Naked Body Stands in for Humanity

Her Naked Body Stands In For Vulnerable Humanity

4th Annual Human Body Project
At the Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival
August 13-23, 2009

Click link below to watch the Human Body Project video (2 min.)

http://web.me.com/humanbodyproject/HBP/Home.html

Barack Obama observes that the global empathy deficit is far more serious than the financial one. As a mother, it feels intensely urgent to me that we humans address this issue. This project, me volunteering as a "sample human," is my way to do whatever I can do to move humanity forward.

I am an artist. For ten years I lived on the edge trying to make it as a painter. I am also a longtime yoga practitioner, a college instructor, and a former journalist. My events reflect who I am, my wisdom, and my depth. Rather than a separate public persona, I show up as a real, struggling human. The events are in the moment, workshop-like, contemplative. One participant said it was like a new religion, sacred.

I use my 47-year-old naked body (no plastic surgeries, two babies, flabby, not what you'd call titillating) to create a felt, visceral experience of shared vulnerability. I also write about my life, as authentically as I am able to, on my blog.

It's hard! I am not comfortable without my defenses. Who I am is a heartful person. Or, at least, this is what I want to own as a human being and what I want all of us to own as human beings. This is the most vulnerable thing to be. I have learned that being naked is way easier than being openhearted.

Sacredness, authenticity, heartfulness, these attitudes or qualities are mostly missing from how we live. For instance, I often feel painfully disconnected when I participate in or am complicit in the many superficialities and detachments from heartfulness that life presents. But how do we create or deal with or engage with heartfulness? I certainly haven't been taught how. In fact, I learned quite the opposite: not to deal with these qualities, not to "go there."

It is a profoundly difficult dilemma that must be understood in a visceral sense, beyond intellect and cognition. Our separation from sacredness has led to everything from individual health problems (such as my own, which I sometimes write about) to global issues like climate change and poverty. It's mine, but it's yours too.

When I conceived this project in 2006 I decided to commit to do at least one annual public event until I die, partly as a chronicle of my sample human body and the changes that take place in it over the years. I also hope to continue to provoke a serious consideration of vulnerability, our own, as humans in a body, and, by extension, the troubled planet's.

Gandhi said, "Be the change you wish to see in the world." By choosing to use my own body and life experience, I have chosen to "be" and represent that which we all share: physicality, mortality, fragility, and vulnerability. It may be mine you're looking at, but it's yours too.


Location at the Edmonton Fringe
Venue #3
Acacia Hall
10433-83 Ave.

Dates and Times at the Edmonton Fringe
August 14 10:45pm-12:15am
August 16 2:15pm-3:45pm
August 17 6:00pm-7:30pm
August 19 12:30pm-2:00pm
August 20 4:00pm-5:30pm
August 22 8:15pm-9:45pm

Tickets
$12 regular
$10 for students and seniors
(18 and over)


About the Artist
Tasha Diamant has paintings in hundreds of corporate and private collections. She has been a journalist for national newsmagazines including Maclean's and Australia's Who Weekly. She has also been a yoga instructor and experiential workshop facilitator at the largest holistic health facilities in the US, Kripalu Center and the Omega Institute. She now teaches public speaking at Lethbridge College. Tasha lives in Lethbridge, Alberta, with her husband and two daughters.

Sobeys Symphony Under the Sky brings summer sounds to Hawrelak Park

Your Edmonton Symphony Orchestra concludes summer with the 15^th annual

Sobeys Symphony Under the Sky

Friday, September 4^th - Monday, September 7^th

Heritage Amphitheatre, Hawrelak Park

Edmonton, AB �Ķ Concluding the summer festival season in Edmonton is Sobeys Symphony Under the Sky. Taking place Labour Day weekend, September 4^th ��� 7^th, 2009, this annual festival is sure to delight concert-goers of all ages, by bringing the invigorating sounds of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra (ESO) to the beautiful river valley setting of Hawrelak Park.

Charismatic Conductor Bob Bernhardt returns to lead the ESO in five outdoor concerts that will celebrate the 15^th annual outdoor festival of orchestral music. Over the course of four days, audiences can sample the varied music programming presented by the ESO all through the concert season. From classical masterpieces, operatic classics, Hollywood movie favourites, and a tribute to Sinatra, there is something for every musical taste and style!

���It is with delight and great pleasure that I���m back for my fourth season of Sobeys Symphony Under the Sky��� says Maestro Bernhardt. ���As always, we strive to provide a wide variety of excellent and entertaining programs for the entire family that has become the hallmark of this festival. We hope that you find much to enjoy!���

This year, the ESO is also extremely pleased to have Bullfrog Power as a partner to lower the electricity-related emissions footprint of the festival with Alberta-made wind power. Bullfrog Power is a leading Canadian provider of 100 per cent green electricity, and the only all-green electricity provider in Alberta. Providing green power for this event will not require any special equipment or wiring. Bullfrog Power will simply inject clean, emissions-free EcoLogo^M-certified electricity to the Alberta electricity grid to match the amount of power used by the event, just as it does for thousands of homes and hundreds of organizations in Alberta and Ontario.

���By choosing to use Bullfrog Power, the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra is setting an important example about how easy it is for organizations and companies to lower their electricity-related emissions footprint,��� says Theresa Howland, Vice President, Western Region, Bullfrog Power.

On Friday, September 4^th, the festival opens with ESO Music Director Bill Eddins stepping into the role of guest piano soloist, taking on Gershwin���s vivacious, jazz-influenced Concerto in F. Bob Bernhardt will conduct two other treasured works of classical music, Mussorgsky���s rousing A Night on Bare Mountain and Mendelssohn���s shimmering ���Italian��� Symphony, in this 7:00pm concert of Sparkling Classics.

Saturday, September 5^th welcomes Canadian soprano Kathleen Brett for an afternoon performance of operatic delights, and an evening performance of glorious music from Oscar-winning movies. The 2:00pm matinee concert Operamania!, will bring some of the greatest orchestral as well as vocal works from opera to the Amphitheatre stage, with a showcase of music by Mozart, Rossini, L��har, and Strauss.

Following the matinee, stick around for the 4^th annual Family BBQ, as ESO musicians cook up burgers from Sobeys on party-sized BBQs provided by Big Top Rentals. All proceeds to support Kids Kottage ��� a charity that assists families in crisis situations.

