February 17, 2003 -

Ottawa, Canada -- The CJOH Pops Series presents A Winter Wonderland, a concert of frosty classical delights by the National Arts Centre Orchestra led by conductor Jean-Philippe Tremblay from Thursday, February 20 to Saturday, February 22 at 20:00 in the NAC's Southam Hall. NACO's dazzling young principal second violin Donnie Deacon will perform "Winter" from Vivaldi's The Four Seasons. The concert also includes a NACO brass quintet performing P.D.Q. Bach's Fanfare for the Common Cold. Soprano Laura Whalen and tenor David Pomeroy sing songs from the icy garret of La Bohème, while bass Alain Coulombe performs Gilles Vigneault's Mon Pays c'est l'hiver.

Folks in the world's (almost) coldest capital city have long since learned that if you can't beat winter, join it! And the National Arts Centre Orchestra is happy to assist. The concert opens with Bernard's Winter Wonderland and, in addition to the works already mentioned, includes "Waltz of the Snowflakes" from The Nutcracker, Waldteufel's The Skater's Waltz, "Lara's Theme" from Dr. Zhivago, a tribute to Félix Leclerc sung by bass Alain Coulombe and the theme from Hockey Night in Canada. A little Jamaican Rhumba will warm people up before they head back outside into the snow.

Jean-Philippe Tremblay is one of the most promising young orchestra conductors in Canada. Born in Chicoutimi in 1978, he was a participant in the National Arts Centre's first annual Conductors Programme in 2001, which led to his appointment to the newly created position of Apprentice Conductor of the NAC Orchestra, funded in part by the Canada Council for the Arts' Conductor-in-Residence Programme, and in part through the generous support and leadership of William and Phyllis Waters, James and Margaret Fleck, and Sandra Simpson.

In November 2002 at the Dmitris Mitropoulos International Competition for Orchestral Conducting in Greece, Jean-Philippe Tremblay was the only Canadian of 16 finalists chosen from over 250 applicants from around the world. He received the Orchestra's Preference Award as well as an Honorable Mention for Excellence from the jury.

Born in Glasgow, Scotland, Donnie Deacon studied at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music winning all of the Academy competitions, and performing as soloist many times with its orchestra, of which he was concertmaster at age 13. He continued his studies at the Yehudi Menuhin School in London with Lord Menuhin himself, finishing his schooling at the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. As soloist, Mr. Deacon has performed all over the world. He joined the NAC Orchestra as principal second violin in September 2002, the week he turned 22.

The National Arts Centre Orchestra will present A Winter Wonderland from February 20 to 22. Tickets for these CJOH Pops Series concerts are on sale now at $33.50, $47.00 and $57.50, with box seats at $80.00 (GST and Facility Fee included) at the NAC Box Office (Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 21:00), and through Ticketmaster (with surcharges) at 613-755-1111. Ticketmaster may also be accessed through the NAC's web-site at www.nac-cna.ca. Half-price tickets for students in all sections of the hall are on sale in person at the NAC Box Office upon presentation of a valid student ID card.

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