The National Arts Centre Orchestra has announced the program for its annual free Canada Day concert at Southam Hall. The afternoon concert spotlights Canadian talent and composers.
“It’s a wonderful occasion where families, friends, and communities can come together,” says Alexander Shelley, Music Director of the NAC Orchestra, in a statement. “Each year we feature the incredible talent of Canadian artists, our National Arts Centre Orchestra, and composers who represent the vast and varied Canadian music scene. Our program features work spanning over 100 years of Canadian music-making. It’s a powerful reminder of the vibrant and evolving nature of Canadian music.”
The Concert & Artists
Music Director Alexander Shelley will conduct the NAC Orchestra, with soloists that include violinist and Ottawa native Kerson Leong, JUNO Award-winning vocalist Kellylee Evans, and slam poet and songwriter YAO.
“Personally, what I’m most looking forward to is seeing the audience’s reaction. Those are the moments that really stand out for me! There’s an energy in the air at these free concerts, a palpable sense of community and connection,” says YAO. The multi-hyphenate artist also hosted the Canada Day Concert in 2022 and 2023. “As a bilingual artist, it’s an incredible opportunity to be able to share my words and music with such a diverse audience and in the company of the superb NAC Orchestra. It’s truly an honour to be a part of this celebration, and to see how music can touch people’s hearts and minds.”
A choir made of up hundreds of singers from the Unisong Choral Festival, an all-ages event drawing from choirs across Canada, will also join the NACO in a 75-minute performance.
Music from Canadian composers are on the program, including:
- Calixa Lavallée: O Canada;
- Godfrey Ridout: Fall Fair;
- Keiko Devaux: Listening Underwater;
- François Dompierre: Les Diableries;
- Jean Coulthard: “Contented House” extract from Canada Mosaic.
Additional repertoire will be announced from the stage, and Oscar Peterson’s iconic “Hymn to Freedom” will provide a moving finale to the concert.
“What I love most about this concert is how it brings people together. Whether you’re performing on stage or singing along in the audience, you can feel the sense of togetherness in the room. Concerts like this are a beautiful reminder of the power of music,” says guest artist Kellylee Evans. The jazz and soul singer first performed at the NACO Canada Day celebrations back in 2014. “I’m looking forward to sharing in those magical moments of a live performance where we can all feel the energy and joy of the music together.”
Violinist Kerson Leong was born in Ottawa. His mother was a pianist, and he began his music study on the violin at age four, studying with former MSO concertmaster Calvin Sieb. From his father, a physicist, he would learn about the resonance of string instruments.
He would go on to win the Grand Prize at the Canadian Music Competition every year from 2005 until 2009. After that, he went on to snag first prize at the Yehudi Menuhin International Competition for Young violinist in 2010. His performing career was launched in Norway the same year, at the age of 13.
Today, alongside a busy performing career that has taken him across Europe and North America, he is also a recording artist. His latest recording features the Britten and Bruch violin concertos, accompanied by the Philharmonia Orchestra on the Alpha Classics label.
Kerson will be performing with the NAC Orchestra in another concert on July 4 titled Summer Odyssey, and later in July, will be in Toronto for Toronto Summer Music.
Concert Details
The free concert takes place at 2:30 p.m. on July 1, with the doors opening at 2:00 p.m.
- The concert does not require a ticket, with seating on a first-come, first-served basis.
- The concert will be broadcast on television screens outside Southam Hall, so the music can also be enjoyed in the public spaces around the concert hall.
More information [HERE].
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