, June 26 at 12 noon

Noon Under the Bridge

Outdoor chamber music with participants in the NAC Young Artists Programme.

Presented in collaboration with the National Capital Commission
Plaza Bridge (beside the NAC)

Alternate site in case of rain: Freiman Hall, Perez Building, University of Ottawa

Free ’Äì no tickets required

Thursday, June 26 at 7:30 pm

Conductors Programme Concert

A free concert of orchestral classics performed by the National Arts Centre Orchestra under the baton of the five Canadian and international conductors participating in the 2008 Conductors Programme.

Southam Hall

Free tickets available in person at the NAC Box Office

Friday, June 27 at 7:30 pm

Summer Music Institute Masterclass

Benita Valente, vocal

Freiman Hall, Perez Building, University of Ottawa

Tickets $5 at the door

Saturday, June 28 at 7:30 pm

Manitoba Chamber Orchestra

Special Concert (Celebration of Future Classics ’Äì not part of Summer Music Institute)

Southam Hall

Tickets $15 (or all 3 Celebration of Future Classics for $30 ’Äì June 23, 25, 28)

Sunday, June 29 at 7 pm

Young Artists Programme: Spotlight on Strings and Vocals I

Chamber music by the highly talented Canadian and international young musicians of the YAP in their final recital.

Tabaret Hall, University of Ottawa

Tickets: $10 ($15 for two concerts; $22 for all three ’Äì June 24, 29, 30)

Monday, June 30 at 7 pm

Young Artists Programme: Spotlight on Strings and Vocals II

Chamber music by the highly talented Canadian and international young musicians of the YAP in their final recital.

Tabaret Hall, University of Ottawa

Tickets: $10 ($15 for two concerts; $22 for all three ’Äì June 24, 29, 30)

Tuesday, July 1

Canada Day Celebrations

400-voice massed Unisong Choir 2008

Southam Hall, 10 am

National Arts Centre Orchestra

Pinchas Zukerman, conductor

musicians of the NAC Young Artists Programme

400-voice massed Unisong Choir

Southam Hall, 2:30 pm and 7:30 pm

Free (no tickets required)