The day concludes with Hollywood Adventures and Romances ��� our annual ���movie night��� which has rapidly become one of the festival���s favourite concert programs. Enjoy a summer night of familiar music and themes from The Lion King, The Wizard of Oz, Beauty and the Beast, The Lord of the Rings, and so much more! This evening performance begins at 7:00pm.

The festival continues on Sunday, September 6^th, at 2:00pm, with a move-along, sing-along event for the entire family, The Hi-Lo Big Top Circus. In a colourful and lively circus setting, parents and children will learn musical concepts through storytelling and audience participation. This hour-long concert which will highlight music of the great composers of classical music, including Beethoven, Mozart, and Haydn, does not include musicians of the ESO.

Fun for the whole family continues immediately following the concert with the Teddy Bear Picnic! Enjoy games, face painters, and inflatable activities, plus meet ESO musicians and make some music at the ESO���s original instrument petting zoo! Instruments are provided in part by the Edmonton Public School String Enrichment Program. Festival favourite Fat Franks will also be onsite selling delicious hot dogs, with all proceeds to support the ESO���s education programs.

Sunday concludes with a tribute concert to Old Blue Eyes himself. Steve Lippia brings his uncanny Sinatra style to the Heritage Amphitheatre for a night of vocal magic in Simply Sinatra with Steve Lippia, at 7:00pm. Bob Bernhardt conducts your ESO through songs that include New York, New York, My Way, That���s Life, You Make Me Feel So Young, Cheek to Cheek, and many more.

Finally, on Monday, September 7^th, at 2:00pm, your ESO wraps up its annual summer festival in a tradition of grand proportions. Hometown favourite trumpeter Jens Lindemann brings extraordinary musicianship and a disarming stage presence to the festival���s final afternoon, presenting a dynamic mix of virtuosity and lyricism. Following dramatic pieces by Gershwin, Haydn, and Bizet, the guns of the Royal Canadian Artillery, as ever, will supply the awe-inspiring cannonades to Tchaikovsky���s 1812 Overture in the weekend���s grand finale.

This year, do your part and join your Edmonton Symphony in going Green! Thinking of driving to the park? Avoid the long waits in your car and limited parking space at the park ��� simply leave your vehicle at the U of A Stadium lot (pay-parking lot located northwest of the Butterdome ��� 116 St and 88 Ave) and ride Hybrid ETS buses for free directly to Hawrelak Park. Or better yet, ride your bike! Free, supervised bike racks will be available on site, courtesy of the Edmonton Bicycle Commuters Society. Bringing a picnic lunch for the family? Summertime snacks have never tasted better than when they come packed in reusable containers!

This year���s festival will once again play host to our digital concert attendees - bloggers and tweeters. Blogging Under the Sky is open to anyone with a personal blog/Twitter account, who is interested in blogging/tweeting live from Sobeys Symphony Under the Sky. Those interested should email their blog address to esoblognight@winspearcentre.com. Festival tickets will be given to participating bloggers and tweeters.

For a full concert listing of Sobeys Symphony Under the Sky, please visit www.edmonontonsymphony.com. All events will be held at Hawrelak Park.

In case of inclement weather, listen to Shine 105.9 FM. Any venue changes will be announced on air, posted on edmontonsymphony.com and http://twitter.com/edmsymphony, and noted at (780) 428-1414 and 1-800-563-5081.

In addition to the generous support of Sobeys, festival supporters include Bullfrog Power, TELUS, the City of Edmonton through the Edmonton Arts Council, The REALTORS�� Association of Edmonton, The Edmonton Journal, AM 930 The Light, and 105.9 Shine FM.

The Monday, September 7^th performance is generously sponsored by General Dynamics Land Systems Canada.

Ongoing support to the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra is provided by The Canada Council for the Arts, The Alberta Foundation for the Arts, and The Edmonton Arts Council.

Box Office and Tickets

The Box Office at Hawrelak Park opens two hours prior to the first performance of each day of the festival. The amphitheatre gates open one hour prior to each performance. The amphitheatre is closed between matinee and evening performances.

Weekend passes range from $82 to $120, and single tickets prices range from $18 to $27. All child grass seating is FREE* and child reserved tickets are $13. Agency fees apply. The 2 for 1 New Subscriber Promotion applies to weekend passes.

Non-refundable/non-exchangeable tickets are available now through the Winspear Centre Box Office: in person at #4 Winston Churchill Square, by phone: (780) 428-1414 or 1-800-563-5081, or on-line at www.edmontonsymphony.com. Please note that the Hawrelak Park Amphitheatre Box Office is CASH ONLY. An ATM machine will be available on site.

*Ticket still required for child grass seating.

The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra announces 2009/2010 season

Listen�Ķ Your ESO is Playing!

The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra 2009-2010 Season

Edmonton, AB �Ķ The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra (ESO) and Music Director William Eddins today announced exciting details of the upcoming 2009-2010 season. Audiences are invited to experience the inspiration and indulge in the celebration of the new season which will feature rousing concerts, acclaimed conductors, and renowned guest artists. Leading the ESO into their 58^th season, and his fifth as Music Director, Bill Eddins will conduct concerts in every series including the Classic Landmarks Masters, Sunday Showcase, Robbins Lighter Classics, Midweek Classics, Robbins Pops, Symphony for Kids, and ESO Specials.

"In this uncertain time that we find ourselves living, it is comforting to know that some things do not change - great soloists, a great hall, and the fabulous Edmonton Symphony Orchestra back for another year of music to delight and surprise you with. Come join us as we hold the torch of civilization high and remind our community that these are still wonderful times to enjoy classic music, and that there are even better times ahead." ~ Bill Eddins

Internationally renowned artists Dmitri Hvorostovsky, Dawn Upshaw, Manuel Barrueco, Karen Gomyo, and Marc-Andr�� Hamelin are just a few of the very special guests who will grace the Winspear stage with the ESO throughout the 2009-2010 season.

While Mr. Eddins will conduct over 30 programs this upcoming season, the ESO will also be led by returning guest conductors and audience favourites Robert Bernhardt, Jacques Lacombe, Jean-Marie Zeitouni, Giancarlo Guerrero, Bruce Hangen, Jack Everly, Erich Kunzel, and Steven Reineke. Making their conducting debuts with the ESO this season are Eri Klas and Alondra de la Parra.

Beginning his first season with the ESO will be new Resident Conductor, Lucas Waldin. He will begin his tenure with the ESO at the start of the 2009-2010 season, under the mentorship of Music Director Bill Eddins. This is a two-year appointment, funded in part by the Canada Council for the Arts.

