December 31, 2004 -

Ottawa (Canada) -- The next TD Bank Financial Group Young People’s Concert on Saturday, January 8 at 13:30 and 15:30 entitled “The Spanish Connection” features the Mexican Ambassador to Canada, Maria Teresa Garcia Segovia, as special guest host together with Boris Brott, the Orchestra’s Principal Youth and Family Conductor, leading the National Arts Centre Orchestra. “The Spanish Connection” for children aged 7 and up and their grown-up friends, continues this year’s theme of exploring the rhythms, melodies, harmonies and syncopation that make up our multicultural world.

The concert ticket includes Pre-Concert Activities in the NAC Foyer organized by the NAC Orchestra Association 45 minutes prior to each bilingual concert, beginning at 12:45 for the first concert and 14:45 for the second concert. Community partners for “The Spanish Connection” include the Embassy of Mexico, the Philippian Dancers, brass instrument maker and repairman Bob Barclay, the Ottawa Public Library, and the NAC’s Parents for the Arts. Additional activities include a brass instrument petting zoo, and a craft station where children can make their own maracas.

“The Spanish Connection” explores music from Spain to the New World from Flamenco to Argentinean Tango to Mexican Mariachi, and features some fabulous guest artists. Two former participants of the NAC Young Artists Programme (YAP) return as soloists. 17-year-old violinist Caitlin Tully, was a YAP student in 2000 and 2001, after she took a masterclass with Pinchas Zukerman on the Orchestra’s 1999 Canada Tour. She has guested with the NAC Orchestra and many other orchestras in North America, and earlier the same week on January 7 she is the opening artist of the NAC/CBC Aber Diamond Debut Series. 20-year-old percussionist Reynaliz Herrera, participated in last summer’s YAP in a programme created especially for her after NACO principal timpanist Ian Bernard taught her on the United States and Mexico Tour in 2003, declaring her to be the most gifted student he had ever encountered.

Additional soloists include NACO principal flute Joanna G’froerer and Les Sortilèges dancers.

Musical selections include Ginastera’s Malambo from Estancia, Arturo Marquez’s Danzon No. 2, selections from Bernstein’s West Side Story, and Ravel’s Bolero. Violinist Caitlin Tully will perform Sarasate’s fiery Carmen Fantasy, and flutist Joanna G’froerer will perform Rodrigo’s Fantasia para un gentilhombre. Les Sortilèges will perform to De Falla’s Ritual Fire Dance, and excerpts from Bizet’s Carmen.

At the opening concert this season, YPC subscribers had the opportunity to 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.  Over 450 recorders were sold at the first YPC concert and these budding instrumentalists are encouraged to bring their recorders to this second concert to perform La Cucaracha together with the NAC Orchestra. Recorders will continue to be sold in the Foyer, and there will be more participatory music as the season continues.

All TD Bank Financial Group 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 Bank Financial Group Young People’s Concerts.

Tickets for this TD Bank Financial Group Young People’s Concert on Saturday, January 8 at 13:30 and 15:30, including Pre-Concert Activities, are $14.50 for children and $21.00 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 20 and more save up to 20% on NAC Music, Theatre and Dance performances.  To book call 947-7000 ext. 384 or email grp@nac-cna.ca

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