The NAC Orchestra
Bursary Competition

Bursary Competition

Total awards up to $18,750

Preliminary Auditions (closed event)
Rehearsal Hall A, National Arts Centre
Thursday-Friday May 6th and 7th 2010
10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Final Auditions (free admission)
Studio, National Arts Centre
Monday May 10th 2010
3:00 p.m.

About the NACO Bursary Competition

The National Arts Centre Orchestra (NACO) Bursary Competition was first held in 1981. The prime objective of the competition is to encourage the pursuit of excellence on the part of young instrumentalists aspiring to orchestral careers. Each year, a jury identifies deserving recipients through audition and competition.

The Bursary was created in 1979 by members of the NAC Orchestra as a gesture of appreciation to the audiences who had been so supportive of it during its first decade. It is meant to provide recognition and financial support to help further the development of young musicians who have connections to the National Capital Region (NCR). Funding for the award came originally from two sources: the NAC Orchestra Bursary Fund created in 1979 by the members of the National Arts Centre Orchestra and the NAC Orchestra Trust (originally the Capital Trust founded in 1932 to benefit the Ottawa Philharmonic Society which on its demise in 1970 transferred the income to the NAC). It is now known as the NAC Orchestra Trust Fund.

In 1981, one prize of $1,000 – the NACO Bursary – was awarded. In subsequent years, thanks to the growth of the Fund as well as the generosity of private organizations and individuals, other prizes have been added for a total in 2010 of $18,750.

Bursary, Awards, and Prizes for 2010

Eight Finalists will be chosen from the Preliminary Auditions to compete in the Finals for the following prizes:

The NAC Orchestra Bursary ($ 7,000)

The NAC Orchestra Bursary is the top prize in the competition. One award of $7,000 is available to the most deserving candidate.

The Harold Crabtree Foundation Award ($ 5,000)

This award of $5 000, offered for the first time in 2003, is provided by the Harold Crabtree Foundation. The Foundation is a strong believer in the importance of helping young people. The award’s primary purpose is to encourage a particularly promising young musician to persevere in pursuit of an orchestral career.

The Friends of the NAC Orchestra Award ($ 3,000)

The Friends of the National Arts Centre Orchestra Award was established in 1993 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the NAC Orchestra. Created by the then National Arts Centre Orchestra Association, it is intended to further the training of a gifted young musician and to illustrate the Friends continuing and deeply felt commitment to the NAC Orchestra. This award of $3,000 is funded thanks to generous donations from the Friends.

The NACO Vic Pomer Award ($ 2,000)

The Vic Pomer Award honours one of the founding members of the NAC Orchestra, violinist Victor (Vic) Pomer. This much-loved musician, who died in 2001 at age 70, left the Orchestra in 1995 after 40 years of orchestral performance – 26 of them at the National Arts Centre. As well as performing, Vic was a dedicated teacher. As fellow founding violinist Elaine Klimasko recalls: “Victor guided and encouraged his students in the most devoted way.” This award is intended to support a deserving musician in his or her further education. It was established in 2001 by the NACO Bursary Committee and is now worth $2,000.

Piccolo Prix ($ 1,000)

The $1,000 Piccolo Prix is available to a candidate who has not been otherwise granted an award but who shows exceptional promise at the auditions. It has been provided since 2001 “to encourage and support our young artists” thanks to the generosity of one of the National Arts Centre’s most dedicated volunteers and Donors Circle members, Cav. Pasqualina Pat Adamo.

The NACO Special Prize for Excerpts ($ 750)

The NACO Special Prize for Excerpts was established by the NACO Bursary Committee to recognize outstanding performance of prescribed orchestral excerpts by any of the eight finalists in the competition. This prize of $750 is available to any of the finalists regardless of whether the recipient has otherwise won a prize in the competition.