Musicians of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra will take centre stage in a variety of series this coming season. Charles Pilon (Assistant Principal Viola) and Colin Ryan (Principal Cello) will be featured in the Classic Landmarks Masters series. Lidia Khaner (Principal Oboe) and Robin Doyon (Principal Trumpet) perform in both the Classic Landmarks Masters and Midweek Classics series. John McPherson (Principal Trombone) and Robin Doyon are both featured in the Sunday Showcase series, Nora Bumanis (Principal Harp) makes an appearance in both Sunday Showcase and Robbins Lighter Classics, and Elizabeth Koch (Principal Flute) appears in the Robbins Lighter Classic series.

The 2009-2010 season begins on September 14^th, 2009, as the ESO welcomes one of the great voices of the century, internationally acclaimed baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky, for a special Gala performance with conductor Bill Eddins. In this spectacular orchestral event, ESO patrons have a rare opportunity to hear the expansive, refined, and powerful voice of this world-renowned Russian opera singer. This will be Mr. Hvorostovsky���s debut with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra.

Many ESO Specials highlight next season���s calendar. The orchestra and conductor Bob Bernhardt proudly present the Canadian debut of Sonnenschein Express in Oktoberfest!, a family friendly event showcasing the lively tradition of Bavarian alpine music. Beloved Canadian tenor John McDermott will offer a heartfelt salute to those who have bravely served their country in Lest We Forget, while jubilant Christian artist Sandi Patty sings timeless hymns and inspirational classics about the struggles, joys, and moments of peace in our life���s journey. And finally, it will be a potent panoply of piano pleasures in a tuneful evening of solos, duets, and excerpts from concerti. Piano Spectacular will present an unforgettable evening of enjoyment with pianists Angela Cheng, Jon Kimura Parker, Michael Massey, and Bill Eddins.

The ESO���s flagship series, the Classic Landmarks Masters, features a diverse blend of great classics and captivating discoveries. From time-honoured masterpieces including Beethoven���s Ninth Symphony, Vivaldi���s Guitar Concerto, and Bart��k���s Violin Rhapsody, plus music by Brahms, Mahler, Mozart, Respighi, and Schubert, this series continues to serve as the core of the 2009-2010 season. Among a number of Edmonton Symphony Orchestra premieres is a titan of the opera repertoire, Wagner���s glorious Die Meistersinger, arranged as a lush 50-minute orchestral tone poem and given its first Canadian performance.

Some of the most lauded musicians in the world today appear with the ESO in The Classic Landmarks Masters series lineup next season. Jacques Lacombe, Jean-Marie Zeitouni, Giancarlo Guererro, Eri Klas, and of course Bill Eddins, all take to the podium to the lead the orchestra, while George Gao (erhu), cellist Julie Albers, violinists Karen Gomyo and Lara St. John, guitarist Manuel Barrueco, pianists Marc-Andr�� Hamelin and Katherine Chi, sopranos Dawn Upshaw, Laura Whalen and Lyne Fortin, and the Richard Eaton Singers all make guest appearances.

Audiences are invited to try something different next season. Late Night with Bill Eddins is all about being able to enjoy great music in a relaxed atmosphere. Taking place on two (2) Friday evenings at 9:30 pm, audiences can hear music of the masters in these spontaneous, intermission-free concerts. Following an evening celebrating Beethoven, and a springtime journey featuring the music of France, guests are also welcome to relax after the concert with some live music and cocktails in the lobby.

The ESO Presents is another new addition to the season lineup that will certainly appeal to all audiences. Working with some of today���s brightest young musicians, the ESO will bring future stars on their way to the top right to the Winspear stage. These two (2) special concerts will feature debut artists in performance with the ESO in the first half, then in solo recitals in the second half. Dazzling pianist Gabriela Montero, who recently performed with former ESO Gala artist Yo-Yo Ma at the inauguration ceremony for President Barack Obama, will first perform Rachmaninoff���s Piano Concerto No.2, then proceed to connect to her audience in a completely unique and powerful way through improvisational performance. Cameron Carpenter will make his brilliant Canadian debut in a performance you���ll have to see to believe, with breathtaking performances on the Davis Concert Organ.

Meet a soloist from the ESO and a young, imminent musician in our Sunday Showcase performances which blend timeless masterpieces and new discoveries. Sparkling suites, medieval magic, tango tradition, and an enchanting fusion of ballet and salon music, are all highlights of this series��� rich music programming. Mexican conductor Alondra de la Parra, renowned for her orchestral leadership and founding of the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas, will be joined by marimbist Pius Cheung. Young Canadian violinist Maia Cabeza and pianist Daniel Fung join conductor Bill Eddins.

The Midweek Classics series returns for its fourth season, as a sanctuary of beloved music from the heart of the baroque and classical repertoire. Providing audiences a refuge in the midst of their busy weeks, these four vibrant concerts interspersed throughout the season will feature soloists from the ESO, plus special guests including pianist Stewart Goodyear, soprano Simone Osborne and Edmonton organist Jeremy Spurgeon, performing a dramatic baroque concerto on the Davis Concert Organ. Jean-Marie Zeitouni, Lucas Waldin, and Bill Eddins all conduct colourful, inspiring, and groundbreaking showpieces, including Schubert���s Unfinished Symphony and Mozart���s Oboe Concerto in the Midweek Classics.

Accessibility continues to be the premise of the Robbins Lighter Classics series, as some of music���s ���greatest hits��� are presented live on stage by the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. These six Thursday evening themed concerts are hosted by engaging conductors including Bob Bernhardt, Bill Eddins, and Steven Reineke. Whether delving into the breadth of Celtic music, the treasure trove of Mozart, tapping into a rich vein of holiday sentiment, or celebrating athletic excellence through musical exuberance, this series will be an unforgettable musical journey for concertgoers. The ESO will be joined by soprano Jolaine Kerley, pianist Michael Massey, organist Jeremy Spurgeon, baritone Nathan Berg, pianist Sarah Ho, the Richard Eaton Singers, and the Knock School of Irish Dance.

