Summer Music Institute (SMI)

The Summer Music Institute has become a world-renowned magnet for the best young Canadian and international classical artists, providing world-class instruction for especially gifted young musicians, conductors, and composers.

In 1999, the National Arts Centre’s Music Director Pinchas Zukerman founded the Young Artists Programme (YAP) with just 10 students. Over the years, the programme has been joined by the Conductors Programme (CP) and the Young Composers Programme (YCP). Together, they make up what we know today as the Summer Music Institute.

With its exceptional international faculty and the calibre of its students, the Summer Music Institute brings the world to Canada and Canada to the world. In 2005, over 80 young people came from across Canada and around the world to Ottawa to experience intensive learning, passionate pedagogy and new found friendships at the National Arts Centre.

This would not be possible without the support of our donors. Thank you to those donors who provide support to the Summer Music Institute through the National Performers’ Circle, Donors’ Circle, National Youth and Education Trust and the following corporations:

NAC Institute for Orchestral Studies

The NAC under the direction of Music Director Pinchas Zukerman will establish a year-round institute charged with developing highly talented musicians for orchestral careers. This kind of advanced training program is absent in North America but is increasingly common in Europe. The goals of the NAC Institute for Orchestral Studies are to provide a real-world workplace experience for exceptionally talented students at a post-secondary or graduate level and to help prepare young musicians entering orchestral careers. The Pilot Year of the Institute will be in the 2006-2007 season with five string musicians selected to rehearse and possibly perform with the NAC Orchestra in four non-consecutive weeks of concert programs. In addition to playing within the string section of the NAC Orchestra, the five young musicians will receive individual and chamber instruction and other mentoring opportunities to prepare them for professional orchestral careers.

Other Professional Training Opportunities

The National Arts Centre is uniquely positioned to identify and foster talented individuals in the performing arts. In addition to being the home of the Summer Music Institute, the NAC offers workshops, residential training programmes and masterclasses on site as well as conducted through broadband internet technology. Promising musicians are given significant performance opportunities through the NAC/CBC Debut Concert Series, and the NAC Orchestra Bursary Competition.

The NAC's Dance department is developing professional training programmes through associated partnerships across Canada.

The International Reading Series and the Speakers Series are produced each year by the English Theatre department. The NAC French Theatre department is developing professional training through Résidences virtuelles and Carte blanche.