Ithaca College

Nicholas Walker, professor of double bass at the School of Music, spent last week in Ottawa, Canada, playing in the National Arts Center Orchestra under the direction of Pinchas Zukerman, with guest soloist, Emanuel Ax.

Walker, who also performed a solo recital at the NAC, said, “A major highlight of the visit was the chance to work closely with Joel Quarrington, one of today's leading concertizing double bass soloists, and a great inspiration to me personally.”

Between performances, Walker worked with students from the NAC Summer Music Institute, a summer training program in its eleventh year, with an international faculty and 669 participants from 36 countries.

The National Arts Center in Canada hosts educational performances for over 70,000 students annually, exposing young audiences to the magic of the arts through activities such as student matinees, open rehearsals and workshops.

NAC’s Orchestra tours nationally and internationally, recording and commissioning Canadian works and continuing to draw accolades both abroad and at its home in Ottawa, where it gives over 100 performances a year.