The ESO is once again offering a remarkable lineup of Robbins Pops concerts. Pops master Jack Everly and an all-star cast of singers and dancers will kick-off this spectacular series with Disco Days and Boogie Nights, a tribute to the 70s featuring disco anthems, monster rock hits and classic ballads. Returning for a ghoulish evening of spine-tingling music is Bruce Hangen conducting Halloween: The Concert, while the ��ran and Kokopelli Choirs join American pops legend Erich Kunzel to lead audiences down The Great White Way with Broadway���s most recent hits. The excitement continues as violinist Roby Lakatos takes the passionate, hot-blooded tradition of gypsy music and creates musical fireworks as the ���devil���s fiddler��� in an Eastern European feast for the senses. Rounding out this dazzling series will be the return of Edmonton-favourite Jack Everly with the Richard Eaton Singers performing a choral of classical and operatic treats, and Bill Eddins spending A Night at the Oscars, celebrating timeless cinematic music as film scenes are projected on a screen above the Winspear stage.

The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra prides itself on offering innovative programs for young audiences. The ESO���s family series Symphony for Kids will offer four eclectic and interactive orchestral matinees, best enjoyed by children aged 5 ��� 12. Families are first invited to haunt the hall in their Halloween costumes for Spooktacular with conductor Bruce Hangen, then bring the wee lads and lasses back to embark on A Celtic Adventure with Bill Eddins. Families will need to help the orchestra restore the musical silence that has plagued the hometown of a little girl who loves to sing, in Dandi Productions��� The Mysterious Maestro, adapted from the 2003 Governor General���s Award-nominated book The Maestro. Conductor Lucas Waldin and the ESO bring Mozart to life through his stories and most famous classical works, with a guest appearance by the genius himself!

However you celebrate the holiday season, the ESO presents the perfect blend of festive music to add that extra sparkle to one of the most magical times of the year. Our perennially popular performances of Handel���s Messiah will feature four young Canadian singers and two of Edmonton���s finest chamber choirs, University of Alberta Madrigal Singers and i Coristi Chamber Choir. In one of the most anticipated performances of the season, lustrous baritone Tyler Hamilton, along with the Greenwood Singers will create A Very Merry Pops with conductor Steven Reineke. Mr. Reineke and the ESO will also tap into a rich vein of holiday sentiment and memory with A Lightly Classical Christmas, and they will be joined by conductor Lucas Waldin and special guests in A Family Christmas Concert. The incredibly powerful and diverse voices of the Canadian Tenors will return to the Winspear Stage for an evening of holiday favourites.

Concluding the summer festival season in Edmonton is Sobeys Symphony Under the Sky. Taking place Labour Day weekend, September 4^th ��� 7^th, 2009, this annual festival is sure to delight concert-goers of all ages, by bringing the invigorating sounds of the ESO to the beautiful river valley setting of Hawrelak Park. Conductor Bob Bernhardt returns to lead the ESO in five outdoor concerts, showcasing classical masterpieces, operatic classics, and Hollywood favourites. Not to mention a tribute show to Old Blue Eyes himself, Frank Sinatra. Tchaikovsky���s 1812 Overture, featuring the the guns and members of the Royal Canadian Artillery, will wrap up the festival in this tradition of grand proportions. Soprano Kathleen Brett, vocalist Steve Lippia, hometown favourite trumpeter Jens Lindemann, and Bill Eddins on piano are all part of the stellar lineup celebrating our festival���s 15^th anniversary.

Purchasers of ESO subscription packages can save up to 36% percent off single ticket prices, depending on the series and the seating. Subscribers also have the opportunity to purchase single tickets to ESO concerts before they go on sale to the general public. Subscription prices have not been raised for the upcoming season.

Once again, the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra���s innovative 2 for 1 New Subscriber Promotion will be offered for the upcoming season. This fantastic offer gives every new subscriber household the opportunity to purchase 2 subscriptions for the price of 1 in their first year. More subscriber information is available online at www.edmontonsymphony.com. The 2 for 1 subscription campaign is generously sponsored by Maclab Enterprises.

Subscription packages for the 2009-2010 season are on sale now.

Subscriber Single Tickets on sale & Sampler Pass redemption begins August 11^th.

Single tickets for the season go on sale to the general public on August 18^th.

For a full listing of the 2009-2010 season, please visit www.edmontonsymphony.com.

Cirque and the ESO collaborate to create illuminating feats of artistry - Mar. 20 & 21

Robbins Pops

World-class feats of artistry synchronize with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra in

Cirque de la Symphonie

Friday, March 20^th, 2009 ��� 8:00 pm

Saturday, March 21^st, 2009 ��� 2:00 pm* & 8:00 pm

(*Saturday matinee added due to popular demand!)

Edmonton, AB �Ķ Imagine the dazzling performances of Cirque artists combined with the incredible musical experience of a full symphony. In one of the most anticipated concerts of the ESO season, Cirque de la Symphonie, for the first time, brings the magic of Cirque to the Winspear Centre in this illuminating collaboration of artistry with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra (ESO). World-class performers will astound audience members with their flawless execution of astonishing acrobatics, pushing the boundaries of imaginative athleticism. Aerial flyers, contortionists, dancers, jugglers, balancers, and strongmen add a stunning visual enhancement to the sounds of popular contemporary music and classical masterpieces, performed by the ESO and led by Music Director William Eddins.

It will be a stimulating experience for the eyes and ears. Don���t miss this incredibly unique synergy of orchestral music and the spectacle of Cirque. Best seats are available for Saturday���s matinee performance. Ticket prices for all three performances range from $24 to $79 (agency fees apply). Tickets are available through the Winspear Centre Box Office. On Friday evening, the Grant MacEwan Jazz Combo will be performing in the lobby, beginning at approximately 7:15 pm.

The next performance of the Robbins Pops series takes place on May 1st and 2nd, and features guest conductor Jeff Tyzik and vocalist/trumpeter Byron Stripling in Nothin��� But the Blues.

This series is generously supported by Bill & Mary Jo Robbins.

Friday���s evening performance is generously sponsored by Deloitte.

Saturday���s matinee performance is generously sponsored by Bennett Jones.

Media Sponsor: The Edmonton Journal

America's favorite cowboys bring old time fun to the Winspear Stage in ESO Special Presentation - Mar. 16

ESO Special Presentation

Canadian debut for Riders in the Sky as they ride on into the sunset with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra

One Night Only!

Monday, March 16^th, 2009 ��� 7:30 pm

Edmonton, AB �Ķ Calling all buckaroos and buckarettes! Come ride the happy trails by the cool water and the tumblin��� tumbleweeds and indulge in the comical and whimsical world of the singing cowboy. Legendary western music and comedy group Riders in the Sky make their Canadian debut as they gallop into Edmonton for an evening of rib-ticklin���, knee-slappin��� hijinks and hilarity. Guest conductor Steven Reineke joins in on the fun to lead the ESO down The Cowboy Way, as they perform authentic renditions of old classic cowboy songs.

