The National Arts Centre is the place to be on Canada Day, offering a full slate of free family-friendly concerts and activities on Wednesday, July 1. Canada Day at the NAC is supported by Scotiabank and features an impressive host of artists and activities.

Highlights for Canada Day at the NAC 2015:

• The annual Unisong concert at 10 a.m., this year featuring 294 choristers from 4 local and 8 visiting choirs from across the country, led by guest conductor Dr. Mark Sirett.

• Special afternoon and evening concerts in the NAC’s Southam Hall, as the National Arts Centre Orchestra, conducted by Alain Trudel, is joined by the renowned Montreal musician Florence K who will host and perform in both concerts.

• An architectural exhibition tilted Architecture and National Identity: The Centennial Projects 50 years on, will be on display in the NAC foyer, featuring public buildings that were built to mark Canada’s 100^th Anniversary in 1967. At 11 a.m. on Canada Day there will be a public lecture with the exhibitions cocurators Marco Polo and Colin Ripley from Ryerson University, joined by Donald Schmitt, principal architect of the NAC’s rejuvenation project, and Heritage architect Barry Padolsky. Past accomplishments will merge with future endeavours as the NAC looks forward to its 2017 architectural rejuvenation project.

The Canada Day festivities at the NAC also include Ottawa’s Mackenzie Rhythm Section, who will entertain audiences from the lobby stage through the afternoon with their unique blend of funk, soul, and rock and roll. Families can learn to dance hip hop with the ever popular Culture Shock on the NAC Terrace – guaranteed fun and a great workout for kids of all ages! The Loyal Kigabiro Burundi Drummers, a troupe of men, woman and kids, will also give a high- energy outdoor performance on Lawrence Freiman lane.

The NAC’s Canada Day tradition attracts thousands of visitors each year and provides families visiting the activities on Parliament Hill an oasis of fun.  For more information, please visit nac-cna.ca.

ABOUT FLORENCE K
Since the launch of Live At Lion D’Or in 2005, the renowned Montreal musician, Florence K continues to surprise, amaze and fascinate. She has released four albums, Bossa Blue (2006), La Historia De Lola (2008), both of which won Félix Awards for World Music Album of the Year, Havana Angels (2010) a gorgeous Christmas opus and I’m Leaving You (2013), a refreshing new album, delivered with the same sincerity her fans have come to expect. Florence K was nominated for the 2014 JUNO Award’s Breakthrough Artist of the Year in recognition of this chart-topping album which was also just recently released in the US. Florence K possesses the unique ability to reinvent herself without ever forgetting those who follow and admire her. Her music takes us on a journey through different phases of love without avoiding its sometimes painful and devastating consequences. Her desire to explore new sounds shines in songs where Rock meets Blues, horns play alongside guitars and her Latin influences are subtly integrated.

ABOUT THE NAC ORCHESTRA
Canada's National Arts Centre Orchestra is noted for the passion and clarity of its performances and recordings, ground-breaking teaching and outreach programs, and nurturing of Canadian creativity. This vibrant orchestra was formed in 1969 at the opening of Canada's National Arts Centre, and gives over 100 performances a year, with world renowned artists. The Orchestra tours Canada and internationally, including China (2013) and the UK (2014), showcasing Canadian composers and musicians as performers and educators.  The Orchestra continually pioneers education work locally, internationally and in indigenous communities in northern Canada.  The Orchestra has made over 40 commercial recordings, including six with Music Director Pinchas Zukerman and the 2015 Juno Award winning recording of Mozart Piano Concertos with Angela Hewitt and Hannu Lintu. During the 2015-2016 season Alexander Shelly joins the NAC Orchestra, bringing exceptional artistry, charismatic storytelling and passion for the meaning behind the notes. Inspiring future generations of musicians and audiences has always been central to Alexander’s work with orchestras across Europe and around the world, including the Leipzig Gewandhaus, Melbourne Symphony, Simon Bolivar, Seattle and Houston Symphony Orchestras, and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London where he was recently appointed Principal Associate Conductor.

 

Canada Day Schedule

10 a.m.: Unisong* with Guest Conductor Mark Sirett (Southam Hall)

11 a.m.: Architecture and National Identity Exhibition. The Centennial Projects 50 years on (NAC foyer)

11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.: Public Lecture about the Architecture and National Identity Exhibition (Fourth Stage)

11 a.m. – 4 p.m.: Kids Corner - crafts, colouring, face painting and entertainment for kids (Le Salon)

11 a.m. – 3 p.m.: Canada Day BBQ ** (Lawrence Freiman Lane) and Canadian themed Lunch Buffet** (le café)

11 a.m. – 3 p.m.: Culture Shock (outdoor terrace, corner of Elgin and Queen)
Performance times: 11:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.; 1 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.; 2 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.; 3 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

12 p.m. – 2 p.m.: Mackenzie Rhythm Section (NAC Lobby Stage)
Performances at noon and 1:15pm

1:30 p.m. – 4 p.m.: Loyal Kigabiro Burundi Sacred Drums
Performance times: 1:30 p.m. – 2 p.m.; 2:30 p.m. – 3 p.m.; 3:30 p.m. – 4 p.m. (Lawrence Freiman Lane, in front of the NAC Box office)

2:30 p.m.: NAC Orchestra with special host and performer Florence K, conductor Alain Trudel and Unisong* (Southam Hall)

3 p.m. – midnight: À la carte dinner service** (le café)

7:30 p.m.: NAC Orchestra with special host and performer Florence K, conductor Alain Trudel and Unisong* (Southam Hall)

*Seating is very limited and allocated on a first come first serve basis. We recommend that you arrive early to guarantee your seat.
** Please note food and beverages are not free.

Please note that parking at and around the NAC is very limited on this day, with many street closures throughout the downtown core. The NAC wishes to remind patrons if they wish to park at the NAC, please do not leave any valuables in the automobile.