May 18, 2004 -

Ottawa, Canada -- The National Arts Centre (NAC) has announced the winners of the 2004 NAC Orchestra Bursary Competition following the finals held on Monday, May 17, in the NAC Studio. Eight finalists had been chosen from the 27 contestants heard in preliminary auditions held on Saturday and Sunday, May 15 and 16. The grand prize-winner of the 2004 NACO Bursary ($6,000) is percussionist Jean-Sébastien Lacombe (23). The winner of the Harold Crabtree Foundation Award of $5,000 is violist Anya Muminovich (17). The NAC Orchestra Association Award ($3,000) went to trombonist Leila Merkheri (22), while bassoonist Gareth Thomas (17) won the Vic Pomer Award ($2,000) and the Piccolo Prix ($1,000) went to cellist Thaddeus Morden (19).

Honourable mentions of $150 went to percussionist Tristan Green (24), trumpet player Stephanie Crabb (21), and bassoonist Kristin Day (20).

The Bursary Committee was chaired by Vernon G. Turner, Canada’s former Ambassador to the USSR and to Israel, and an active volunteer at the National Arts Centre. The Bursary Committee consisted of NAC Orchestra musicians Walter Prystawski (concertmaster), Winston Webber (upper strings), Timothy McCoy (lower strings), Kimball Sykes (winds), and Karen Donnelly (brass and percussion), with Tamara Kater as the NAC Music representative, and Ross Francis as the non-voting NACOA representative. The Bursary Jury consists of Turner (non-voting member), Prystawski, Webber, McCoy, Donnelly and Francis (non-voting member), with Peter Smith (winds) replacing Kimball Sykes, plus invited guests Rosemarie Landry, Head of Voice and Opera at the Faculty of Music, Université de Montréal; Jean-Guy Brault (former flutist, NAC Orchestra) and Greg Hodgson, (former principal timpanist, Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra).

The National Arts Centre Orchestra (NACO) Bursary Competition was first held in 1981. The NACO Bursary was created by the musicians of the NAC Orchestra as a gesture of appreciation to the audiences who had been so supportive to the orchestra during its first decade.  It is meant to provide recognition and financial support to help further the development of young Canadian orchestral musicians who have connections to the National Capital Region (NCR). In subsequent years thanks to the generosity of additional organizations and individuals, other prizes have been added for a total in 2004 of $17,000. These prizes, in addition to the NACO Bursary, are the Harold Crabtree Foundation Award, created in 2003 by this Foundation which strongly believes in the importance of helping young people; the NAC Orchestra Association Award created in 1993 to celebrate the Orchestra’s 25th anniversary season; the Vic Pomer Award commemorating one of the founding violinists of NACO and a dedicated teacher who died in 2001 at age 70; and the Piccolo Prix provided “to encourage and support our young artists” by NAC volunteer and Donors Circle member Cav. Pasqualina Pat Adamo.

All prizes are intended for music students aged 16 to 24 whose family residence is in the National Capital Region, or who have been following a recognized course of music study in the NCR in preparation for careers as professional orchestral musicians. Each year, a jury identifies deserving recipients through audition and selection.

Information:
Jane Morris, Communications Officer,
National Arts Centre Orchestra
(613) 947-7000, 335
jmorris@nac-cna.ca