Announcement: November 3, 2011, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

The Ottawa Classical Choir and the New World Philharmonic Orchestra are pleased to announce that Maestro Michel Brousseau will be conducting Mozart’s Requiem at Dominion-Chalmers United Church on Saturday, November 26, 2011 at 7:30 pm. Special guest artists performing that evening include Maria Knapik, soprano; Renée Lapointe, mezzo-soprano; Steeve Michaud, tenor; and Marc Boucher, baritone.

Maestro Michel Brousseau has received widespread acclaim for his interpretation of this famous “unfinished” work of Mozart – who died before the work was completed. This is only the second time that Brousseau will conduct this piece in Ottawa. Making the evening more special, is the participation of its world-class soloists: Maria Knapik, who was recently honoured with the silver medal “Gloria Artis” by the Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, and granted the “Artist in Residence” title by Ms. Carmella Altamura, Founder/Director of the Altamura Center for Arts and Cultures; Renée Lapointe, sought-after soloist and chamber performer who regularly tours Europe and is especially known for “Una Noche en Sevilla”; Steeve Michaud, winner of the “Prix de la relève” of the Arts and Culture Foundation, and Winner of the Canadian final of the International Voice Competition Altamura/Caruso; and Marc Boucher, who has recently graced the stage in France, Ireland, Spain and the UK as well as Carnegie Hall – a distinction also shared by Maestro Brousseau and Ms. Knapik.

Other works in the evening’s program include Mozart's delightful Divertimento k.136.

Tickets are $30 and $40 in advance and $40 and $45 at the door. They are available at all CD Warehouse locations, both Compact Music locations and at Leading Note in Ottawa. For more information visit www.ottawaclassicalchoir.com.

About the Ottawa Classical Choir

The Ottawa Classical Choir was founded in 2006 by soprano Maria Knapik and conductor Michel Brousseau to give amateur singers the opportunity to work and perform with professional artists; to give the Ottawa community access to high quality classical concerts with international performers; and to use the power of music to raise funds to help those in need. The Choir has toured Europe and has performed at Carnegie Hall.

About the New World Philharmonic Orchestra

The New World Philharmonic Orchestra (NWPO) began life in 1987. Committed to nurturing young talent, the orchestra held annual competitions until 1998, uncovering talent such as Karina Gauvin, Daniel Taylor and Alexandre da Costa. When Michel Brousseau became its artistic director and principal conductor the same year, he continued its support for young talent, particularly in the Laurentians. The orchestra has also performed concerts giving tribute to local composers such as André Prévost and Jacques Hétu. It’s this scope of activities that led the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec to the award the Grand Prize for artistic creation to Michel Brousseau for his accomplishments.

Media Contact:

Until November 9, 2011: Kita Szpak, KS Communications
Email: kita@sympatico.ca Phone: 613-725-3063

After November 9, 2011: Ken Trudel, Ottawa Classical Choir
Email: ken@slross.com Phone: 613-232-1564 ext. 24

Announcement: October 13, 2011

The Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage is proud to announce that Maria Knapik, Polish-born Canadian soprano, has been awarded its silver medal – Distinguished Culture – Gloria Artis – for her outstanding artistic achievements and promotion of Polish culture in Canada. The presentation took place at the Songs of Chopin Concert under the patronage of the Embassy of the Republic of Poland. Maestro International organized the concert and its principal, Maestro Michel Brousseau accompanied Ms. Knapik on the piano. The concert took place on October 1, 2011 in Ottawa.

Poland can be very proud of its culture. Ask a foreigner about famous Poles, and we hear names such as Fryderyk Chopin, Krzysztof Penderecki, Wislawa Szymborska, Czeslaw Milosz. And of course there are the Polish pianists, conductors, poster creators, filmmakers... Krystian Zimmerman, Andrzej Wajda, Krzysztof Kieslowski, Tateusz Kantor. All these names speak for themselves.

Naturally, the recognized and superb masters have worthy successors. And Ms. Knapik is one of them, joining the ranks of the Ministry’s previous silver medal recipients such as singer Ewa Demarczyk; composers Krzysztof Penderecki and Henryk Mikolaj Górecki; historian Norman Davies; directors Andrzej Wajda and Roman Polanski; writer Stanislaw Lem; and sculptor Igor Mitoraj.

Earlier this year, The American Institute of Polish Culture awarded Ms. Knapik the Gold Medal for her ongoing national and international efforts to promote Polish arts and culture, notably in her beloved discipline of opera. She has also been recently awarded a grant from the Creation and Production Fund for Professional Artists by the City of Ottawa. Ms. Knapik is presently preparing for a guest appearance at the upcoming concert: Mozart’s Requiem. The concert will take place on November 26, 2011 in Ottawa.

