Who We Are
Music and Beyond is a classical music and arts festival that began in July 2010. Each year, the festival offers a variety of programming to highlight exciting connections between classical music and other art forms.
One mission of Music and Beyond is to introduce and foster new audiences as they explore or experience music and the arts. All the while emphasizing and providing opportunities for young people in the community.
What We Do
Music and Beyond presented over 900 concerts and events in our first ten seasons and more than 3,800 “mini-concerts.” During this period, the festival has presented some of Ottawa’s, Canada’s, and the world’s most excellent musicians, artists, performers, and writers!
From the beginning, Music and Beyond has gone “beyond” in a number of ways. Our mandate is to link music with various art forms and cultural disciplines. Some of the most notable Music and Beyond collaborations include the National Gallery Soirée, Music and History at the Canadian Museum of History, and Music of the Cold War at the Diefenbunker Museum. Music and Beyond also places a high degree of importance on developing new audiences for classical music, particularly young people. Music and Beyond was named “Event of the Year” at the 2018 Ottawa Tourism Awards.
In 2020 and 2021, Music and Beyond cancelled its live festivals due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, we have since released an ambitious series of over 100 videos and presented over 100 free outdoor mini-concerts.
Programming
Music and Beyond
An integral part of Music and Beyond’s mandate involves reaching out to provide Ottawa’s finest young musicians with transformative performance opportunities.
Viennese Winter Ball
In addition to our annual summer festival, Music and Beyond also presents one of the most elegant cultural galas in all of Canada – the Viennese Winter Ball.
Wine Auction
Whether novice, collector, or connoisseur, the Ottawa Wine Auction offers a chance to discover exceptional vintages and delve into the world of fine wines.
Board Of Directors
Valerie M. Douglas
Valerie Douglas is a former senior scientist in the government of Canada…
Tanis Browning-Shelp
Browning-Shelp has been a Music and Beyond director since August 2019. Music has always been part…
Christina Cameron
Christina Cameron is a resident of Ottawa. Her professional career as a public servant…
Leonard J.Edwards
Len Edwards retired in 2010 after 41 years in Canada’s Public Service, including assignments as a deputy minister in Foreign Affairs…
Dr. Ronald Stevenson
Dr. Ronald Stevenson has been member of the Board of Directors for two years. He is a lawyer whospecializes in Indigenous constitutional…
Robert Ryan
Having enjoyed a 35+ year career in the not-for-profit sector, Roberthas held leadership positions as a staff member and fundraising consultant to universities…
JULIAN ARMOUR, Artistic and Executive Director (Ex-Officio)
Over the past twenty years, Julian Armour has distinguished himself as a performing musician, arts administrator and artistic director, and has performed in concert halls in Canada, the United States, and Europe. His 2014 CD with the Chamber Players of Canada was nominated for a Juno Award, and his 2016 recording of Chopin concertos with Janina Fialkowska and the Chamber Players of Canada was named no.14 on the CBC’s list of the 30 best Canadian classical recordings ever. In 2002 Mr. Armour was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal by the Governor General, and was named a Chevalier de l’ordre des arts et des lettres by the Government of France. Julian is Artistic and Executive Director of Music and Beyond, Artistic Director of the Chamber Players of Canada, and Principal Cellist with the Thirteen Strings Chamber Orchestra. He is also a regular sessional lecturer of both music performance and arts administration at the University of Ottawa and Carleton University.
What people have been saying
about the 2023 Music and Beyond festival
Awards
Music and Beyond has been recognized with numerous awards and nominations to celebrate our cultural significance in Ottawa.
In 2010, we were awarded New Company of the Year! We were also nominated for Festival of the Year in 2015.
On April 28th, 2016, the festival was presented with the 2015 Ottawa Tourism Award – Partnership of the Year, for our National Gallery Soirée evening, which was held on July 8th, 2015.
On May 3rd, 2018, Music and Beyond was awarded the 2018 Ottawa Tourism Award for Event of the Year.
