Anima (photo: Dahlia Katz)
Established in 1971 by Robert Aitken and Norma Beecroft, NMC has been introducing Canadian audiences to the most significant compositions of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries for fifty years. Its vast history of commissions and storied performances is incalculable. However, at this important milestone of our fiftieth anniversary we are embarking on a bold, transformative next chapter of NMC, with a change of Artistic Director, General Manager, office staff, and an organizational pivot toward twenty-first-century values of inclusivity and equity.
Our 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 Seasons have been our transitional seasons, with Artistic directorship shared by Robert Aitken and Brian Current. One of our self produced concerts, Serious Smile on February 13 2020 at the Harbourfront Centre, was a strong indication where the future of NMC as it featured new works by young Canadians Keiko Devaux, Corie Rose Soumah, and Brandon Chow whom we believe will be important future voices.
Our current season includes even more diverse perspectives, with music by both new and established composers such as Igor Santos (Brazil/USA), Kaija Saariaho (Finland), Bahaa El-Ansoury (Egypt), Helmut Lachenman (Germany), George Lewis (USA), Diego Luzuriaga (Ecuador), Eliot Briton (Canada/Metis) Tania Leon (Cuba/USA), Luigi Nono (Italy), and Sophie Dupuis (Canada) to name a few.
We are continuing NMC’s legacy of artistic rigor in composition and performance, but are redefining our notion of excellence. Moving forward, the co-Artistic Director, along with the General Manager and Board, will implement a renewed vision that pivots the organization towards twenty-first-century values of equity, diversity, and inclusiveness.
We look forward to sharing the new future of NMC with our audience!
