Simply dazzling
The NAC Gala brought the audience to its feet in Ottawa
It was over to the glorious National Arts Centre in Ottawa where music and arts lovers gathered for the annual NAC Gala.
Honorary Chair Sophie Grégoire Trudeau reigned supreme in a beautiful gown by Zarucci and charmed everyone – as did her daughter, Ella Grace. Maestro and resident heartthrob Alexander Shelley kicked off the concert with a dazzling performance of Mozart’s Overture to Le nozze di Figaro, followed by a powerful performance by Kalolin Johnson singing “We Shall Remain (It Wasn’t Taken Away)” inspired by her Mi’kmaw heritage. The piece de resistance however was k.d. lang who put together an incredibly moving performance celebrating the 25th anniversary of her groundbreaking album Ingénue.
After several standing ovations, patrons then took
to the Quebecor Salon for a spirited cocktail hour before eventually returning to the stage in Southam Hall for a seated dinner and live auction. Auctioneers Mayor Jim Watson and Shopify COO Harley Finkelstein did a bang- up job selling several fantastic experiences, including a week at a villa in France, dinner with Alexander Shelley and a get- away by private jet to New York City for eight friends.
“Guests were dazzled by the renovated NAC, many of them entering under the new Kipnes Lantern facing Elgin Street, making the NAC truly front and centre on Confederation Square,” enthused Jayne Watson, CEO of the NAC. “Sophie Grégoire Trudeau got a big laugh from the guests that night when she mentioned in her speech from the NAC stage how happy women are about the more than 80 new women’s washrooms included as part of the renovation!”
Thanks to presenting sponsor Rogers, as well as honorary patrons Bonnie and John Buhler, along with other supporters such as Emond Harnden, Mizrahi Development, The Asper Foundation, Arel Capital, Mark Motors Audi, The Ottawa Citizen and LeDroit, close to $800,000 was raised for the National Youth and Education Trust and the National Arts Centre’s youth and education programming. The trust also supports masterclasses, online activities and youth programming for dance and theatre, and donates tickets to children who might otherwise be unable to afford to attend performances at the NAC.