Honourable Mentions (up to 3 prizes of $225)

In 2002, the NACO Bursary Committee decided to recognize the merit of those who reach the Finals but do not receive an award. Honourable Mentions, in each such case, will be confirmed in a letter accompanied by a cheque for $225 to be sent after the competition.

N.B. Winners of the NACO Bursary are ineligible to enter subsequent NACO Bursary competitions. The Harold Crabtree Foundation Award and the Friends of the NAC Orchestra Award may not be given more than once, and all other awards not more than twice, to the same person. Awards may not be split between competitors.

How to Apply

Application Deadline: Monday, March 15, 2010 at 5:00 p.m.

  1. Eligibility of students: Applicants must be music students aged 16 to 24 whose family residence is in the National Capital Region of Canada (NCR) or whose principal residence has been in the NCR in the immediately preceding year or who have been following a recognized course of music study in the NCR over that year. Applicants must be Canadian Citizens or Permanent Residents of Canada.

    The competition is open to students of an orchestral instrument, including the flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, French horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba, percussion, harp, violin, viola, cello, and double bass.

  2. Applicant Availability: Those applying for the NACO Bursary Competition must be available for the duration of the Competition, including the Preliminary Auditions and, if selected, the Finals.
  3. On-Line Application: Complete the required on-line application (by clicking on the “APPLY NOW” link below) and submit by the deadline of 5:00 p.m. on Monday, March 15, 2010. Late applications will not be accepted.
  4. Refundable audition fee (in Canadian Dollars): A fee of $50 is required upon application to the NAC Orchestra Bursary Competition and must be received by the National Arts Centre by mail post-marked no later than March 15, 2010. The fee shall be refunded to the applicant upon completion of his/her Preliminary audition. Refunds will not be provided to candidates who withdraw from the Competition without providing a minimum of 72 hours notice before their scheduled audition.

    Payments must be made by cheque or money order (made payable to the National Arts Centre) and sent by mail to:

    National Arts Centre, Music Education Department
    c/o Kelly Abercrombie
    53 Elgin Street
    P.O. Box 1534, Station B
    Ottawa, Ontario
    K1P 5W1

  5. Additional Requirements: An up-to-date résumé/curriculum vitae (one page) and photo is required and should be emailed as an attachment to mused@nac-cna.ca. Résumés should be a MS word or plain text file (.DOC, .TXT). Photos should not be more than 200k file size, (.JPEG).
  6. Communication: The main form of communication for this Competition will be by email. Applicants are advised to have an email address. It is the responsibility of the applicant/participant to check email on a regular basis for communications.
  7. Audition Requirements (Solo repertoire and orchestral excerpts): The approved solo repertoire list below has been carefully developed and is regularly reviewed by the NACO Bursary Committee. In drawing up this list the Committee has chosen pieces which, in terms of length, variety and level of difficulty, best meet the requirements of this Competition. Effective for the 2010 Competition, no substitutions will be allowed. Candidates must state in writing their chosen solo repertoire from the approved list at the time of application.

    In addition to the solo repertoire selections listed, each candidate will be required to perform a selection of excerpts from the orchestral repertoire. Excerpted parts will be forwarded to candidates upon acceptance to the Competition after the closing of the application deadline.  These excerpts are an integral part of the audition; practice and study of these elements should be given as much weight as the other repertoire.

  8. Status of Application / Notice of Acceptance: Candidates will be sent notice by email confirming the status of their application approximately two weeks after the application deadline. Should their application be accepted, their audition time will be indicated on this notice.
  9. Accompanists: Applicants are responsible for providing their own accompanists for the audition. All solo selections requiring accompaniment must be played with accompaniment. Orchestral excerpts are to be performed without accompaniment. Please check your acceptance letter for a list of possible accompanists for the Competition.
  10. Dress Code: While there is no formal dress code for either the preliminary or final auditions, informal dress appropriate to the occasion would be appreciated. Formal gowns or attire are not necessary.
  11. The Day of the Auditions:

    The jury reserves the right to ask any candidate to perform a second time before a final decision is made. The jury also reserves the right to cut short an audition in the interest of time.

