National Youth Orchestra of Canada Announces 2010 50th Anniversary Tour Dates

The National Youth Orchestra of Canada (NYOC) will embark on the TD Music 50th Anniversary National Tour, with Maestro Jacques Lacombe on the podium. This three-week venture commences in late July following the NYOC's training session. The tour will also feature travel to the west coast for the first time in five years. It is also with great excitement the NYOC proudly announces world-renowned Canadian tenor Ben Heppner to perform at the NYOC's Stratford date on July 25th, as well as performing a Canadian work by Kati Agocs, Composer-in-Residence with the NYOC. Her commissioned work, Perpetual Summer, will receive its world premiere July 28 at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa. Another Canadian composer, the late Jacques Hétu, composed Sur les rives du Saint-Maurice, a work dedicated to Maestro Lacombe and is featured on this tour.

Currently celebrating its 50th season, the NYOC will give concerts featuring two programmes in the following cities, starting in Ontario: London (Alumni Hall, July 24); Stratford (Central United Church, July 25); Kingston (Kingston Gospel Temple, July 26); and Ottawa (National Arts Centre, July 28). In Quebec: Montreal (Notre-Dame Basilica, July 29), and Mont Tremblant (St. Jovite Church, August 1). The NYOC returns to Ontario for a Toronto date (Koerner Hall, August 3). In British Columbia, the Youth Orchestra will perform in Nanaimo (Port Theatre, August 5), Vancouver (Chan Centre, August 8) and Kelowna (Rotary Center for the Arts, August 10); and finally, two Alberta dates: Calgary (Jack Singer Concert Hall, August 12) and Edmonton (Winspear Centre, August 14).
The National Youth Centre Orchestra will present three sets of repertoire.

Programme One (Ottawa/July 28; Montreal/July 29; Mont Tremblant/August 1; Vancouver/ August 8; Kelowna/August 10; and Edmonton/August 14): Shostakovich's Festive Overture; Canadian composer Kati Agocs' Perpetual Summer (commission); R. Strauss' Don Juan; and Rimsky-Korsakov's Scherazade.

Programme Two (July 24/London; July 26/Kingston; August 3/Toronto; August 5/Nanaimo; August 12/Calgary): Dukas' The Sorcerer's Apprentice; Hétu's Sur les rives du Saint-Maurice; Ravel's La Valse; and Stravinsky's Petrouchka (1947 version).

Special Programme (July 25/Stratford): Prelude to Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg; Prize Song from Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg; Prelude to Lohengrin; The Grail Aria from Lohengrin; R. Strauss' Don Juan; "Winterstürme" from Die Walküre; Ride of the Valkyries.

The National Youth Orchestra of Canada provides valuable training to young classical musicians considering an orchestra career: preparing chamber and orchestral repertoire, rehearsing, and preparing for the rigours of frequent performing and touring. From a record number of 623 applications, 94 young musicians from across Canada, who range in age from 16- 28, were chosen through auditions held in major cities across the country in January. "As the NYOC prepares to celebrate its 50 year history, these 94 young musicians find themselves in very distinguished company," says Barbara Smith, Executive Director of the NYOC. "Many of Canada's professional orchestral musicians are alumni of the NYOC, making our organisation a true Canadian treasure. Also, the NYOC's received a JUNO nomination for its 2009 CD/DVD in the category of Classical Album of the Year: Large Ensemble. 2010 is certainly a milestone year for the NYOC."

The National Youth Orchestra of Canada is Canada's advanced orchestral training institute for musicians ages 16 to 28. Its mission is to educate, elevate, and empower Canada's most gifted young orchestral musicians. Forty percent of Canada's professional orchestral musicians are alumni of the NYOC. Over the years, the reviews and praise bestowed on the NYOC have been nothing short of amazing. The NYOC was awarded the prestigious title, "the best youth orchestra in the world" at the World Youth Orchestra Conference in Tokyo. In 2010, the NYOC received a JUNO nomination for its 2009 CD/DVD in the category of Classical Album: Large Ensemble or Soloist.

For more information and ticket purchase information, please visit www.nyoc.org.

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