The National Youth Orchestra Welcomes Industrial Alliance Insurance and Financial Services Inc. as a Partner
The National Youth Orchestra of Canada (NYOC) is proud to announce a partnership with Quebec-based Industrial Alliance Insurance and Financial Services Inc.
Industrial Alliance is joining the Université Laval Music Faculty as a partner of the National Youth Orchestra of Canada’s Quebec City concert. The concert is part of Quebec City’s 400th anniversary celebrations and will take place at the Palais Montcalm, on August 6.
"Education has always been one of Industrial Alliance's fundamental values," said Yvon Charest, President and CEO of Industrial Alliance. "That's why the Company has been proud to work closely with Université Laval for many years now. This event is important to us because it encourages the artistic development of young musicians across the country, while allowing the public to discover them and appreciate their talent."
“We are thrilled to have Industrial Alliance as a partner for our Quebec City concert,” says Barbara Smith, executive director of the National Youth Orchestra of Canada. “The NYOC is dedicated to the training and development of Canada’s young orchestral talent. Industrial Alliance’s commitment to education and community development makes them a perfect partner for us.”
About Industrial Alliance
Founded in 1892, Industrial Alliance Insurance and Financial Services Inc. is a life and health insurance company that offers a wide range of life and health insurance products, savings and retirement plans, RRSPs, mutual and segregated funds, securities, auto and home insurance, mortgage loans and other financial products and services. The fifth largest life and health insurance company in Canada, Industrial Alliance is at the head of a large financial group, which has operations across Canada, as well as in the western United States. Industrial Alliance contributes to the financial well-being of over three million Canadians, employs more than 2,900 people and manages and administers over $50 billion in assets. Industrial Alliance stock is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol IAG. Industrial Alliance is among the 100 largest public companies in Canada.
Two New Scholarships Established
Two new scholarships have been created for NYOC musicians in 2008. The Ken Murray Scholarships will be awarded to two members of the orchestra based on criteria similar to that of the existing Stephen Sitarski and NYOC Faculty awards: talent, demonstrated leadership and dedication to pursuing a musical career.
Funded through the Ken Murray Fund administered by the Kitchener Waterloo Community Foundation, the scholarships have been established by Mr. Murray to further his support of young people and their studies in his lifelong areas of interest – music and theatre.
“By establishing scholarships such as these, I can see the benefits accrue to my areas of interest, in my lifetime,” says Ken. “I also have the satisfaction of knowing that this support will continue in perpetuity.”
The two scholarships will be paid directly to a post-secondary educational institute to assist in offsetting the tuition costs for the musical studies of their recipients.
LAST KNIGHT OF THE YOUTH ORCHESTRA
Sir Andrew Davis to conduct the National Youth Orchestra’s final performance of its 2008 Season at Toronto’s Roy Thomson Hall
Internationally renowned conductor, Sir Andrew Davis will lead the National Youth of Canada’s Toronto concert – the last of its eight-city performances - at Roy Thomson Hall on Sunday, August 10, 2008.
Sir Andrew Davis is one of today's most highly regarded international conductors. He has served as music director of Lyric Opera of Chicago since 2000 and as artistic advisor of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra since the 2005/06 season. He is conductor laureate of the BBC Symphony and former music director of the Glyndebourne Festival Opera.
Sir Andrew is also no stranger to Toronto. He served as music director of the Toronto Symphony from 1975-1987 and remains the TSO’s conductor laureate.
Maestro Davis’ diverse repertoire ranges from baroque to contemporary, and his vast conducting credits span the symphonic and operatic and choral worlds. With the BBC Symphony Orchestra, he has led concerts at the London Proms and on tour to Hong Kong, Japan, the U.S., and Europe. He has conducted all of the major orchestras of the world from the Chicago Symphony to the Berlin Philarmonic and the Royal Concertgebouw, and at opera houses throughout the world including the Metropolitan Opera, La Scala, and the Bayreuth Festspielhaus.
