Around Town: NAC Gala with Shelley, Lang sets new record
From left, se concert pianist Lang Lang and the National Arts Centre Orchestra's new music director, maestro Alexander SheHAR
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You gotta love a guy who brings his mom as his date. MaestroAlexander Shelley and Chinese concert pianist Lang Lang took to the red carpet at the National Arts Centre on Saturday with the women who’ve been there for them from the start, Hilary Shelleyand Zhou Xiulan.
It was a special night, as it marked the first NAC Gala for Shelley, the brand new British-born music director of the National Arts Centre Orchestra. And, what a wonderful and warm response he got; this year’s gala netted just over $1 million. That’s a record high in gala proceeds for the NAC’s National Youth and Education Trust, which supports the artistic development of young Canadians.
Concert pianist Lang Lang on stage with maestro Alexander Shelley and the National Arts Centre Orchestra during the NAC Gala, held Saturday, September 19, 2015, in support of the NAC National Youth and Education Trust.
Come concert time, Shelley and Lang’s star power shone with talent and charisma on the stage. Joining them and the NAC Orchestra was violin prodigy Timothy Chooi performing to a sold-out crowd that included Supreme Court Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin, former prime minister Jean Chrétien and Victor Dodig, president and CEO of presenting sponsor CIBC.
Support for this year’s gala was overwhelmingly strong, despite the current tough economic climate, said gala chair Gary Zed, senior partner with EY. What helped, he added, was having a new guy like Shelley coming on scene. “It’s a new beginning,” he told Around Town. “I think he’s going to energize the whole NAC. I really, really, truly believe that.”
On stage, NAC Foundation CEO Jayne Watson announced a total of $875,000, but that net amount soon rose to seven figures following an additional donation of $103,000 from Edmonton philanthropist Dianne Kipnes and a lucrative late-night dinner auction led by British High Commissioner Howard Drake. It brought in $21,500. Zed threw in another $5,000 to tip the total over the million-dollar mark.
On stage, NAC Foundation CEO Jayne Watson announced a total of $875,000, but that net amount soon rose to seven figures following an additional donation of $103,000 from Edmonton philanthropist Dianne Kipnes and a lucrative late-night dinner auction led by British High Commissioner Howard Drake. It brought in $21,500. Zed threw in another $5,000 to tip the total over the million-dollar mark.
Bidders wanting a night on the town could buy dinner at the NAC’s Le Café with NAC box seats for the upcoming Broadway show, The Wizard of Oz. Also included was a night at the Château Laurier plus a bonus three-night stay in New York City at the luxury Lowell Hotel.
More than 500 guests dined on the Southam Hall main stage as part of the NAC Gala held at the National Arts Centre on Saturday, September 19, 2015.
For deep-pocket spenders, there was a one-of-a-kind trip for two to London. It included the flight, a stay at a five-star hotel and tickets to a Royal Philharmonic Orchestra concert conducted by Shelley. Oh, but there’s more. The top bidder also dines with Shelley, does lunch with Canada’s High Commissioner to the UK, Gordon Campbell, has brekkie at the private members Arts Club, and gets toured around The National Gallery. Bidding started at $10,000.
Gala organizers went with an Asian decor theme in honour of Lang’s Chinese heritage. At the exclusive post-concert dinner, held for a crowd of 500-plus on the Southam Hall main stage, guests got their own personalized fortune cookies. Confucius say: you will be supporting the arts for a long time.
British-born maestro Alexander Shelley, the new music director of the NAC Orchestra, on the red carpet with his mom, Hilary Shelley, after arriving to the NAC Gala on Saturday, September 19, 2015.
The National Arts Centre Orchestra’s new music director, Alexander Shelley, is flanked by his mother, Hilary Shelley, left, and NAC Foundation CEO Jayne Watson at the NAC Gala held Saturday, September 19, 2015.
Harley Finkelstein, chief platform officer at Shopify, with his wife, Lindsay, at the NAC Gala held on Saturday, September 19, 2015.
Retired Lt-Gen. Andrew Leslie, the Liberal party candidate in the federal riding of Orléans, was seen mingling with Supreme Court of Canada Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin and her husband, Frank McArdle, left, at the NAC Gala held Saturday, September 19, 2015.
Young violinist Timothy Chooi performs at the NAC Gala held at the National Arts Centre on Saturday, September 19, 2015, in support of the NAC’s National Youth and Education Trust.
From left, Bonnie Buhler and NAC Foundation CEO Jayne Watson on stage during the NAC Gala held at the National Arts Centre on Saturday, September 19, 2015.
