January 29, 2007 -

OTTAWA -- Five exceptionally talented string students will take up residence in the halls of the NAC for four intensive weeks this year as part of the NAC Institute for Orchestral Studies (IOS), a unique program in its pilot year that will offer students a chance to learn and gain practical experience with the NAC Orchestra.

The students will perform alongside the musicians of the National Arts Centre Orchestra in rehearsal and in concert. The “side-by-side” experience is one of the unique aspects of the Institute, giving students an unparalleled chance to learn from working professionals in the Orchestra who will also serve as mentors, offering feedback, support and advice.

The students will also participate in individual coaching sessions, orchestral repertoire study sessions and chamber coaching with members of the NAC Orchestra and professional development opportunities with the NAC’s administrative staff.

The five musicians will also be named the Richard Li Young Artists, allowing them to participate in even more learning, performance and outreach opportunities, thanks to the generosity of Mr. Li, who in September of 2006 gave the NAC Foundation $1 million—the largest one-time gift in the Foundation’s history, announced during the NAC’s annual fundraising Gala before more than 2,300 audience members.

The IOS will gradually expand in the number of participants and the number of weeks offered. The 2007-08 IOS will expand to six weeks and is accepting applications up until Feb. 15, 2007.

The 2007 IOS will start off with a bang on Jan. 29, as students attend the inaugural week rehearsing—and possibly performing—under the baton of Gustavo Dudamel, one of the most exciting and sought-after conductors in the world. A young artist himself, Dudamel, 26, benefited greatly from music education opportunities through a state-supported music education program in his home country of Venezuela--a program that is inspiring a resurgence of support for youth orchestra programs across North America.

NAC Music Director Pinchas Zukerman said he is delighted by the calibre of students who will be attending the Institute in its pilot year, three of whom are alumnae of the NAC Summer Music Institute. “The NAC Institute for Orchestral Studies will give students from around the world a great opportunity to learn from and experience the day-to-day professional life of being an orchestra musician. I am extremely delighted that we as Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra are able to offer this program, the first of its kind in North America. With this program, the future for professional musicians and music-making is promising and bright.”

The students are: Raphaël Dubé of Montreal, 22, studying cello at the Mannes College of Music in New York City; violinist Andréa Armijo Fortin of Quebec City, 26, a current winner of a Québec Council for the Arts grant; Brendan Kane of St. Paul, MN, 25, studying double bass at the Manhattan School of Music; Won-Hee Lee of Ottawa, 18, studying violin at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music; and Mary-Kathryn Stevens of Chatham, 24, studying viola at the New England Conservatory of Music. They will be in residence Jan. 29-Feb. 2; Feb 12-16; and May 21-June 1, all of which are performance weeks for the NAC Orchestra. Biographical information is listed at the bottom of this release.

In addition to the five participating IOS students being named as “Richard Li Young Artists,” Mr. Li’s gift will help the NAC create other exceptional learning and performance opportunities for young artists from across Canada to help them maximize their talent and propel them forward in their careers, as well as supporting the Junior Strings component of the NAC’s annual Summer Music Institute.
Mr. Li’s gift, which will be spent over the next several years, will also support other educational opportunities for young artists, including support for the NAC’s annual Summer Music Institute.
Richard Li is chairman of PCCW Limited, the largest provider of communications services in Hong Kong and one of Asia’s leading Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) companies. He is also chairman and chief executive of the Pacific Century Group, chairman of Singapore-based Pacific Century Regional Developments Limited and Pacific Century Premium Developments Limited.

BACKGROUND ON NACO MUSIC EDUCATION

The NAC Institute for Orchestral Studies is another example of the enormous impact of Pinchas Zukerman on young people and future generations of artists.

Since Pinchas Zukerman’s arrival at the NAC, he has made education a core activity of the NAC Orchestra. Its recent tour to Quebec featured 70 education events such as master classes, teacher training, student matinees, open rehearsals and recorder clinics.

Zukerman was the driving force behind the establishment of the NAC’s Summer Music Institute which this summer – its ninth – will welcome more than 80 young musicians, composers and conductors from across Canada and around the world to study with Pinchas and an international faculty. In a few short years, Pinchas has created a cutting-edge learning centre where some of the world’s most talented young artists can receive in-depth coaching and performance opportunities.

Under his leadership the NAC has engaged six teaching musicians from Alberta and Saskatchewan who are bringing classical music to 300 mostly rural schools in those two provinces over three years. These teaching musicians are leading music classes for students in Grades 4-6, as well as clinics for elementary school teachers, as part of the NAC’s long-term commitment to music education.

Integrating the arts into the school curriculum has been another one of Zukerman’s objectives. The NAC has created teacher study guides to assist non-music specialists to teach music in an imaginative way. The guides (with a NACO CD) are sent to thousands of elementary schools in conjunction with NAC Orchestra tours, and are eventually sent to every elementary school across the country. These guides help teachers integrate music into the curriculum through a highly creative and enjoyable approach to learning.

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Fore more information:
Mary Gordon
Communications Advisor
National Arts Centre
(613) 947-7000 x 524

NAC Institute for Orchestral Studies

The Students

Raphaël Dubé
Cellist, 22, Canadian
Raphaël is currently completing his second year of his Master of Music degree with Timothy Eddy at Mannes College of Music in New York City. He is also an alumnus of the NAC Young Artists Programme (2003 - 06). His many awards include first prize in the Montreal Conservatory Concerto competition (2005) and the Paul Merkelo prize, for Most Promising Talent at the 2001 Montreal Symphony Orchestra Competition. During the summer of 2006, Raphaël performed the solo of Strauss' Don Quixote with the National Youth Orchestra of Canada under the direction of Jacques Lacombe.

Andréa Armijo Fortin
Violinist, 26, Canadian
Fellow of the Tanglewood Music Center, Andréa is currently taking private lessons with Malcolm Lowe, Concertmaster of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. She completed her Artist Diploma in violin performance from the Longy School of Music in 2004. Winner of a scholarship from the Quebec Council for the Arts, she has also performed with the NAC Orchestra and the Orchestre Symphonique de Québec as a substitute in 2006. She has participated in summer festivals, including at the Tanglewood Music Center and Domaine Forget.

Brendan Kane
Double Bassist, 25, American
Brendan is currently completing his Graduate Diploma in orchestral performance at the Manhattan School of Music. Other festivals that he has attended include the Tanglewood Music Center, the UBS Verbier Festival and the Lucerne Festival. His orchestral experience includes performances with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, the New World Symphony and the Gardner Museum Chamber Orchestra. He has studied with Timothy Cobb, Donald Palma, Jim Orleans and Brian Liddle.

Won-Hee Lee
Violinist, 18, Canadian
Won-Hee is currently completing her first year of her Bachelor of Music in violin performance at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music, studying with violinist Alexander Kerr. She is also an alumna of the NAC’s Young Artists Programme, Junior Strings Division (2004-06) and winner of the NAC Orchestra Bursary Competition’s NACOA Award in 2005. She has also participated in other summer music programs, such as the National Youth Orchestra in Canada and Domaine Forget.

Mary-Kathryn Stevens
Violist, 24, Canadian
Mary-Kathryn is currently completing her graduate diploma in viola performance at the New England Conservatory of Music. She is also an alumna of the National Arts Centre’s Young Artists Programme (2001). Winner of the Guelph Spring Music Competition in 2005, Mary-Kathryn has also participated in other summer music festivals at Domaine Forget and the Tanglewood Music Centre.