The New Brunswick Federation of Music Festivals Wins the 2008 TD Canada Trust Award for Arts Organization of the Year

September 26th, 2008

The New Brunswick Foundation for the Arts Chair, Anne Bertrand, joined by Gloria Murphy, TD Canada Trust Branch Manager in Fredericton, announced today that the New Brunswick Federation of Music Festivals is the recipient of the 2008 TD Canada Trust Award for Arts Organization of the Year.

Awarded annually, the TD Canada Trust Award for Arts Organization of the Year is designed to reward organizations who have distinguished themselves by their achievements and contribution to the literary arts, performing arts, cinematic arts, visual arts, craft, community cultural development or arts education.

A jury of artists and arts professionals met at the beginning of July to review the nominations for 2008 prizes. All the members of the jury were very impressed with the steadfast work accomplished behind the scenes by the music festivals. Since 1935, festival competitions have enabled many classical artists from the province to gain the self-assurance and experience necessary to measure up to other musicians and singers from across Canada. Many have moved on to perform on world-class and gain international recognition for their talent, including such exceptional performers as sopranos Rosemarie Landry, Gloria Richard, Wendy Nielsen, Nathalie Paulin, Leticia Brewer, Measha Brueggergosman, Chantale Dionne, Sharie Saunders and Adrienne Savoie; pianists Kelsey Jones, Mathieu Duguay, Philip Thomson, Julien LeBlanc and Lucille Ouellette; violinists Francis Chaplin, Jasper Wood and Ann Elliot; flutist Jonathan Bayley, and clarinettists Arthur Campbell and Christopher Ayer.

Anne Bertrand, chair of the NBFA, said that she was thrilled to present the prize to the New Brunswick Federation of Music Festivals. "Music festivals," she explained, "have kept up the music competitions required for our young people's talent to bloom and thrive, all over the province and over several generations. Festivals ensure that our music teachers, students and their parents continue to be enthusiastic and motivated. And that's not all," she added. "When you attend a concert at a music festival, you can't help but be struck by how hard and how well everyone involved has been working, and by the amazing gifts they have shared with our young people."

Gail Carleton, an avid festival-lover and the honourary president of the New Brunswick Federation of Music Festivals from 1987 to 1989, published a history of music festivals in New Brunswick in 2007. She draws a beautiful portrait of the way festivals have changed over the years, and lists the winners of provincial and national competitions. She highlights the circumstances that gave rise to each festival and the situation that led to the end of some of them. Among the factors that influenced the jury's decision were the publication of this book, as well as the Canadian music competition held in Moncton in the summer of 2007, the work with young musicians and singers and, in turn, their contribution to the cultural life of the province as they gained experience and became involved in chamber music, symphony orchestras, and a wide range of musical events, all of which credit the importance of music festivals.

The TD Canada Trust Prize which has a value of $3,000 was awarded to Gallery Connexion, in Fredericton, in 2006 and to the Saint John Theatre Company in 2007. The New Brunswick Foundation for the Arts would like to express its sincere gratitude to the TD Canada Trust Financial Group.