Chinese concert pianist Lang Lang arrived on the red carpet with his mom, Zhou Xiulan, before performing that night on stage with the National Arts Centre Orchestra, as part of the NAC Gala held Saturday, September 19, 2015.
From left, gala committee chair Gary Zed with Gill Drake and her husband, British High Commissioner Howard Drake, who volunteered as charity auctioneer during the dinner portion of the evening at NAC Gala, held Saturday, September 19, 2015.
Paul Wells, political editor at Maclean’s, at the NAC Gala on Saturday, September 19, 2015, with his soon-to-be wife Lisa Samson, managing partner of StrategyCorp Ottawa (they’re getting married after the election).
Peter Herrndorf, president and CEO of the National Arts Centre, with his wife, Eva Czigler, at the 19th annual NAC Gala held at the National Arts Centre on Saturday, September 19, 2015, to raise funds for the NAC National Youth and Education Trust.
Superstar pianist Lang Lang with his mother, Zhou Xiulan, and NAC Orchestra music director and maestro Alexander Shelley with his mom, Hilary Shelley, on the red carpet at the NAC Gala held Saturday, September 19, 2015.
From left, Micki Mizrahi and her husband Sam Mizrahi, president of Toronto-based Mizrahi Developments, with Janice Fobert and her husband, Ted Fobert, founding partner of FoTenn, Ottawa’s prominent planning and urban design consulting firm, at the NAC Gala on Saturday, September 19, 2015.
Michael Mrak from Mark Motors of Ottawa and Shirley Kouri arrive to the National Arts Centre on Saturday, September 19, 2015, for the NAC Gala starring Alexander Shelley and Lang Lang.
Blair Dickerson, a vice president with the global mining group Rio Tinto, and prominent Ottawa restaurateur Ion Aimers at the NAC Gala held at the National Arts Centre on Saturday, September 19, 2015.
From left, Bob Chiarelli, Liberal MPP for Ottawa West-Nepean, with Mayor Jim Watson and German Ambassador Werner Wnendt at the post-concert reception during the NAC Gala held Saturday, September 19, 2015.
From left, gala committee chair Gary Zed with Wende Cartwright and his brother, former New Brunswick MP Paul Zed, at the NAC Gala held Saturday, September 19, 2015.
Gail Asper, chair of the NAC Foundation board, arrived with Moe Levy to the NAC Gala held Saturday, September 19, 2015, in support of the NAC National Youth and Education Trust.
From left, Stefani Truant and Melynda Szabototh, both of whom have behind-the-scene jobs with the National Arts Centre Orchestra, at this year’s NAC Gala starring Alexander Shelley and Lang Lang on Saturday, September 19, 2015.
This year’s NAC Gala, starring Alexander Shelley and Chinese concert pianist Lang Lang at the National Arts Centre on September 19, 2015, celebrated Lang’s Asian heritage through its party decor.
This year’s NAC Gala starring Alexander Shelley and Chinese concert pianist Lang Lang and held at the National Arts Centre on September 19, 2015, celebrated Lang’s Asian heritage through its party decor.
Entrepreneur-turned-philanthropist John Buhler and his wife, Bonnie Buhler, from Winnipeg, were the partons of this year’s NAC Gala starring Alexander Shelley and Lang Lang at the National Arts Centre on Saturday, September 19, 2015.
NAC Gala committee chair Gary Zed, senior partner at EY, arrived with his daughter Olivia and his partner, Arlie Koyman, to this year’s gala, held Saturday, September 19, 2015, in support of the NAC’s National Youth and Education Trust.
Former prime minister Jean Chrétien and his wife, Aline, arrive to the National Arts Centre on Saturday, September 19, 2015, for the annual NAC Gala in benefit of the NAC’s National Youth and Education Trust.
Concert pianist Lang Lang and his mother, Zhou Xiulan, and NAC Orchestra music director Alexander Shelley and his mom, Hilary Shelley, walked the red carpet for the NAC Gala held Saturday, September 19, 2015.
Victor Dodig, president and CEO of returning presenting sponsor CIBC, with his wife, Maureen, at the NAC Gala held Saturday, September 19, 2015, in support of the NAC National Youth and Education Trust.
Gordon Southam, whose late father Hamilton Southam is credited for founding the National Arts Centre, arrived with his wife, Sehrab Grewal Southam, to the annual NAC Gala starring Alexander Shelley and Lang Lang, held Saturday, September 19, 2015.
From left, Chinese Ambassador Luo Zhaohui on Saturday, September 19, 2015, in conversation at the NAC Gala pre-concert reception with the stars of the show: Chinese concert pianist Lang Lang and NAC Orchestra music director and maestro Alexander Shelley.
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