This wacky harmonizing quartet is composed of Ranger Doug (The Idol of American Youth), Too Slim (The Idol of Canadian Elderly), Woody Paul (King of the Cowboy Fiddlers) and Joey (The Cowpolka King). Having written and performed music for major motion pictures, including Toy Story 2���s ���Woody���s Roundup,��� which garnered the Riders their first Grammy Award in 2001 for "Best Musical Album for Children," Riders in the Sky will surely keep the entire family in stitches and provide a laugh-out-loud evening of wholesome skit-and-song entertainment.

Don���t miss your chance to tip that cowboy hat, click those roper heels, and yodel along in this ESO special presentation! Tickets for this performance range from $20-$65 (agency fees apply). Tickets are available through the Winspear Centre Box Office.

Media Sponsors: 790 CFCW and the Edmonton Journal

Winspear Centre Box Office:

(780) 428-1414 or 1-800-563-5081

www.edmontonsymphony.com

#4 Winston Churchill Square

Biographies

For thirty years, Riders in the Sky have been keepers of the flame passed on by the Sons of the Pioneers, Gene Autry and Roy Rogers, reviving and revitalizing Western music. And while remaining true to the integrity of the genre, they have themselves become modern-day icons by branding it with their own legendary wacky humour and way-out Western wit, and all along encouraging buckaroos and buckarettes to live life ���The Cowboy Way!���

Riders In The Sky are stars of the stage, screen, the Grand Ole Opry, National Public Radio, XM Satellite Radio, Saturday morning TV, and are the only exclusively Western artist to have won a Grammy Award. They truly are "America's Favorite Cowboys!"

As a classic cowboy quartet, the trail has led them to heights they could have never predicted. The Riders have chalked up over 5,400 concert appearances in all 50 states and 10 countries, appearing in venues everywhere from the Nashville National Guard Armory to Carnegie Hall, and from county fairs to the Hollywood Bowl. Their cowboy charisma and comedic flair made them naturals for TV, and landed them their own weekly show on TNN, as well as a Saturday morning series on CBS. They have been guests on countless TV specials, documentaries and variety shows, appearing with everyone from Barney to Penn & Teller. And their animated likenesses have shared the screen with Daffy Duck on the Cartoon Network, and the Disney Channel���s Stanley.

This is Riders in the Sky���s debut with the ESO, as well as their Canadian debut.

Steven Reineke was recently named Principal Conductor of the New York Pops, succeeding the late Skitch Henderson. He is also Principal Pops Conductor of the Modesto Symphony Orchestra and serves as Music Associate and Principal Arranger/Composer of the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra. Recognized as the sound of the Cincinnati Pops, Mr. Reineke���s 100+ arrangements for that orchestra have been performed worldwide. Mr. Reineke has also written and arranged for Doc Severinson, Jack Everly and Michael Krajewski. A prot��g�� of the legendary pops conductor Erich Kunzel, Steven Reineke���s recent guest conducting appearances include the orchestras of Cincinnati, Toronto, Atlanta, Detroit, Indianapolis, Edmonton and Windsor.

Mr. Reineke is also an established symphonic composer. His works Celebration Fanfare, Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Casey at the Bat are performed frequently in the United States and Canada. Mr. Reineke���s numerous wind ensemble compositions are published by the C.L. Barnhouse Company and are performed by concert bands around the world. A native of Ohio, Mr. Reineke is a graduate of Miami University of Ohio, receiving two Bachelor of Music Degrees with Honors, in both Trumpet Performance and Music Composition. He resides in Cincinnati.

Mr. Reineke last conducted the ESO in June 2008.

The Pearl Fishers: A Special Presentation by the Edmonton Opera

Bizet's

The Pearl Fishers

An intimate and unique opera experience

Journey to an exotic island in the Indian Ocean as Edmonton Opera presents a tale of love and passion, friendship and betrayal, jealousy and sacrifice. A special production of Bizet's The Pearl Fishers (Les p��cheurs de perles) plays for two nights only, March 12 and 14, in the intimacy of the Winspear Centre. Tickets are on sale now at the Edmonton Opera Box Office: call (780) 429-1000 or visit www.edmontonopera.com. The Pearl Fishers is performed in French, with English surtitles projected above the stage.

A life-long friendship between two men, Nadir and Zurga, once nearly destroyed by their love for the same woman, survived thanks only to their vow to never see her again. When a mysterious priestess arrives on their island, Nadir recognizes her as the woman he and Zurga once loved, and, overcome by his passion, he must choose between the love of his friend and that of his Leila.

The most famous men's duet in all of opera, "Au fond du temple saint," is only one of the unforgettable musical moments in a haunting and beautiful tragic opera. Edmonton Opera is proud to welcome Amy Hansen, who sang Lakm�� in 2005, as Leila. She is joined by Colin Ainsworth, who sang Tonio in Daughter of the Regiment, Edmonton favourite Gregory Dahl, and bass Andrew Stewart in his Edmonton Opera debut. Director Brian Deedrick and Conductor Robert Dean lead the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and the Edmonton Opera Chorus in this innovative production.

"The extraordinary success of Lakm�� in the intimate acoustical splendour of the Winspear Centre has been the inspiration for The Pearl Fishers," says Deedrick. "We've spent four years looking for the project that could provide Edmonton audiences with an equally powerful and moving operatic experience. We are so pleased that CGI, The Pearl Fishers' presenting sponsor, is making this production possible."

Both performances of The Pearl Fishers begin at 7:30pm and run at the Winpear Centre. Tickets, which range from $24 to $110, are available at the Edmonton Opera Box Office, call (780) 429-1000 or visit www.edmontonopera.com.

Canadian powerhouse quartet joins the ESO for one night only - May 4

The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra presents vocal sensations and powerhouse quartet The Canadian Tenors

One Night Only!

Monday, May 4, 2009 ��� 7:30 pm

Edmonton, AB �Ķ The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra (ESO) is thrilled to present one of Canada���s national treasures, The Canadian Tenors, live on-stage, for one night only! Having captivated audiences from coast to coast, and around the world, now is your opportunity to experience the incredibly powerful vocals, undeniable charm and dazzling blend of crowd-pleasing repertoire that will take your breath away. It will be a concert event unlike any other, featuring an eclectic mix of classical and contemporary pop ballads and operatic arias, performed in English, French, Spanish and Italian.

