September 28, 2006 -

Ottawa, Canada -- The National Arts Centre’s 10th Anniversary Gala has raised a spectacular ONE MILLION DOLLARS, surpassing last year’s record-breaking net proceeds of $850,000. A spectacular roster of superstars was assembled in honour of the Gala’s ten years of fundraising success: the standing-room-only crowd in Southam Hall heard sensational performances by cellist Yo-Yo Ma, pianist Emanuel Ax, violinist Gil Shaham and Celtic fiddler Natalie MacMaster, with Music Director Pinchas Zukerman conducting the National Arts Centre Orchestra and performing on viola. To this galaxy of superstars was added the eleven-year-old Calgary pianist Jan Lisiecki, and NAC Orchestra violinist Jessica Linnebach, a graduate of the NAC Young Artists Programme. All proceeds from the September 27th Gala go to the National Arts Centre Foundation’s National Youth and Education Trust, which provides funds to support the wide array of artistic and educational programming the NAC undertakes for young Canadians.

After a luxurious wine and canapé reception in the NAC Foyer for everyone in attendance, the concert offered a series of orchestral and chamber pieces featuring dazzling combinations of musical royalty. After the concert and a post-concert reception and dancing in the Foyer, 800 Gala guests dined on Southam Hall stage, which had been magically converted into a spectacularly decorated banquet hall.

Mrs. Laureen Harper, wife of the Prime Minister and the Gala’s Honorary Chair, was in attendance. The glittering crowd of over 2,100 also included ambassadors, cabinet ministers, senators and members of Canada’s corporate elite.

The Gala Committee was chaired by Janet Yale, Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs of TELUS, the Presenting Sponsor of the Gala, and Founding Partner of the National Youth and Education Trust.

Janet Yale said: “It was our goal from the beginning to break the one million dollar mark to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the NAC Gala, and I am thrilled that we have succeeded. This is a wonderful example of our community coming together to create opportunities for the next generation of artists and to encourage young Canadians to develop a life-long relationship with the arts. The Committee offers its gratitude to Pinchas Zukerman and the musicians of the National Arts Centre Orchestra who graciously donated their services for the occasion.”

NAC Foundation CEO Darrell Gregersen was ecstatic about the Gala’s success. “Tonight’s Gala brings the total we’ve raised for the National Youth and Education Trust to over $10 million,” she said. “In five years, these funds have transformed how the National Arts Centre reaches out to young Canadians, with performances, artistic training and classroom resources. Thanks to all of our National Youth and Education Trust supporters, the NAC is making a tremendous investment in our young people through the performing arts.”

The Gala was presented by TELUS, in association with Sun Life Financial, Bruce Power and True Energy Trust, with the support of other Gala sponsors A&E;, Enbridge Inc., RBC Financial Group and Trico Group, as well as TD Bank Financial Group, Scotiabank Group, University of Ottawa, Harmon Foundation, Amazon.ca, Broccolini Construction Inc., St-Laurent Volvo, MTS Allstream Inc., Emond Harnden LLP, Morguard Investments Ltd., and Oracle.

In addition to supporters and patrons of the NAC’s annual Gala, the National Youth and Education Trust is also supported by Michael Potter and Véronique Dhieux, and the National Arts Centre Foundation Donors' Circle. Funds from the National Youth and Education Trust enable the National Arts Centre to create superb programming for young audiences, develop the world’s best young artists and support performing arts education in Canadian classrooms.

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