    For the preliminary audition, candidates must provide the jury members with 4 copies of their solo pieces.

    Be sure to arrive at least 20 minutes prior to your audition time. A warm-up room will be provided. Scheduled audition times are approximate. Candidates must be ready at least twenty minutes ahead of their scheduled time, and auditions may run up to fifteen minutes late.

APPLY NOW

Solo Repertoire Requirements

Strings

Violin

One movement of a Bach solo sonata or partita. No repeats.
AND
First movement of one of the following concerti:

  • Dvorak, Antonin – Violin Concerto in A minor, Op. 53
  • Lalo, Édouard – Violin Concerto in F Major, Op. 20
  • Mendelssohn, Felix – Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64
  • Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus –[choose from Nos. 1 – 5]
  • Prokofiev, Sergei – [choose from Nos. 1 – 2]
  • Saint-Saëns, Camille – Violin Concerto No. 3 in B minor, Op. 61
  • Sibelius, Jean – Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47
  • Vieuxtemps, Henry – [choose from Nos. 1 – 5]
  • Wieniawski, Henryk – Violin Concerto No. 2 in D minor, Op. 22

Viola

Prelude and one movement from a Bach suite. No repeats.
AND
First movement of one of the following concerti:

  • Bartók, Béla – Viola Concerto, BB. 128
  • Enesco, Georges – Concertpiece (complete)
  • Harbison, John – Concerto for Viola
  • Hindemith, Paul - Der Schwanendreher
  • Paganini, Nicolò – Sonata per la Grand’ Viola
  • Walton, William – Viola Concerto

Violoncello

Prelude and movement from a Bach Suite. No repeats.
AND
First movement of one of the following concerti:

  • Boccherini, Luigi – [choose from Nos. 1 – 9]
  • Dvorak, Antonin – Cello Concerto in B minor, Op.104, B. 191
  • Haydn, Franz Joseph – [choose from Nos. 1 – 2]
  • Kabalevsky, Dmitry – [choose from Nos. 1 – 2]
  • Lalo, Édouard – Cello Concerto in D minor
  • Saint-Saëns, Camille – [choose from Cello Concerti Nos. 1 – 2]
  • Schumann, Robert – Cello Concerto in A minor, Op. 129
  • Tchaikovsky, Pyotr Ilyich – Rococo Variations, Op. 33 (opening, 1st variation, 3rd variation & last variation)

Double Bass

Two movements from a Bach Suite. No repeats.
AND
First movement from a concerto of the candidate's choice.

Harp

Two contrasting pieces (one concerto and one sonata) selected from the following list:
Concerti:

  • Boïeldieu, François-Adrien - Harp Concerto in C (1st and 2nd movements)
  • Debussy, Claude - Danses Sacrée et Profane (complete)
  • Handel, George Frederic – Harp Concerto in B flat Major HWV294 (1st and 2nd movements)
  • Tailleferre, Germaine – Harp Concertino (1st and 2nd movements)

Sonatas:

  • Hindemith, Paul – Harp Sonata (1st & 3rd movements OR 2nd & 3rd movements)
  • Rota, Nino – Sarabanda e Toccata
  • Tailleferre, Germaine – Harp Sonata (1st & 2nd movements OR 2nd & 3rd movements)
  • Tournier, Marcel – Sonatine, Op. 30 (1st & 2nd movements OR 2nd & 3rd movements)

Winds

Flute

Two contrasting movements, one from a concerto and one from a sonata selected from the following list:

Sonatas:

  • Bach, Johann Sebastian – Flute Sonata No. 1 in B minor, BWV 1030
  • Dutilleux, Henri – Sonatine pour flûte et piano
  • Hindemith, Paul – Sonata for Flute
  • Poulenc, Francis – Sonata for Flute
  • Prokofiev, Sergei – Flute Sonata in D Major, Op. 94
  • Taktakishvili, Otar – Sonata for Flute and Piano