About the Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage Silver Medal

The Medal for Merit in Culture - Gloria Artis (Polish: Zasluzony Kulturze - Gloria Artis) or Gloria Artis Medal, is a decoration in Arts awarded by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland to persons and organizations for distinguished contributions to, or protection of the Polish culture and the people's heritage. It is awarded for merit rendered to Polish culture, as well as for supporting Polish culture and art abroad, and strengthening cultural relations between Poland and other countries. There are three categories for the medal: gold, silver and bronze with green, blue and brown ribbons, respectively, all with central white and red stripes. This award was instituted on July 20th, 2006.

Media Contact: Kita Szpak, KS Communications
Email: kita@sympatico.ca Phone: 613-725-3063

Announcement: August 23, 2011

The Chopin Songs
Dominion-Chalmers United Church
7:30 pm, October 1st, 2011
Under the Patronage of the Embassy of the Republic of Poland

Who: Maria Knapik, Soprano
Maestro Michel Brousseau at the Piano

What: The Songs of Frédéric Chopin
When: Saturday, October 1, 2011 at 7:30 pm
Where: 355 Cooper Street in Ottawa

Tickets:
Ticketmaster– Ph: 855-790-1245
http://www.ticketmaster.ca/
Warsaw Polish Deli – 747 Richmond Road
Baltyk Delikatesy – 935 Carling Ave.
Polka Delicatessen – 1547 Walkley Rd.
Continental Deli- 57-c York St. (Byward Market)
General Admission: $25
Front Row Seating: $35

For interviews and further information, contact:

Kita Szpak, KS Communications
Email: kita@sympatico.ca Phone: 613-725-3063

Ottawa, Canada: The American Institute of Polish Culture is proud to announce that Ottawa-based Canadian soprano Maria Knapik is this year’s Gold Medal recipient for her ongoing national and international efforts to promote Polish arts and culture, notably in her beloved discipline of opera. Ms. Knapik now shares this honour – the highest distinction of the Institute – with such luminaries as composer Krzysztof Penderecki, writer and historian Norman Davies, and President Lech Walesa.

The awards ceremony will take place on February 5, 2011 in Miami Beach at the 39th Annual International Polonaise Ball, which is celebrating this year with a special tribute to Canada and Polish-Canadians. Distinguished guests expected at the ball, which is under the patronage of His Excellency Robert Kupiecki the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland in Washington, include President Lech Walesa and his wife, His Excellency Thomas Wenski Archbishop of Miami, other prominent dignitaries and celebrities such as exiled (to the U.S.) King Kigeli V of Rwanda, and Count Ermias Sahle-Selassie of Ethiopia.

Click to view the invitation.

Click to view the announcement of the award presentation.

About Maria Knapik
Ms. Knapik frequently appears as a soloist with major orchestras and opera companies throughout North America and Europe. With her captivating stage presence and passionate singing, Ms Knapik breathes life into all the roles she performs be it Tosca, Alzira, Mimi, Fiordiligi, Nedda, Donna Anna, Liu and others. A highlight of her career has been the title role in the Moniuszko Opera “Halka” which made its American debut in 2005 in Opera Sarasota under the auspices of the American Professional Opera House. Received to great acclaim, the “Halka” in Sarasota has opened opportunities for other Polish operas to be staged in North America. As well, Ms. Knapik has participated as a soloist in H.M. Górecki’s 3rd Symphony which has performed at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa and at Carnegie Hall, where she has been a frequent guest. Ms. Knapik has also performed as a soloist at the Washington Kennedy Center with Maestro Robert Shafer and his Grammy award winning Washington Chorus; as a special guest artist at the Annual Puccini Foundation Concert at Alice Tully Hall in New York's Lincoln Center; in Warsaw with Maestro Anthony Wit and the Polish National Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as sung with the Symphony Orchestras of Krakow and Lodz under the direction of Maestro Jerzy Maksymiuk. Most recently, Ms. Knapik participated in the American Premiere of works by composer Theodore Dubois with Maestro Michel Brousseau at Carnegie Hall.

About the American Institute of Polish Culture
The American Institute of Polish Culture, Inc., founded in 1972 by Mrs. Blanka A. Rosenstiel, is a non-profit, non-sectarian, tax-exempt, Florida corporation. The aims of the Institute are twofold: first, to share with all Americans the rich heritage of Poland, which has contributed in important ways to Western civilization; second, to establish a center of educational facilities and resources for the encouragement and promotion of the scientific and aesthetic endeavours of Americans of Polish descent. Mrs. Blanka A. Rosenstiel founded also Chopin Foundation of the US Inc. and is the Honorary Consul of The Republic of Poland. (http://www.ampolinstitute.org/)

For interviews and further information, contact:

Canada and the United States:
Kita Szpak, KS Communications
Email: kita@sympatico.ca Phone: 613-725-3063

Europe:
Mieczyslaw Olender, Agency for Art and Promotions - "Nowa"
Email: mietkoff@wp.pl Phone: 48 22 37 46 777 or 48 794 26 20 47