“Having Sir Andrew Davis as part of our 2008 season can only be described as a dream come true,” says Barbara Smith, executive director of the NYOC. “Maestro Davis brings with him remarkable talent and range. We feel honoured and blessed to have both Maestro Davis and Maestro Lacombe leading, mentoring and supporting our young musicians. Under their combined direction, our students will undoubtedly be taken to new heights."
For the 2008 season, Maestro Jacques Lacombe will be reprising his role as the National Youth Orchestra’s principal conductor for a third time. This follows his critically acclaimed work with the group in 2005 and 2006.
From the beginning of his career, Maestro Lacombe has been highly praised as a remarkable conductor whose artistic integrity and rapport with orchestras have quickly propelled him to international stature.
Since 2006, Mr. Lacombe has been the Artistic Director and Principal Conductor for the l’Orchestre Symphonique de Trois-Rivières and was the Principal Guest Conductor with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra from 2002 to 2006. He has conducted professional orchestras in Canada, the United States, France, England, the Czech Republic and Germany.
CANADA’S NEXT TOP MUSICIANS
Two of Canada’s incredibly talented music students have received National Youth Orchestra of Canada’s premier scholarships
Julie Kennedy and Brennan Connolly are the first recipients of the National Youth Orchestra of Canada’s newly created scholarships recognizing leadership and dedication to music. Members of this year’s NYOC Orchestra, Julie and Brennan were awarded The Stephen Sitarski Student Scholarship and the NYOC Faculty Scholarship respectively for their leadership, commitment to music, and musical talent.
Introduced for the first time this year, both scholarships were established to recognize students who exemplify the qualities of leadership, respect for peers, a strong work ethic, talent and commitment to music.
The Stephen Sitarski Student Scholarship winner Julie Kennedy - a native of Powell River in British Columbia- is studying music at the University of Victoria and was Concert Master for the NYOC’s 2007 tour.
"It is difficult for me to put all my gratitude into a small amount of words because everything about the NYOC – from the training to the scholarship I received - was so amazing, says Julie. “I feel very honoured to have been chosen for The Stephen Sitarski Student Scholarship and for the opportunity to be a part of the NYOC. It was an incredible experience, and I will always carry with me the mentoring I received from the amazing faculty of this program."
Brennan Connolly was the proud winner of the NYOC Faculty Scholarship. Brennan, a Toronto native, is a music student at The University of Western Ontario.
“Being awarded The NYOC Faculty Scholarship is the greatest honour I have ever received,” says Brennan. “To be chosen by the best orchestral musicians across the country for something like this has shocked me, inspired me, motivated me and will continue to push me throughout my musical career.”
The Stephen Sitarski Scholarship was established by Karen Wilkinson to honour Mr. Sitarski, who is celebrating his 10-year anniversary as Concertmaster of the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony. “I wanted to do something that would be a fitting tribute to Steve himself and would honour his passion for music and his commitment to developing new talent. I am thrilled that this award is contributing to the musical development of these exceptionally talented young musicians,” says Wilkinson.
The NYOC Faculty Award was created on the same principles of recognizing and rewarding musical talent and future commitment to becoming a full-time musician.
Members of the faculty made nominations; a panel of judges, including Steve Sitarksi himself, selected the winning students.
The scholarships, which are $1,000 each, were awarded at the end of the concert tour and are paid directly to the recipient’s institution of study.
Both scholarships will be awarded next year as well.
The National Youth Orchestra of Canada headlines Porter Airline’s classical music aircraft.
Music performed by the National Youth Orchestra of Canada will feature on Toronto-based Porter Airlines ‘classical musical theme’ aircraft. Performances from the NYOC’s Canadian concert tours will be played onboard Porter’s aircraft during take off and landing.
Barbara Smith, executive director of the NYOC says, “We are thrilled to be part of Porter Airline’s new music themed campaign. The NYOC boasts the best of Canada’s young musicians and we are delighted to have this opportunity to showcase their talent to such a wide audience.”
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