Tickets are on sale now! Ticket prices range from $20 - $65 (agency fees apply) and are available by calling the Winspear Centre Box Office at (780) 428-1414.

National Arts Centre Orchestra Western Canada Tour, Oct. 24-Nov. 12

Canada���s National Arts Centre Orchestra led by Music Director Pinchas Zukerman embarks on Western Canada Tour, Oct. 24 to Nov. 12, 2008, including over 130 educational events

OTTAWA, CANADA ��� Canada���s National Arts Centre Orchestra, with Music Director Pinchas Zukerman as conductor and violin soloist, will head to Western Canada for its 2008 tour from October 24 to November 12. The Western Canada Tour, with pianist Jon Kimura Parker, composer Alexina Louie, and guest conductors James Judd and Boris Brott, will include 13 orchestral concerts in 10 cities ��� from Victoria to Whitehorse to Winnipeg ��� spanning four provinces plus the Orchestra���s first-ever visit to the Yukon. In addition, the Orchestra will reach thousands of young people through events ranging from masterclasses with Pinchas Zukerman and Jon Kimura Parker to student concerts with the full Orchestra. In total, there will be more than 130 education activities in 26 cities and communities during the 20-day tour.

The Western Canada Tour 2008 will see the National Arts Centre Orchestra performing concerts led by Pinchas Zukerman in Vancouver (Oct. 25 and 27 at 8 p.m.), Victoria (Nov. 1 at 8 p.m.), Calgary (Nov. 7 at 8 p.m.), Regina (Nov. 8 at 8 p.m.), Saskatoon (Nov. 9 at 7:30 p.m.) and Winnipeg (Nov. 10 at 8 p.m.). Guest conductor James Judd will lead concerts in Prince George (Oct 28 at 8 p.m.), Whitehorse (Oct. 29 at 8 p.m.) and Kamloops (Nov. 2 at 8 p.m.). There will be student matinees led by the NAC Orchestra���s Principal Youth and Family Conductor Boris Brott in Whitehorse (Oct. 30 at 10 a.m.); at CFB Edmonton (Nov. 4 at 1:15 p.m.) as part of an innovative day in residence both on the military base and at the Kipnes Centre for Veterans; and in Spruce Grove (Nov. 5 at 10:30 a.m.). Pinchas Zukerman and members of the NAC Orchestra will perform chamber music at the Banff Centre (Nov. 6 at 8 p.m.).

The NAC is donating the performances of the artists and the NAC Orchestra in Winnipeg, Saskatoon, and Victoria to help host orchestras in those cities with their fundraising, and in Regina in honour of that orchestra���s 100^th anniversary season.

The National Arts Centre Foundation gratefully acknowledges support for the Western Canada Tour from Presenting Partner EnCana, Signature Education Partner Agrium, and the NAC Friends and Trailblazers.

A distinguishing feature of any National Arts Centre Orchestra tour is educational outreach to children and youth. These outreach activities are opportunities for Music Director Pinchas Zukerman, guest artists and musicians of the Orchestra to step off the stage and into schools and classrooms to teach, encourage and inspire students, and to leave a real and lasting imprint.

The education events on the Western Canada Tour will include instrumental masterclasses for advanced students led by Pinchas Zukerman, Jon Kimura Parker and musicians of the NAC Orchestra; student open rehearsals with the NAC Orchestra; instrumental clinics in high schools; school concert-demonstrations by NAC Musician in the Schools ensembles in French immersion schools and by teaching musicians with the NAC���s Music Alive Program (formerly Music Ambassador Programme) in Alberta and Saskatchewan; sectional rehearsals with youth and community orchestras; composition lectures/masterclasses and pre- and intermission-concert chats with NAC Award Composer Alexina Louie; and pre-concert lobby performances by local youth choirs and instrumental ensembles. An additional special project is Music Connections - Winnipeg, a 9-week in-school program that integrates Aboriginal and Western cultural traditions and culminates with a live performance by up to 90 participating students with a brass octet from the NAC Orchestra on November 12 at 1 p.m. (location to be determined). Over 50 partners are engaged in helping to present these outreach activities.

In addition, the five participants in the NAC Orchestra���s 2008-09 Institute of Orchestral Studies will join the Orchestra on tour to perform in Vancouver, Calgary, Regina, Saskatoon and Winnipeg. These students, selected by audition, will be rehearsing and performing with the NAC Orchestra during five separate weeks throughout the season.

NAC educational resources to be distributed on the Western Canada Tour consist of the ���Vivaldi and the Four Seasons��� Teacher Resource Kit, the ���Let���s Go Mozart��� Teacher Resource Kit, and the ���Introducing Beethoven��� student newspaper guides. Schools involved in the student matinees on tour, the ���Music Connections ��� Winnipeg��� project, and the Music Alive Program will be supplied with the relevant resources.

The Western Canada Tour website to be found at NACOtour.ca will include a tour blog, audio clips, a photo gallery, and more.

Pinchas Zukerman said: ���It is wonderful to be traveling again to the West Coast with the NAC Orchestra. As Music Director, one of my favourite aspects of going on tour is the pleasure of performing for other communities and giving them a feel for what we do at home. We also look forward to our many educational activities which not only utilize the excellent players in our orchestra, but also our Artist-in-Residence Jon Kimura Parker, and NAC Award Composer, Alexina Louie. We hope the communities we meet enjoy these concerts and activities, and that we will see them again in Ottawa!���

���The National Arts Centre belongs to all Canadians... and it���s extremely important to us that we make a real contribution to communities across the country,��� said Peter Herrndorf, NAC President and CEO. ���NAC Orchestra performance and education tours provide opportunities for Canadians to hear our musicians in concert halls and in classrooms, while enriching our collaborations with Canadian artists, educators and partners on a national level.���

Christopher Deacon, Managing Director of the Orchestra added: ���We are grateful for the opportunity to assist some of our fellow Canadian orchestras with their fundraising efforts this season by donating the services of Pinchas Zukerman and the NAC Orchestra in Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Regina and Victoria. This, and the on-going education initiatives that begin during the tour and continue into the future, are ways that we are able to leave a lasting imprint after we tour.

