National Chamber Orchestra of Canada

National Chamber Orchestra of Canada

National Chamber Orchestra of Canada. Established in 1984 in North York, Metropolitan Toronto, with the aim of promoting Canadian creative and performing talent. The core of 18 professional string players is supplemented by up to 10 other instrumentalists as needed. The founding music director and conductor is Sasha (Alexander) Weinstangel - b Chakovetz, Yugoslavia, 5 Jan 1947, naturalized Canadian 1979; B MUS (Belgrade) 1967, M MUS violin (Belgrade) 1970, M MUS composition (Belgrade) 1974, D MUS (Toronto) 1990 - a violinist and composer, a member 1976-85 of the Hamilton Philharmonic, a teacher 1976-9 at the RHCM, artist-in-residence 1976-84 at McMaster University, a member of the CLComp, and an associate of the Canadian Music Centre. The orchestra's first concert was given 15 Dec 1985, and three or four subscription concerts have been offered each season in various halls in North York and Toronto. A chamber music series of three concerts was added in 1991. The orchestra has featured much Canadian music in its repertoire, including works by Beecroft, Chan, Contant, Coulthard, Colin Eatock, W.O. Forsyth, Holman, Kenins, Lavallée, Ernest MacMillan, Sabatier, Sauvageau, Vézina, Weinstangel, and Weinzweig, among others. Compositions by early Canadian composers are often presented in arrangements by Weinstangel. Soloists who have appeared with the orchestra have included Mikhail Brat, Yuval Fichman, Ofra Harnoy, Joel Quarrington, and Suzanne Shulman.