Tour includes a side-by-side concert with Sistema New Brunswick in Moncton

OTTAWA, April 25, 2017 — The National Arts Centre Orchestra’s Canada 150 Tour arrives in Moncton, New Brunswick with concerts and education events from April 28 to April 30. These activities are part of the NAC Orchestra’s national tour in celebration of the 150th anniversary of Confederation. It is the first tour to be led by the Orchestra’s highly acclaimed Music Director Alexander Shelley.

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.

SIDE BY SIDE CONCERT “PLAY WITH THE PROS” WITH SISTEMA NEW BRUNSWICK

On Friday, April 28 and Saturday, April 29, the NAC Orchestra will work with 240 students from Sistema New Brunswick, a free daily after-school program that inspires children to achieve their full potential. Based on the revolutionary El Sistema (the System) program in Venezuela, children learn how to play an instrument and become part of an orchestra.

On Saturday, April 29, at 7:00 p.m. the two-day residency will culminate with a free “Play with the Pros” concert in which both orchestras will share the stage and perform “side by side.” The concert is hosted by Dominic LeBlanc, the Hon. Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard and will feature Sistema New Brunswick’s Intermediate and Beginner Groups, as well as the Moncton Youth Orchestra. To close the program, the NAC Orchestra will perform the fourth movement of Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95, from the New World.

“It is an enormous privilege to support Sistema New Brunswick and to share the joy and diversity of music with the local community. I want their young instrumentalists to have the opportunity to sit next to, work with and be inspired by our fabulous NACO musicians, in the hope that they will view them as friends and mentors,” says Music Director Alexander Shelley.

MEDIA INFORMATION:

Sistema New Brunswick Group Sectional Rehearsals with members of the NAC Orchestra
Date: Friday, April 28
Time: 14:30-17:00
Location: Sistema Moncton Centre, 211 Mill Road
 

Rehearsal with Alexander Shelley, James Ehnes and Sistema New Brunswick groups
Date: Saturday, April 29
Time: 13:00 -15:00
Location: Sistema Moncton Centre, 211 Mill Road

Side by Side rehearsal with NAC Orchestra and Sistema New Brunswick
Date: Saturday, April 29
Time: 15:30-17:30
Location: Sistema Moncton Centre, 211 Mill Road

Side by Side “Play with the Pros” Concert with Sistema New Brunswick and the NAC Orchestra, led by Alexander Shelley
Date: Saturday, April 29
Time:19:00
Location: Sistema Moncton Centre, 211 Mill Road

FRANCOPHONE SCHOOL PERFORMANCES IN ACADIAN REGION

On Thursday, May 4, Francophone musicians of the NAC Orchestra will perform a lively program for francophone student audiences at two schools in the Acadian region.

MEDIA INFORMATION:

Date: Thursday, May 4
Time: 9:30-10:15
Location: Dr-Marguerite-Michaud École - 25 Rue Landry, Boutouche

Date: Thursday, May 4
Time: 9:30-10:15
Location: École Abbey-Landry - 432 Rue Centrale, Memramcook

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, 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
Cell: 613 220-5487
Andrea.Ruttan@nac-cna.ca