≈ 50mn · No intermission
Repertoire
Step Up
Music from Disney's Encanto
Starburst
Hey Terre
Kiwetin-acahkos (North Star) - Fanfare for the Peoples of the North
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, III. Allegro, ma non troppo
Clair de Lune
Symphony No. 1 in E minor: Juba Dance
Mama hé
Artists
Conductor Naomi Woo, named by CBC in 2019 as a “Top 30 Classical Musicians under 30”, is the Assistant Conductor of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and the first-ever Music Director of Sistema Winnipeg. Born in Newfoundland and raised in North Vancouver, Naomi conducts across Canada and is noted for her work as a socially-engaged artist and educator, with appearances at the National Arts Centre Orchestra, Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony Orchestra, Regina Symphony Orchestra, and the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra. An advocate for opera and new music, Naomi recently led the Canadian premiere of Du Yun’s Pulitzer Prize-winning Angel’s Bone (re:Naissance Opera) and the world premiere of Ellis Ludwig-Leone’s The Night Falls (BalletCollective, American Opera Projects). She holds degrees from Yale, Université de Montréal, and Cambridge.
Côte d’Ivoire, West Africa | Manitoba, Canada
Weaving in influences from her African heritage, la chanson française, and American gospel, Kelly Bado’s music crosses cultural barriers to bring people together in joy and hope. Her striking vocals and uplifting melodies were recognized with a 2021 WCMA Francophone and Global Artist of the Year Award. With lyrics inspired by love, celebration and social equality, Kelly is committed to the vision of an inclusive world where we come together as citizens of this vast planetary village - each contributing our unique strengths to the common experience.
Canadian violinist of German and Lebanese ancestry, Jessica Linnebach has established herself as an accomplished artist with a thriving multi-faceted career encompassing solo, chamber, and orchestral performances.
Known for her “burnt caramel sound, utterly fearless virtuosity...and romantic lyricism” (Artsfile), Jessica has performed as soloist with orchestras around the world. A passionate chamber musician, Jessica is a member of the Ironwood String Quartet along with her NAC Orchestra colleagues Emily Kruspe, Carissa Klopoushak, and Rachel Mercer. They are frequent performers at various chamber music series and festivals, including the WolfGANG and the NAC’s Music for a Sunday Afternoon series, as well as Ottawa ChamberFest, Pontiac Enchanté, Ritornello, and Classical Unbound festivals. As part of a commitment to reaching broader audiences, Jessica is one of the Artistic Directors of the Classical Unbound Festival, a chamber music festival in Prince Edward County, Ontario.
Accepted to the world-renowned Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia at age 10, Jessica remains one of the youngest ever Bachelor of Music graduates in the history of the school. While there, Jessica’s primary teachers were Aaron Rosand, Jaime Laredo, and Ida Kavafian. At 18, she received her Master of Music degree from the Manhattan School of Music in New York City where she studied with Pinchas Zukerman and Patinka Kopec.
Jessica resides in Ottawa where she has held the position of Associate Concertmaster with the NAC Orchestra since 2010. A natural leader, Jessica has performed numerous times as guest Concertmaster with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra.
Jessica plays a circa 1840 Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume (Guarnerius del Gésu 1737) violin. Her bows are crafted by Ron Forrester and Michael Vann.
Dancer, choreographer and teacher, Siôned is a vibrant member of the Canadian dance community. Siôned Watkins brings over 20 years of professional dance experience to her movement teachings. After graduating from Les Atelier de danse de Montréal, she began dancing for various Montréal dance companies including 10 years of international touring with Danièle Desnoyers' company, Le Carré Des Lombes. After studying and training in a myriad of movement methodologies, Siôned was introduced to Gyrokinesis® in 2007 during a residency in Banff with Dana Gingras and thus began her journey to becoming a certified and licensed Gyrotonic® and Gyrokinesis® instructor. Also an Active Isolated Stretching (AIS) practitioner, Siôned is dedicated to sharing these modalities with professionals, teachers and students alike. She has taught at École De Danse De Montréal, UQAM, Concordia University, Université d'Ottawa, School of Dance and Ottawa Dance Directive. Siôned is the Dance Education Associate and Teaching Artist for the National Arts Centre.
Esther América Caron is a former professional dancer for Montreal's renowned Les Grands Ballets Canadiens. She has been teaching dance for almost two decades. She is on the faculty of the esteemed dance establishment 'The School of Dance' in Ottawa where she teaches ballet and Spanish dance to all ages and levels. Esther graduated from L'École Supérieure du Ballet du Québec and has received many honours, prizes and special distinctions. She was also a soloist with Les Ballets Contemporains de Montréal and Ballet West of Montréal and a member of a Spanish dance and flamenco company, Alegria d'España. She received a certification as an associate of the Cecchetti Society of Canada. Since 2007, following the birth of her first child, Esther has been sharing her love of dance with other parents. She successfully introduced the Ottawa-Gatineau region to Babywearing Latin Dance and Babywearing Ballet classes. She has five children who all love to dance with her.
- Dancers Abel, Caleb, Leia