{"id":111038,"date":"2025-01-16T14:55:40","date_gmt":"2025-01-16T19:55:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=111038"},"modified":"2025-01-16T14:55:40","modified_gmt":"2025-01-16T19:55:40","slug":"scoop-maestro-alexander-shelley-canadas-national-arts-centre-orchestra-set-tour-republic-korea-japan-spring","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2025\/01\/16\/scoop-maestro-alexander-shelley-canadas-national-arts-centre-orchestra-set-tour-republic-korea-japan-spring\/","title":{"rendered":"THE SCOOP | Maestro Alexander Shelley And Canada\u2019s National Arts Centre Orchestra Set To Tour Republic Of Korea And Japan This Spring"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"The
The National Arts Centre Orchestra (Photo: R\u00e9mi Th\u00e9riault)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The NAC Orchestra and Music Director Alexander Shelley will go on tour to perform in the Republic of Korea and Japan this spring. It will be the first time the NAC Orchestra has taken the stage in Japan in four decades.<\/p>\n

The Orchestra will tour with pianists Yeol Eum Son<\/strong> in Korea and Olga Scheps<\/strong> in Japan, visiting six different cities, and performing in some of the region\u2019s major concert halls, including Tokyo\u2019s Suntory Hall and the Seoul Arts Center.<\/p>\n

It will mark the NAC Orchestra\u2019s 99th road trip since its founding in 1969, and comes as Alexander Shelley celebrates his tenth anniversary as Music Director.<\/p>\n

\"L:
L: Composer Kelly-Marie Murphy (Photo: Alan Dean Photography); Composer Keiko Devaux (Photo: Caroline Desilets)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Tour: Details<\/h3>\n

The tour program will include the international premieres of works by Canadian composers Kelly-Marie Murphy<\/strong> and Keiko Devaux<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Orchestra will perform in Seoul on May 31 as a key event marking the closing of the Korea-Canada Year of Cultural Exchanges. Other notable tour dates include a performance at Expo 2025 Osaka in Japan with a program that pays tribute to the 100th anniversary of the birth of Canadian jazz icon Oscar Peterson. The Orchestra will be collaborating with the Oscar Peterson Centennial Quartet, led by JUNO winning pianist Robi Botos<\/strong>, for the world premiere of a newly commissioned arrangement of Peterson\u2019s Trail of Dreams.<\/p>\n

Along with performances, the tour will open up cultural exchange opportunities for youth, and help develop new talent, including past participants of the NAC Orchestra Mentorship and Conductor Development programs.<\/p>\n

Those opportunities will include workshops, special performances, masterclasses and other activities, provided in conjunction with Ottawa\u2019s OrKidstra, Sistema New Brunswick, Friends of El Sistema Japan, and Orchestra of Dream (El Sistema Korea), among others.<\/p>\n

\"Conductor
Conductor Alexander Shelley (Photo: Curtis Perry)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cThis journey is not only a series of concerts in iconic halls. It\u2019s about cultural exchange, community engagement with youth and families, and supporting the next generation of professional artists,\u201d says Alexander Shelley<\/strong> in a statement.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe NAC Orchestra is committed to creating these important opportunities when it tours.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Orchestra will leave Ottawa for Korea on May 25 and return to Canada on June 8. Prior to the tour, on May 20, NACO will present a free send-off concert in Southam Hall, led by Alexander Shelley, and featuring pianist Olga Scheps.<\/p>\n

Tour highlights (Republic of Korea):<\/p>\n