CONCERT REPERTOIRE

The National Arts Centre Orchestra will perform Alexina Louie���s Infinite Sky with Birds at every public concert. Vancouver-born Alexina Louie, one of Canada���s most frequently performed composers, has been one of the NAC���s three Award Composers since 2002. Infinite Sky with Birds, which had its world premiere at the NAC in 2006, is one of the NAC Orchestra commissions she has composed during this period. Programmes will alternate between the soaring melodies of Tchaikovsky���s Symphony No. 5 and Mozart���s masterful final Symphony (No. 41) known as the ���Jupiter���. Some audiences will have the opportunity to hear Pinchas Zukerman, one of the leading string players in the world, as violin soloist in Mozart���s Violin Concerto No. 3. Others will hear the internationally renowned Vancouver-born pianist Jon Kimura Parker performing either Tchaikovsky���s iconic Piano Concerto No. 1 or Beethoven���s Piano Concerto No. 4. In Calgary, the NAC Orchestra will combine forces with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra to perform Tchaikovsky���s Symphony No. 5.

STUDENT MATINEES ��� ���BRAVO BEETHOVEN!���

The NAC Orchestra will again bring its highly successful recipe for interactive Student Matinees on tour to Whitehorse, Edmonton and Spruce Grove led by Principal Youth and Family Conductor Boris Brott. The Orchestra will present Bravo Beethoven! featuring Ottawa-based actor Peter Duschenes, the Artistic Director of Platypus Theatre, as co-host in the role of Beethoven. The matinees will also feature Victoria-born violinist Nikki Chooi, former student at the Victoria and Mount Royal College Conservatories and a participant in the NAC���s Summer Music Institute in 2004 and 2005 performing an excerpt from Beethoven���s Violin Concerto. Teachers will be given a teacher guide and class sets of student newspaper guides designed by the Ottawa Citizen to prepare for the matinees. Students will have the opportunity to sing and play along on recorders with the NAC Orchestra to Beethoven���s Ode to Joy.

MUSIC CONNECTIONS - WINNIPEG

Music Connections is a 9-week project involving up to 90 Grade 3 to 6 students from two inner-city Winnipeg schools ��� Mulvey and Dufferin Schools ��� that began on September 11, 2008 and culminates in a final ���shared��� performance with a brass octet from the NAC Orchestra on November 12 during which the children will perform and sing, and present creative responses to Vivaldi���s Four Seasons through dance, drama, music, visual arts and media. The partners involved are the NAC Orchestra, the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, the Wii Chiiwaakanak Learning Centre of the University of Winnipeg, the Winnipeg School Division and Learning Through the Arts of The Royal Conservatory (Toronto).

Teaching artists working with the students include Richard Dub�� of Saskatoon who taught them how to assemble, decorate and play the Native American flute; singer/songwriter and storyteller Joseph Naytowhow, of the Woodland Cree Nation from Sturgeon Lake SK, who helped prepare the children to sing his composition ���One People��� in English and in Cree; and Lacey Eagle, a young opera singer from Flin Flon MB. Beyond the 9-week project, the three local Winnipeg partners will work together to develop a sustainability plan to continue the music programs. In addition, portions will be documented on video and shown at the final performance on November 12th. And from August through December, a research team led by Ann Patteson of Learning Through the Arts will oversee an extensive research component.

MUSIC ALIVE PROGRAM

The NAC will launch the second phase of its highly successful Music Alive Program (formerly titled Music Ambassador Programme) in Alberta and Saskatchewan. Over the next three school years, 6 professional Alberta and Saskatchewan-based teaching musicians with connections to the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra and Edmonton, Red Deer, Regina and Saskatoon Symphony Orchestras will work with classroom teachers and students in 100 schools. The program provides opportunities for students and teachers, primarily in rural schools with limited access to live music and music education resources, to interact with orchestral music and musicians. It also assists generalist teachers in fulfilling provincial curricular objectives for the arts by providing accessible lesson plans. The 2008-09 season will be based on the music of Mozart using the NAC���s Let���s Go Mozart! Teacher Resource Kit and student newspaper guides.

RICHARD LI YOUNG ARTIST

Included in the outreach on the Saskatchewan portion of the NACO Western Tour will be up to 10 performance/presentations and teaching sessions by Saskatchewan-born trumpeter Amy Horvey in her capacity as the recipient of the Richard Li Young Artist Chair for the 2008-2009 season. This honour is awarded annually to an exceptional young Canadian musician under the age of 35 who aspires to, or is in the early stages of, an orchestral career. From Nov 9 to 17, Horvey will visit Regina, Waldeck, Cabri, Vanguard, Swift Current and the University of Saskatoon. The Richard Li Young Artist Chair was established thanks to the generosity of Hong Kong-Canadian businessman Richard Li.

CONCERT TOUR SCHEDULE

Oct. 25 and 27 at 8 p.m.: Programme 1 (two nights)

Vancouver, BC ��� Orpheum Theatre, presented by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra

Includes a 7:05 p.m. pre-concert talk by NAC Award Composer Alexina Louie

Oct. 28 at 8 p.m.: Programme 2

Prince George, BC ��� Vanier Hall, presented by the Prince George Symphony Orchestra

Includes a 7:15 p.m. pre-concert lobby performance by District 57 Tapestry Singers and a post-concert Q & A with guest conductor James Judd and soloist Jon Kimura Parker

Oct. 29 at 8 p.m.: Programme 2

Whitehorse, Yukon Territories ��� Yukon Arts Centre presented by Yukon Arts Centre

Includes a 7:15 p.m. pre-concert lobby performance by the Whitehorse Suzuki Strings.

Oct. 30 at 10 a.m.: Student Matinee

Whitehorse, Yukon Territories ��� Yukon Arts Centre, presented by Whitehorse Concerts

Nov. 1 at 8 p.m.: Programme 3

Victoria, BC ��� Royal Theatre, a Gala fundraiser for the Victoria Symphony and the NAC Orchestra presented by Eric Charman

Includes a 7:15 p.m. pre-concert lobby performance by Viva Choirs and an intermission talk by NAC Award Composer Alexina Louie

Nov. 2 at 8 p.m.: Programme 2

Kamloops, BC ��� Sagebrush Theatre, presented by Kamloops Symphony Orchestra

Includes a 7:15 p.m. pre-concert lobby performance by the Kamloops Thompson Honour Choir.

