To expand on that vision, the NAC under the direction of Music Director Pinchas Zukerman plans to 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.

Our hope is that the NAC Institute for Orchestral Studies would be funded by the NAC Foundation through private donations to the National Youth and Education Trust.

The goals for the Institute:

1. To provide a real-world workplace experience for exceptionally talented students at a post-secondary or graduate level;
2. To help prepare young musicians entering orchestral careers.

Criteria for acceptance:

1. Artistic excellence and talent, with consideration for potential to mature into a professional player;
2. Demonstrated potential to perform at a high level within a professional orchestra;
3. 18-26 years of age (exceptions may apply).

Auditions format:

1. Two levels of auditions, the first Canadian followed by international, with the audition jury made up of NAC Orchestra players;
2. Audition requirements will include solo work plus orchestral excerpts, as specified for each of the five string instruments (see below);
3. Candidates must prepare the orchestral excerpts that are available for download; contact kabercro@nac-cna.ca for a password to access these excerpts.

Program elements:

1. Orchestral experience: for the pilot year 2006-2007 students will be invited to rehearse one or two works with the NAC Orchestra in up to four Orchestra programs between January and June. Students will not take the place of extra or substitute players as per clause 3.04 of the collective agreement.
2. Individual and Chamber coaching: students will receive individual instruction and chamber music coaching from NAC Orchestra players and special guests.
3. Other: students will be coached in orchestral repertoire and audition preparation, backstage and onstage deportment, as well as skills and career development; students may perform in masterclasses, and in chamber music concerts in school and community venues.

Fees:
Participants in the Pilot Year will receive full support including travel, tuition, as well as room and board.

Applicants:
By application for violin, viola, cello, and double bass
Ages 18 - 26   (exceptions may apply)

Application process:

1. Those applying should be available for the duration of the program and will be asked to sign an agreement of commitment if accepted;
2. Those accepted and entering Canada should have a valid passport and all necessary documents including Visas. It is the responsibility of the participant to obtain all necessary papers. If you do not have a valid passport, you are urged to apply for a passport IMMEDIATELY.
3. Candidates must submit a DVD or VHS of their audition;
4. Forward the required audition materials to the National Arts Centre.  Applications will not be processed until receipt of all audition materials. (See below for details.)
5. The main form of communication for this program will be by email. Applicants and those accepted into the NAC Institute for Orchestral Studies are advised to have an email address. It is the responsibility of the applicant/participant to check email on a regular basis for communications including audition results.
6. School Studies: Any students accepted to the Institute must make arrangements with their school to attend the designated weeks of the Institute (below).

Weeks of Institute and Orchestra Programs:
Student musicians will sit within section for NAC Orchestra rehearsals and possibly performances on the works that are underlined below.
January 29-February 2, 2007
Gustavo Dudamel, conductor/Pinchas Zukerman, viola
Barber Adagio; Bartok Viola Concerto; Beethoven Symphony No. 5
February 12-16, 2007
Pinchas Zukerman, conductor/Jon Kimura Parker, piano
Rachmaninov Rhapsody; Berlioz Symphonie fantastique
May 21-25, 2007
Pinchas Zukerman, conductor/Nikolaj Znaider, violin
Weber Oberon; Mendelssohn Violin Concerto; Schubert Symphony No. 9
May 28-June 1, 2007
Pinchas Zukerman, conductor/various soloists
Verdi Requiem

Required Audition Materials to be received no later than Monday, October 30, 2006:

1. 1 copy, DVD or VHS (unedited recording) of your audition repertoire. The DVD/VHS should be clearly labelled with the following information:
"NAC Institute for Orchestral Studies"
Applicant's name
Instrument
Repertoire selections, including composer and movement(s).

2. An up-to-date resumé and photo is required and should be emailed as an attachment to kabercro@nac-cna.ca. Resumés should be a MS word or plain text file (.doc , .txt). Photos should not be more than 200k file size, (.jpeg).

3. Those submitting audition materials from outside Canada are urged to use a courier service including brokerage services to ensure efficient cross-border delivery.

4. Complete the required on-line application and submit by the deadline date of Monday, October 30, 2006. Late applications accepted if space remains available.

 Apply

Audition Requirements
NEW DEADLINE: Monday October 30, 2006

Applicants must submit a DVD or VHS audition of the required solo repertoire including accompaniment and specified orchestral excerpts as listed below.  Candidates must prepare the orchestral excerpts that are available for download. Contact kabercro@nac-cna.ca for a password to access these excerpts.

Also required is a completed online registration form and an updated music résumé including the applicant’s photo attached in an email to kabercro@nac-cna.ca. Please note all audition materials become the property of the National Arts Centre.

ORCHESTRAL EXCERPTS 

 Violin
 Viola
 Cello
 Bass

AUDITION REPERTOIRE

VIOLIN

SOLO:
1) one movement of a Bach  violin solo Sonata or Partita, played without repeats
2) 1st movement of a Mozart violin Concerto (plus cadenza)

VIOLA

SOLO:
1) 1st movement of a Bach solo cello Suite, or, two contrasting movements of a Bach solo violin Sonata or Partita, played without repeats
2) opening 5 minutes (approximately) of the 1st movement of a major viola Concerto from standard repertoire

CELLO

SOLO:           
1) 1st movement from any Bach solo cello Suite
2) opening 5 minutes (approximately) of the 1^st movement of any classical or romantic Concerto from standard
repertoire, excluding the Elgar Concerto

BASS

SOLO:
1) one movement of any Bach solo cello Suite, played without repeats
2) 1st movement (no cadenzas) of one of the following standard Concerti: Bottesini, Dittersdorf, Vanhal, Koussevitsky

Mailing Address for audition materials:
NAC Institute for Orchestral Studies
Attention: Ms. Genevieve Cimon, Acting Director, Music Education
National Arts Centre
Music Department
53 Elgin Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1P 5W1
Canada

For further inquiries or questions, please contact:
gcimon@nac-cna.ca
Phone: 613-947-7000 ext 374
Fax: 613-943-1400