NACO, Jan. 9: Debut Series begins with pianist Alexander Seredenko

NAC Orchestra’s 2009 Debut Series of recitals and “Exploration of the Concerto” begins on Jan. 9 with pianist Alexander Seredenko

Ottawa, Canada – The National Arts Centre Orchestra’s Debut Series, which gives talented rising star musicians the opportunity to perform in recital at the NAC, will begin a new season on Friday, January 9 with pianist Alexander Seredenko. The series of one-hour recitals takes place at noon in the NAC Salon. On this opening concert, Alexander Seredenko will perform Prokofiev’s Sonata No 2 in D minor and Liszt’s Sonata in B minor.

Admission is $3, with proceeds going to fund the NACO Bursary.

Each Debut Series noon-hour recital is connected to a Musically Speaking “Exploration of the Concerto” pre-concert talk the evening of the same day. Prior to the National Arts Centre Orchestra concert at 8 p.m., the young instrumentalist and his mentor will discuss and demonstrate the concerto to be performed on that program. On January 9 at 7 p.m. in the Salon, pianist Alexander Seredenko and his teacher teacher James Anagnoson, the Dean of the Glenn Gould School at the Royal Conservatory of Music, will explore elements of the Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 3 to be performed with the NAC Orchestra by pianist Jonathan Biss. Admission to the Pre-Concert Talk hosted by Paul Lefebvre is free.

Alexander Seredenko became a scholarship student at the Young Artists Performers Academy at the Royal Conservatory of Music, where he completed his ARCT diploma at the age of fourteen. He is currently pursuing his studies at The Glenn Gould School in Toronto where he is a full scholarship student of James Anagnoson. Alexander has won top prizes in National and International Piano music competitions. In March 2008 he became the first Canadian ever to receive the First Prize at the Thirteenth Hamamatsu International Piano Academy Competition in Japan. Most recently he won the Tom Thomas Concerto Competition at The Glenn Gould School and as a result will perform the Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto with Maestro Peter Oundjian and the Royal Conservatory Orchestra at the Toronto Centre for the Arts in February of 2009. Alexander made his CBC radio debut in 2001 after winning the Canada wide network competition Up and Coming.

The NAC Debut Series continues with the following recitals and Musically Speaking Pre-Concert “Explorations of the Concerto”:

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12

Shanshan Yao, violin

Jean Desmarais, piano

Michel Dozois, host

Salon at 12 noon: Noonhour recital

Salon at 7 p.m.: Exploration of Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto with violin teacher William van der Sloot (Mount Royal College Conservatory).

FRIDAY, MAY 15

Yina Tong, cello

Jean Desmarais, piano

Paul Lefebvre, host

Salon at 12 noon: Noonhour recital

Salon at 7 p.m.: Exploration of Herbert’s Cello Concerto No. 2 with cello teacher John Kadz (Mount Royal College Conservatory).

FRIDAY, JUNE 19

Jonathan Estabrooks, baritone

Jean Desmarais, piano

Paul Lefebvre, host

Salon at 12 noon: Noonhour recital

Salon at 7 p.m.: Exploration of the Choral Masterpiece: Brahms Requiem with star soprano-teacher Benita Valente with soprano Maghan Stewart and baritone Jonathan Estabrooks.