Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra receives 2023 Vida Peene Orchestra Award

The Ontario Arts Council (OAC) is pleased to announce that the recipient of the 2023 Vida Peene Orchestra Award is the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra (HPO). This $10,000 award recognizing artistic and organizational achievement will be presented during their Gemma Conducts Schumann & Mendelssohn concert program at Hamilton’s FirstOntario Concert Hall the evening of Saturday, September 23.    
 

ABOUT THE HAMILTON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA

• Artistic excellence: Led by music director Gemma New, the orchestra presents dynamic mainstage performances ranging from standard classical repertoire to popular music, to world premieres by living composers with a focus on new Canadian works. The HPO also runs artistic fellowships. These include a composer fellowship program for early-career composers, and a conducting fellowship through Tapestry Opera’s Women in Musical Leadership program.
   
• Education: The HPO operates the Hamilton Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, a training and performance program for musicians ranging in age from 12 to 24. It also offers curriculum-based presentations, workshops and concerts in local schools across the Hamilton region.
   
• Wellbeing: The HPO offers programs that promote shared experiences through music to contribute to maintaining and enhancing a sense of wellbeing. This includes their Seniors Connect program, which combats social isolation through a shared mainstage concert night and social for a community of seniors, as well as free performances in long-term care centres and seniors' communities.
   
• Community engagement: Working closely with community partners, the HPO develops performances and programs tailored to serve specific community needs and interests, including reducing barriers. This includes free talks and performances in a variety of spaces and participatory events for community musicians of all ages and skill levels to engage in growth and collective music-making. 

ABOUT THE VIDA PEENE ORCHESTRA AWARD

• The Vida Peene Orchestra Award is given out biennially to assist Ontario orchestras. The OAC administers the jury process for this award.  
• Vida Peene was a Hamilton-based arts patron whose remarkable legacy continues to support the arts in Ontario and Canada.  
• The award alternates between professional and community-based orchestras. Past recipients include the Peterborough Symphony Orchestra(2021), the National Youth Orchestra of Canada (2019) and the Georgian Bay Symphony (2017). See the full list of previous laureates.