November 11, 2005 -

OTTAWA, CANADA -- The National Arts Centre will make an important announcement about the future of music education in primarily rural elementary schools in Alberta and Saskatchewan.

Representatives from the NAC, the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and the Calgary Board of Education will attend the announcement.

Where: Belfast Elementary School (Fine Arts Room)
1229 17A Street N.E., Calgary, AB
Tel. (403) 777-6250

When: November 16, 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

NOTE: Photo Opportunity of music education demonstration with children from Belfast Elementary School at 1:30pm

For more information, contact:
Mary Gordon
Communications Advisor
National Arts Centre
Tel. (613) 947-7000 x 524
Cell. (613) 614-3877

Jane Morris
Communications Officer (on tour)
National Arts Centre Orchestra
Cell. (613) 302-0727

The National Arts Centre plays a national role in education and community outreach, and in the use of new technology to reach Canadians from coast to coast. The NAC Orchestra’s performance and education tour of Alberta and Saskatchewan, taking place from Nov. 7-19, includes over 90 educational events.

The tour will see orchestra members visit Regina, Melville, Prince Albert, Humboldt and Saskatoon, SK. Alberta events include stops in Grande Prairie, Medicine Hat, Calgary, Edmonton, Spruce Grove, Stony Plain, Banff, Red Deer and Lethbridge.

The NAC Orchestra Alberta-Saskatchewan Tour is supported by Alberta Presenting Sponsor EPCOR and Saskatchewan Presenting Sponsor CN, with additional Major Support in Alberta from CN.  Bell is the Technology Sponsor in Alberta. The Tour’s Education Sponsors are ConocoPhillips in Alberta and SaskEnergy in Saskatchewan. True Energy Inc. is the Saskatchewan Community Sponsor. Special funding for the Tour’s education programs is provided by Education Donor CIBC, National Arts Centre Friends – Alberta and donors to the NAC’s National Youth and Education Trust. The National Post is the Tour’s National Media Partner.

Special thanks to the Interdepartmental Partnership with the Official-Language Communities, St. John’s Music Ltd., Yamaha Canada Music Ltd. and supporters of the National Youth and Education Trust.

Follow the tour online at www.artsalive.ca.

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