May 31, 2005 -

Ottawa, Canada -- The National Arts Centre is pleased to announce that it is conferring the title of “Founding Concertmaster” on Walter Prystawski in recognition of his 36 years of exceptional artistic service to the National Arts Centre Orchestra. Mr. Prystawski will be stepping down as concertmaster of the Orchestra at the end of next season in June 2006.

On the occasion of this announcement Walter Prystawski said:  “It's been a great privilege for me to be able to work with this remarkable orchestra for so long.  During the exciting early years, when the Orchestra established its unique sound and character under Mario Bernardi, and through the good and sometimes difficult times which followed, the musicians of the Orchestra have always been one tightly-knit team, for whom music-making at the highest level transcended all other considerations.  I will miss the camaraderie and sense of collective purpose, but all good things come to an end, and after my retirement I look forward to experiencing the National Arts Centre Orchestra as a member of the audience which always welcomed me so warmly when I walked out on stage.”

NAC Chair David Leighton praised Walter Prystawski saying “Throughout his long and distinguished career with the National Arts Centre Orchestra, Walter Prystawski has displayed artistic insight and leadership qualities of the highest calibre, and has made a tremendous contribution to our music community. We are grateful to have benefited from his dedication to the Orchestra for all these decades.”

Walter Prystawski was hand-picked to take the concertmaster's chair of the NAC Orchestra when it was created to become the resident ensemble of the National Arts Centre opening in 1969. To take up the new position, Mr. Prystawski returned home to Canada from Switzerland where he had moved in 1959. He was first a member, then concertmaster of the chamber orchestra Lucerne Festival Strings. As soloist with and member of this ensemble, Mr. Prystawski toured widely in Western Europe, South Africa and the Middle East.  He also recorded extensively as an orchestra member and as a soloist for Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft. From 1967-69 he was First Concertmaster of the Basler Orchester Gesellschaft in Basle, Switzerland.

Walter Prystawski studied at the Faculty of Music, University of Toronto, and after graduation was a member of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and the Toronto CBC Symphony. As concertmaster of the National Arts Centre Orchestra, he appeared regularly as soloist with the Orchestra, and as recitalist and chamber music player. Mr. Prystawski was a member of the teaching staff of the Department of Music, University of Ottawa, and served on juries or as an assessor for the Montreal International Music Competition, the Conservatoires du Quebec, the Canada Council, CBC music competitions, the City of Ottawa and various music competitions.

In 2000, Walter Prystawski was made a Member of the Order of Canada, and in 2001 received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Ottawa.

A celebration of Walter Prystawski's career with the National Arts Centre Orchestra will be announced next season.

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