Concerti:

  • Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus – [choose Concerto in G Major  or D Major]
  • Ibert, Jacques – Concerto for Flute
  • Nielsen, Carl – Concerto for Flute
  • Reinecke, Carl – Concerto for Flute

Oboe

Two contrasting movements, one from a concerto and one from a sonata selected from the following list:

Sonatas:

  • Britten, Benjamin  - Six Metamorphoses after Ovid, Op. 49 (for solo oboe) (Play 3 or more movements)
  • Handel, George Frederick – Sonata No. 2 in G minor
  • Hindemith, Paul – Sonata for Oboe
  • Poulenc, Francis -  Oboe Sonata
  • Saint-Saens, Camille – Oboe Sonata in D major, Op. 166
  • Schumann, Robert - Three Romances for Oboe, Op. 94
  • Telemann, Georg Philipp – Partita No. 5 in E minor

Concerti:

  • Haydn, Joseph - Oboe Concerto in C major, Hob.VIIg:C1
  • Handel, George Frederick - Oboe Concerto No. 3 in G minor, HWV 287
  • Goossens, Eugene - Oboe Concerto (in one movement), Op. 45
  • Marcello, Alessandro – Concerto for Oboe and Strings in C minor
  • Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus  - Concerto for Oboe in C Major, K. 314
  • Vaughan-Williams, Ralph – Concerto for Oboe and String Orchestra

English Horn

Donizetti, Gaetano – Concertino for English Horn in G Major (complete)
OR
Hindemith, Paul – Sonata for English Horn (complete)

Clarinet

Two contrasting movements, one from a concerto and one from a sonata selected from the following list:

Sonatas:

  • Brahms, Johannes – Sonata for Clarinet, Op. 120, No. 2
  • Debussy, Claude – Rhapsody for Clarinet
  • Hindemith, Paul – Sonata for Clarinet in B flat Major
  • Poulenc, Francis – Sonata for Clarinet and Piano
  • Saint-Saens, Camille – Clarinet Sonata in E flat major, Op. 167
  • Stravinsky, Igor - Three Pieces for Clarinet Solo (All movements)

Concerti:

  • Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus – Clarinet Concerto in A major, K. 622
  • Spohr, Louis – Clarinet Concerto No.1 in C minor, Op. 26
  • Weber, Carl Maria von – Clarinet Concerto No. 1 in F minor, Op. 73
  • Weber, Carl Maria von – Clarinet Concerto No. 2 in E flat major. Op. 74 

Bassoon

Two contrasting movements, one from a concerto and one from a sonata selected from the following lists:

Sonata:

  • Saint-Saëns, Camille – Sonata for Bassoon and Piano, Op. 168
  • Telemann, Georg Philipp – Bassoon Sonata in F minor, TWV 41:f1
  • Vivaldi, Antonio – Six Sonatas, Sonata No. 1 in B flat Major  [originally for violoncello]

Concerti:

  • Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus – Bassoon Concerto in B flat Major, K. 191
  • Vivaldi, Antonio – Concerto for Bassoon in E minor
  • Weber, Carl Maria von – Hungarian Fantasy for Bassoon, Op. 35 (Andante and Hungarian Rondo)

Contra-Bassoon

Boismortier, Joseph Bodin de – Sonata No. 5 in G Major for Bassoon and Harpsichord (one octave lower than written)
OR
Vivaldi, Antonio – Bassoon Concerto No. 2 in E Minor, RV 484 (one octave lower than written)

Brass

Trumpet

Two contrasting movements, from any one of the following pieces:

  • Arutunian, Alexander – Trumpet Concerto in A flat Major
  • Balay, Guillaume – Andante and Allegretto
  • Bohme, Oskar – Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra, Op. 18
  • Enesco, Georges – Legend
  • Haydn, Franz Joseph – Concerto in E flat for Trumpet and Orchestra, Hob. VIIe:1
  • Hummel, Johann Nepomuk – Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra  in E flat
  • Kennan, Kent – Sonata for Trumpet and Piano
  • Stevens, Halsey – Sonata for Trumpet and Piano

