Sri Lankan-born Canadian Dinuk Wijeratne is a JUNO and multi-award-winning composer, conductor, and pianist who will be joining the uOttawa’s School of Music faculty this year as Professor of Orchestral Studies, and as Artistic Director, uOttawa Orchestra. Join Dinuk and NAC’s Music Director Alexander Shelley as they talk about the 21st century orchestra and musician, […]
Alexander Shelley with Dinuk Wijeratne Read More »
Join Alexander Shelley as he chats with Gabriela Montero and Stewart Goodyear about how a composer-performer uses an adaptive mindset in their work. Venezuelan composer-pianist Gabriela Montero has said that improvisation is “the most natural musical state I can find myself in,” where “nothing at all exists until I do it in the moment.” Canadian
Gabriela Montero and Stewart Goodyear Read More »
Join Naomi Woo and Alexander Shelley as they chat on how they prepare for a week of rehearsals and performance with a professional orchestra. The hours of planning a conductor undertakes to prepare for a performance require every bit as much hard work, skill, acuity, and musical dexterity as that of the most seasoned instrumentalist.
Alexander Shelley and Naomi Woo Read More »
Have you ever wondered where a composer finds inspiration? Should words influence the music or should music lead the way? How are words set to music, and what happens when words and music are being written simultaneously? Join Alexander Shelley and three talented and prolific composers as they investigate the challenges and rewards of marrying
Ian Cusson, Vivian Fung and Jerod Tate Read More »
In this eighth and final episode of the first series of Musically Speaking, Alexander speaks with Canadian composer Ian Cusson about his path into music, his compositional technique and inspiration, indigenous perspectives, as well as his experiences as composer in residence with both Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra and the Canadian Opera Company.
In this seventh episode of Musically Speaking, Alexander speaks with one of the world’s leading violinists, Daniel Hope. Alongside his career as a virtuoso soloist, Daniel is an author, producer, television host and musical activist. In this conversation with Alexander, Daniel discusses his life, his activism, his musical passions and his work during the Covid19
In the sixth episode of Musically Speaking, Alexander speaks with Canadian Governor General, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Julie Payette. Engineer, scientist and astronaut, she is also an accomplished singer and currently a member of the Ottawa Bach Choir.
Governor General of Canada, Julie Payette Read More »
In this fifth episode of Musically Speaking, Alexander speaks with the Polaris Prize and JUNO-award winning singer song-writer Jeremy Dutcher, who also performs live. For more on this and future episodes visit www.nac-cna.ca or www.alexandershelley.com
In this fourth episode of Musically Speaking, Alexander speaks with Canadian star pianist, JUNO-award winning Jan Lisiecki. Jan also performs music by Chopin and Mendelssohn live from his home in Calgary.
In this third episode of Musically Speaking, Alexander interviews Canadian soprano Measha Brueggergosman. A self-described musical omnivore, she is a Juno-award winner, Grammy-nominee, best-selling author and survivor of two open heart surgeries.
Measha Brueggergosman Read More »
In this instalment of Musically Speaking, Alexander Shelley speaks to pianist, composer and improviser Gabriela Montero who is also the soloist in Clara Schumann’s Piano Concerto on the NAC latest album, released on Friday, May 8th.
In this first episode he speaks to violin virtuoso James Ehnes, incoming Artist in Residence of the National Arts Centre Orchestra.