January 12, 2006 -

Ottawa (Canada) -- Wolfgang is having a birthday – his 250th – and Boris Brott, Principal Youth and Family Conductor of the NAC Orchestra, and all the musicians are throwing a musical party! This prodigious genius started composing symphonies when he was only 6, so the NAC has invited some musical prodigies of today to the celebration on Saturday, January 21 at 13:30 and 15:30 in the afternoon. “Happy Birthday Mr. Mozart” features 10-year-old Alberta pianist Jan Lisiecki (pronounced YAN Lee-JET-skee), violinist Jessica Linnebach, the youngest member of the NAC Orchestra, and the young choristers of the Ottawa Regional Youth Choir.

The concert ticket includes Pre-Concert Activities in the NAC Foyer organized by the NAC Orchestra Association 45 minutes prior to each concert, beginning at 12:45 for the first concert and 14:45 for the second concert. For this concert these include an Instrument Petting Zoo with SuzukiMusic (Ottawa) featuring members of the string family; performances by harpsichordist Sonya Deunsch and violinist Tait Becke, an introduction to the NAC recorder clinics with Cathy Rollins, a Voice Oscilloscope Station where children can watch soundwaves of their own voices, and a reading room on Mozart and more with the Ottawa Public Library.

Jan Lisiecki, a student at Mount Royal College Conservatory in Calgary and Canadian Music Competition (CMC) winner, wrote to Pinchas Zukerman last June, and as a result auditioned during the Orchestra’s Alberta-Saskatchewan Tour in November dazzling everyone with his talent.  This pre-teen prodigy will perform the first movement of Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 20. Jan’s appearance to these concerts has been possible in partnership with the CMC.

NAC Orchestra violinist Jessica Linnebach, also a CMC winner, made her professional debut at age seven, and at age 17 was invited by Pinchas Zukerman to perform as soloist on the Orchestra’s Tour 2000 to the Middle East and Europe. She will perform the third movement of Mozart’s “Turkish” Violin Concerto.

The Orchestra will perform excerpts from Mozart’s “Jupiter” Symphony (No. 41) and the Overtures to The Abduction from the Seraglio and The Marriage of Figaro. They will also perform the famous “Toy” Symphony by Mozart’s father Leopold.

The Ottawa Regional Youth Choir, under the direction of Barbara Clark, will perform Mozart’s “Ave Verum Corpus” and close the concert with a special composition by Mitch Clarke, “Happy Birthday Wolfgang”

Once again, concertgoers can purchase their own recorders in the NAC Foyer for the low cost of $5 thanks to St. John’s Music, and to register for family recorder clinics at $2 per person presented in partnership with St. John’s Music and Yamaha Canada. Those who bring their recorders will have the opportunity to play Mozart’s “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” along with the NAC Orchestra on January 21. Everyone attending this concert will be given the music they need to prepare for the next concert in March.

All TD Canada Trust Young People’s Concerts feature NACOtron presented in collaboration with Rogers Television. Five television cameras positioned on stage and in the hall capture live video images of the musicians while they are performing, and these images are projected onto a giant screen above the stage allowing the audience to watch the action in close-up.

The Ottawa Citizen is the media partner of the TD Canada Trust Young People’s Concerts.

Tickets for “Happy Birthday Mr. Mozart” on Saturday, January 21 at 13:30 and 15:30, including Pre-Concert Activities, are $17.00 for children and $21.50 for adults (including GST and Facility Fee where applicable) and are on sale now at the NAC Box Office (Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 21:00), and through Ticketmaster (with surcharges) at 613-755-1111. Visit the National Arts Centre’s web site at www.nac-cna.ca.

Groups of 10 and more save 15% to 20% off the regular price of tickets to NAC Music, Theatre and Dance performances.  To reserve your seats call 947-7000 ext. 384 or email grp@nac-cna.ca.

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For more information please contact:
Jane Morris, Marketing Officer,
National Arts Centre Orchestra
(613) 947-7000, ext. 335
jmorris@nac-cna.ca