French Horn

Two contrasting movements, from any one of the following pieces:

  • Beethoven, Ludwig van – Sonata for French Horn and Piano in F Major, Op. 17
  • Dukas, Paul – Villanelle 
  • Larsson, Lars-Erik – Twelve Concertinos, Op. 45
  • Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus –  [choose from Horn Concerti Nos. 1 – 4]
  • Strauss, Richard – Horn Concerto No. 1 in E flat Major, Op. 11

Trombone

Two contrasting movements, from any one of the following pieces:

  • Albrechtsberger, Johann Georg – Concerto in B flat  for Alto Trombone
  • David, Ferdinand – Concertino for Trombone in E flat Major, Op. 4
  • Gröndahl, Launy – Concerto for Trombone
  • Hindemith, Paul – Sonata for Trombone and Piano
  • Larsson, Lars-Erik – Concertino for Trombone and String Orchestra, Op. 45, No. 7
  • Milhaud, Darius – Concertino d'hiver, Op. 327, for trombone and string orchestra
  • Sulek, Stjepan – Sonata (Vox Gabrieli)
  • Tomasi, Henry – Concerto for Trombone and Orchestra

Bass Trombone

Two contrasting movements, from any one of the following pieces:

  • Defaye, Jean-Michel – Deux Dances (arr. Knaub)
  • Ewazen, Eric – Concerto for Bass Trombone and Orchestra
  • George, Thom Ritter – Concerto for Bass Trombone and Orchestra
  • Hidas, Frigyes – Rhapsody for Bass Trombone and Band
  • Lebedev, Alexander – Concerto in One Movement
  • McCarty, Patrick – Sonata for Bass Trombone
  • Spillman, Robert – Concerto for Bass Trombone
  • Wilder, Alec – Sonata for Bass Trombone

Tuba

Two contrasting pieces selected from the following list:

  • Broughton, Bruce – Sonata for Tuba (one movement)
  • Gregson, Edward – Concerto for Tuba (one movement)
  • Koetsier, Jan – Concertino for Tuba and Strings (one movement)
  • Lebedev, Anton – Concerto in One Movement for Tuba (complete)
  • Newton, Rodney – Capriccio for Tuba (complete)
  • Plau, Arild – Concerto for Tuba (one movement)
  • Plog, Anthony - Three Miniatures for Tuba (complete)
  • Vaughan-Williams, Ralph – Concerto for Tuba (1st and 2nd movements)
  • Williams, John – Concerto for Tuba (one movement)

Percussion

Candidates must prepare the following snare drum solos in addition to a mallet keyboard solo:

Snare Drum Solo (obligatory)

  • Fink, Siegfried – Snare Drum Suite (5th movement: Marcia)
  • Ravel, Maurice – Bolero
  • Roll demonstration start pp cresc. To ff and dim. To pp again, over about 30 seconds

Mallet Keyboard Solo

Play one of the following:

  • Bach, J.S. - Violin Concerto in A minor, BWV 1041 (1st movement)  (To be played on marimba and accompanied)
  • Stout, Gordon – Two Mexican Dances for Marimba (both movements)

Helpful Hints

The NACO Bursary Competition offers its participants an experience that closely resembles a “real world” audition. Accordingly, the Committee has compiled the following tips to help you succeed in this, and many other, audition experiences.

