NACO's Apprentice Conductor Jean-Philippe Tremblay first Canadian to be selected for the National Symphony Orchestra's National Conducting Institute at the Kennedy Center
April 16, 2002 -
Ottawa, Canada -- Jean-Philippe Tremblay, the National Arts Centre
Orchestra's Apprentice Conductor is the first Canadian to be
selected to participate in the National Conducting Institute, a
project of the National Symphony Orchestra and the John F. Kennedy
Center for the Performing Arts in Washington DC. He is one of four
conductors chosen for the third edition of the Institute, which is
dedicated to the advanced development of highly gifted conductors.
The programme will culminate with the four conductors leading the
National Symphony Orchestra in a concert at the Kennedy Center on
June 29.
Created by National Symphony Orchestra Music Director Leonard
Slatkin, the project is designed to help conductors successfully make
the transition from leading student or part-time orchestras to
working with a full-time professional orchestra. It is unique in
combining leadership, administrative, and musical training with a
major orchestra.
"As the Institute enters its third year, we are seeing a marked
increase in the overall quality of our applicants," said Leonard
Slatkin. "From a large pool of fine conductors we have selected four
of the very best. I'm confident each has the potential for a
significant career."
Jean-Philippe Tremblay was named to the newly created position of
Apprentice Conductor of the National Arts Centre Orchestra after
participating in the NAC's first annual Conductors Programme in
2001, an intensive two-week training programme with master conductor
Jorma Panula and Pinchas Zukerman. He is also the conductor of the
Orchestre de la francophonie canadienne, created last summer for the
2001 Jeux de la francophonie, and continuing this summer.
Jean-Philippe Tremblay won a partial scholarship to attend the
National Conducting Institute. The National Arts Centre is funding
his participation as part of its commitment to his professional
development. The other three participants at this year's
Institute are Mei-Ann Chen, Sarah Hatsuko Hicks and Danail Rachav.
There are also an additional five people participating as
auditors.
The National Conducting Institute consists of three 5-day sessions
in April, May and June. The first week, presented by the National
Symphony in collaboration with the American Symphony Orchestra
League, focuses on administration and orchestra governance with
sessions in artistic planning and leadership skills. The second week
involves observation of National Symphony rehearsals as well as
working sessions with Leonard Slatkin. The third week focuses on the
participants leading rehearsals of the National Symphony Orchestra
culminating in a concert on June 29 in the Kennedy Center Concert
Hall.
The National Conducting Institute is supported in part by grants
from the Geraldine C. and Emory M. Ford Foundation and Mr. and Mrs.
Frank H. Pearl.