Nov. 4 at 1:15 p.m.: Student Matinee

Edmonton, AB ��� Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Field House, presented by CFB Edmonton in collaboration with Guthrie School (located on the Base)

Nov. 5 at 10:30 a.m.: Student Matinee

Spruce Grove, AB ��� Horizon Stage, presented by City of Spruce Grove

Nov. 7 at 8 p.m.: Programme 4 (Finale combined with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra)

Calgary AB ��� Jack Singer Hall, presented by the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra

Includes a 7:15 p.m. pre-concert lobby performance by the Arioso Choir of the Mount Royal College Conservatory and an intermission talk by NAC Award Composer Alexina Louie

Nov. 8 at 8 p.m.: Programme 4

Regina SK ��� Conexus Arts Centre, presented by the Regina Symphony Orchestra

Includes a 7:15 p.m. pre-concert lobby performance and an intermission talk by NAC Award Composer Alexina Louie

Nov. 9 at 7:30 p.m.: Programme 5

Saskatoon SK ��� TCU Place, presented by the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra

Includes a 6:45 p.m. pre-concert lobby performance by the Saskatoon Strings and an intermission talk by NAC Award Composer Alexina Louie

Nov. 10 at 8 p.m.: Programme 4

Winnipeg MN ��� Centennial Concert Hall, presented by the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra

Includes a 7:15 p.m. pre-concert lobby performance by St. James-Assiniboia Children���s Choir and an intermission talk by NAC Award Composer Alexina Louie.

REPERTOIRE

Programme 1

LOUIE: Infinite Sky With Birds

MOZART: Concerto for Violin No. 3

TCHAIKOVSKY: Symphony No. 5

Programme 2

LOUIE: Infinite Sky with Birds

MOZART: Symphony No. 41

BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto No. 4

Programme 3

LOUIE : Infinite Sky with Birds

MOZART: Concerto for Violin No. 3

MOZART: Symphony No. 41

Programme 4

LOUIE: Infinite Sky with Birds

TCHAIKOVSKY: Concerto for Piano No. 1

TCHAIKOVSKY: Symphony No. 5

Programme 5

LOUIE : Infinite Sky with Birds

BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto No. 4

TCHAIKOVSKY: Symphony No. 5

Pinchas Zukerman and the National Arts Centre Orchestra

Pinchas Zukerman has for four decades been recognized internationally as one of the world���s greatest string players. His discography contains over 100 titles, and has earned him 21 Grammy nominations and two Grammy awards. Since his appointment as Music Director of the National Arts Centre Orchestra in 1998, he has taken an interest in virtually every aspect of Ottawa���s artistic community while continuing his international career. He is the driving force behind the national role the National Arts Centre plays in education and community outreach, and in the use of new technology to reach Canadians from coast to coast. This includes the creation in Ottawa of the NAC Summer Music Institute which over ten years has provided training from an international faculty to 581 instrumentalists, conductors and composers from 34 countries.

Touring is an important part of the mandate of the National Arts Centre Orchestra which has visited, in its 39-year history, 112 cities in Canada, and 122 cities internationally. The Western Canada Tour is Pinchas Zukerman���s ninth tour with the National Arts Centre Orchestra, and eighth since being appointed Music Director in 1998. In 1999 he led the coast-to-coast Canada Tour, followed by Tour 2000 to Israel and Europe, the Atlantic Tour 2002, the United States and Mexico Tour 2003, the British Columbia Tour 2004, the Alberta-Saskatchewan Tour in 2005 and the Quebec Tour in 2006. As guest conductor and soloist in 1990, Zukerman led the Orchestra on a European Tour.

Jon Kimura Parker

The extraordinary career of internationally acclaimed concert pianist Jon Kimura Parker has taken him from Carnegie Hall and London���s Royal Festival Hall to Baffin Island and Zimbabwe. In recent seasons, he has performed as guest soloist with the New York Philharmonic, The Cleveland Orchestra, The Philadelphia Orchestra, the Warsaw Philharmonic and the NHK Tokyo Orchestra.

Jon Kimura Parker has a long history with the National Arts Centre Orchestra including a 1998 tour in Canada and a 1996 tour in the Eastern U.S. This season, he is the NAC Orchestra���s first artist-in-residence appearing in concert and in recital, and playing an integral role in education outreach. The Vancouver-born musician is an Officer of The Order of Canada, this country���s highest civilian honour.

Alexina Louie

One of the most frequently performed Canadian classical composers, Vancouver-born Alexina Louie is a two-time Juno Award-winner of international renown. She has been widely commissioned and performed by Canada���s leading orchestras, ensembles and soloists, and has gained both personal acclaim for her compositions and recognition for Canada���s new music abroad.

Alexina Louie is one of three recipients of the National Arts Centre Composers Awards ($75,000 each) through which she has written three compositions for the NACO and collaborated on a number of educational and outreach programs. She was Lead Composer of the NAC Summer Music Institute���s Young Composers Programme in 2005 and accompanied the Orchestra on its BC Tour in 2004.

James Judd

Considered one of the pre-eminent interpreters of English orchestral music, British-born conductor James Judd is Music Director Emeritus of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, former Principal Guest Conductor of the Orchestre National de Lille in France and former Music Director of the Florida Philharmonic Orchestra where he spent 14 groundbreaking years including its first tour of the major concert halls of Europe. He has amassed an extensive collection of recordings on the Naxos label.

James Judd made his National Arts Centre Orchestra debut in May 2002 and has returned regularly since. He has led major orchestras including the Berlin Philharmonic and the Israel Philharmonic; conducted in the Salzburg Mozarteum and Vienna���s Musikverein, and continues to conduct regularly with all of the major British ensembles.

Boris Brott

Boris Brott is one of the most internationally recognized Canadian conductors. He enjoys an international career as guest conductor, educator, motivational speaker and cultural ambassador. In May 2004, he was named to the newly created position of Principal Youth and Family Conductor of the National Arts Centre Orchestra, where for over 20 years he has regularly been conducting student matinees and concerts for young people. On tour, he has led the Orchestra in student matinees in the U.S. (2003), British Columbia (2004), Alberta-Saskatchewan (2005), and Quebec in 2006.

Mr. Brott is founding Conductor and Music Director of the New West Symphony in Los Angeles California. In addition he serves as Artistic Director of the McGill Chamber Orchestra in Montreal and is Artistic Director of the Brott Music Festival, established in 1988. In Canada, Mr. Brott had developed no fewer than six Canadian Orchestras. Internationally, he has served as Assistant Conductor to the New York Philharmonic under Leonard Bernstein, and as Music Director and Conductor for the Royal Ballet. In 1987, Mr. Brott became an Officer of the Order of Canada.