Before your audition:

  • Determine repertoire months in advance; consult your teacher closely in this process.
  • Choose a solo piece with which you are comfortable and shows off your strengths. Do not choose a difficult piece merely to impress the jurors; consult your teacher to make sure it is appropriate to your playing level.
  • Take the orchestral excerpts to your private music teacher to get ideas on style. Pay close attention to the tempo markings indicated on the music.
  • Listen to recordings that correspond to your orchestral excerpts. Compare different interpretations of the same piece.
  • Use a tuner and metronome during the early stages of practice. This will help you correct pitch and rhythm problems as you learn the piece.
  • Prepare expressive parts as carefully as technical parts. Identify the mood and message of these sections.
  • Be aware that the jury committee may only ask for part of a piece. Be able to start your piece from various points (not always the beginning).
  • Be familiar enough with your material so that you can perform it no matter what happens.
  • Rehearse in your performance clothes. Choose appropriate attire, as if you were going to a job interview. Are you comfortable? Practice walking in your shoes.
  • Record your program on an audio or video recorder to assess your strengths and weaknesses. Build up your strengths and work on weak areas.
  • Practice playing in front of an audience and let them critique your performance.

The day of the audition:

  • Allow plenty of time to arrive, find the audition room and warm-up. Nothing plays on nerves like having to rush or worry about missing your appointment time. Call immediately if you cannot make your appointment time.
  • Expect some waiting around. We do our best to stay on schedule, but sometimes there are delays. Be prepared.
  • Relax. Nobody is out to get you. The jurors want you to do your best.
  • Sharing your musical talent with others is part of the orchestral experience. Relax and enjoy the audition process.
  • Smile, and make eye contact with the jury.
  • Be courteous and professional inside and outside the audition room.
  • Take your time at the audition - don’t rush!
  • Keep going even if you make mistakes.
  • Be comfortable. Be prepared. This helps you to be confident.
  • Be bold and expressive… this makes your music more interesting!
  • Be considerate of fellow musicians and keep your volume down in the lobby while you're waiting.
  • Most of all… enjoy your audition! Your best performance happens when you play from your heart.

Past NACO Bursary Winners

1981 – Andrée Azar (violin)
1982 – Russell Armstrong (flute) and Jeremy McCoy (double bass)
1983 – Kenneth Simpson (percussion) and Joy Skrapec (clarinet)
1984 – Gertrude Létourneau (flute) and Shaun Pomer (cello)
1985 – Elizabeth Griffiths (French horn) and Marie Savard (violin)
1986 – Susan Carney (flute) and Michael Sproule (violin)
1987 – Adrianna Barton (cello) and Josée Marchand (oboe)
1988 – Hughes Jocelyn Cano (percussion) and Phong Mach (violin)
1989 – Vanessa Blander (violin) and Pierre Laurin (cello)
1990 – Leah Roseman (violin) and John Showman (violin)
1991 – Eric Vaillancourt (percussion) and Steven Vlad (trombone)
1992 – Russell Itani (flute) and Tanis Light-Merimec (cello)
1993 – Steven van Gulik (trumpet) and Carl Bovell (tuba)
1994 – Andrew Laubstein (trombone) and Laura Tanod (cello)
1995 – Olivia Blander (cello), Sunita Gingras (violin), Renée London (violin), and Pascale Margely (flute)
1996 – Olivia Blander (cello) and Wilma Hos (viola)
1997 – Renée London (violin) and Erin Mullen (French horn)
1998 – Ming Goh (violin) and Pemi Paull (viola)
1999 – Marie-Caroline Bourque (violin) and Erin Lesser (flute)
2000 – Beth Sturdevant (cello) and Léonie Wall (flute)
2001 – Jean-Hee Lee (violin)
2002 – John Wong (percussion)
2003 – Robert Uchida (violin)
2004 – Jean-Sébastien Lacombe (percussion)
2005 – Reynaliz Herrera (percussion)
2006 – Gareth Thomas (bassoon)
2007 – Thaddeus Morden (cello)
2008 – Amelia Lyon (flute)
2009 – Daniel Parker (cello)

Contact us

For further information about the NACO Bursary Competition, please contact the National Arts Centre Music Education Office:

Email: mused@nac-cna.ca
Telephone: 613-947-7000, ext. 390
Fax: 613-992-5225