Tour includes a performance at Imperial Theatre in Saint John and a Young Artist Summit for Indigenous Performers

OTTAWA-- On Thursday, May 4 at 8 p.m., the National Arts Centre Orchestra led by Alexander Shelley will perform a concert featuring the internationally renowned James Ehnes at the Imperial Theatre in Saint John, presented by Symphony New Brunswick.  The concert is part of the NAC Orchestra’s nation-wide Canada 150 Tour in celebration of the 150th anniversary of Confederation. It is the first NAC Orchestra tour to be led by its highly acclaimed Music Director Alexander Shelley.

James Ehnes is a GRAMMY® Award and 10-time JUNO winning violinist who is widely considered one of the world’s finest living soloists. He will perform Eric Korngold’s Violin Concerto. The program includes Dvorak’s Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95, “From the New World.”

 

I LOST MY TALK

The concert will culminate with I Lost My Talk by Edmonton-based composer John Estacio. The work is based on the poem by Mi'kmaw elder and poet Rita Joe, C.M., about her experience at Shubenacadie Residential School in Nova Scotia. I Lost My Talk will be performed with a film created by Barbara Willis Sweete, featuring choreography by Tekaronhiáhkhwa Santee Smith and with live narration by Guna and Rappahannock actor Monique Mojica.

This lush and powerful multi-media work was created under the artistic leadership of Alexander Shelley and Creative Producer and Director Donna Feore, and premiered during the NAC Orchestra’s 2015‒2016 season.  Reviewer Christophe Huss from Le Devoir called it one of “Estacio’s very best compositions for orchestra … a truly powerful and overwhelming creation.” I Lost My Talk was commissioned for the NAC Orchestra to commemorate the 75th birthday of The Right Honourable Joe Clark, P.C., C.C., A.O.E. by his family.

 

In addition, a pre-concert performance at 19:20 will feature the Saint John High School choir.

For tickets to the NAC Orchestra concert on May 4, please phone (506) 674-4100, or buy online.

 

EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
 

The Atlantic leg of the Canada 150 Tour includes 80 education and community engagement activities that will unite the musicians of the Orchestra with 6,000 students, educators, community leaders and artists. The tour will also include a series of meaningful events that will focus on reconciliation through the arts.

 

YOUNG ARTIST SUMMIT FOR INDIGENOUS MUSICIANS

 

From April 27 to April 30, the NAC will hold a Young Artist Summit in Saint John for 10 young Indigenous musicians. The Summit will be led by multidisciplinary Métis artist Moe Clark and Wolastoqiyik visual artist Natalie Sappier, in partnership with the Canada Council for the Arts and the East Coast Music Association.  It will culminate with a showcase performance incorporating hip-hop, folk, blues and traditional indigenous musical styles, called Indigenous Voices Rising:  Spiqitaqotal.

 

The Summit is part of the Music Alive Program, which is being piloted in Atlantic Canada during the Canada 150 Tour. The program, which is active in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Nunavut, sends local teaching musicians to work with children in rural and remote communities, and its programming promotes musical and cultural diversity. It is now being developed for Atlantic Canada, in partnership with community leaders, local organizations, classroom teachers, arts specialists and teaching artists, and will run in all four Atlantic Provinces.

 

MEDIA INFORMATION:

 

Young Artist Summit for Indigenous Musicians

Date: April 27-30

Location: Manchester Room, Delta Hotel, 39 King Street
Time: 10:00 – 12:00, 13:15 -14:15

 

Indigenous Voices Rising: Spiqitaqotal

An Emerging Artist Showcase

Date: April 30

Location: BMO Studio Theatre at the Saint John Theatre Company, 112 Princess Street

Time: 12:00 – 13:30

Free – open to the public

 

SAINT JOHN SCHOOL DISTRICT STRING PROGRAM

 

On Thursday, May 4, musicians from the NAC Orchestra will work with senior string students from Saint John and Fredericton at Harbourview High School.

 

MEDIA INFORMATION:

 

Date: Thursday May 4
Time: 15:00-16:30
Location: Harbourview High School auditorium and various classrooms

 

FOLLOW THE TOUR ONLINE

People from across Canada and around the world can follow this extraordinary tour by visiting nacotour.ca.  Daily reports will also be posted on the NAC Orchestra’s Facebook page, on Twitter at @NACOrchCNA (#nacotour), and on Instagram at @nac.cna.

 

PARTNERS IN MUSIC PERFORMANCE AND EDUCATION

The Canada 150 Tour is made possible with leadership support from Tour Patrons Gail and David O’Brien, Presenting Supporters Alice and Grant Burton, Supporting Partners Peng Lin & Yu Gu, Education Partner Dasha Shenkman, and Digital Partner Facebook.

 

ABOUT ALEXANDER SHELLEY AND THE NAC ORCHESTRA

In September 2015 Alexander Shelley took up the mantle as Music Director, leading a new era for the National Arts Centre’s Orchestra. Shelley has an unwavering reputation as one of Europe’s leading young conductors, notably as Chief conductor of the Nuremberg Symphony Orchestra and most recently as the Principal Associate Conductor of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Formed in 1969 at the opening of Canada's National Arts Centre, the NAC Orchestra gives over 100 performances a year with renowned artists including Itzhak Perlman, Renée Fleming, James Ehnes, Emanuel Ax and Yo-Yo Ma. It is noted for the passion and clarity of its performances and recordings, its ground-breaking teaching and outreach programs, and nurturing of Canadian creativity. Since its inception the Orchestra has commissioned 80 works, mostly from Canadian composers. In 2001 it inaugurated the National Arts Centre Awards for Canadian Composers and the recipients thus far have been Denys Bouliane, John Estacio, Peter Paul Koprowski, Gary Kulesha, Alexina Louie and Ana Sokolović.

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TO BOOK AN INTERVIEW, PLEASE CONTACT:

 

Andrea Ruttan

Communications Officer, NAC Orchestra
(613) 947-7000, ext. 335
Andrea.Ruttan@nac-cna.ca