Conferment of the Ambassador’s Award upon Mr. Yosuke Kawasaki
2023/9/12
On September 12, 2023, Ambassador Kanji Yamanouchi conferred the Ambassador’s Award upon Mr. Yosuke Kawasaki, concertmaster for the National Arts Centre Orchestra. Mr. Kawasaki started playing the violin at 6 years old and was appointed as concertmaster for the NAC Orchestra in 2007, succeeding to founding concertmaster Walter Prystawski, who had led the orchestra for 37 years. Mr. Kawasaki also became Music Director of the Affinis Music Festival in Japan and of Off the Beaten Path, in Bulgaria. This fall, he will be guest principal violinist for the NHK Symphony Orchestra in Japan.
In his remarks, Ambassador Yamanouchi congratulated Mr. Kawasaki for his career as a musician, but also as an educator. He expressed his admiration and gratitude for the role Mr. Kawasaki plays as a bridge not only between members of the NAC Orchestra, but also between several countries, notably between Japan and Canada. Mr. Kawasaki, in turn, expressed his gratitude for the Ambassador’s Award and thanked the members of the orchestra and friends present at the ceremony.
The ceremony continued with congratulatory remarks from Ms. Annabelle Cloutier, Executive Director of Strategy and Communications at Canada’s National Arts Centre. Mr. Nelson McDougall, Managing Director of Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra, also said a few words, highlighting Mr. Kawasaki’s leadership and personability. Lastly, Mr. Alexander Shelley, Music Director of Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra, gave a toast.
The ceremony was followed by a rendition of “Imagine” by John Lennon with the Ambassador on the piano accompanied by guests.
In his remarks, Ambassador Yamanouchi congratulated Mr. Kawasaki for his career as a musician, but also as an educator. He expressed his admiration and gratitude for the role Mr. Kawasaki plays as a bridge not only between members of the NAC Orchestra, but also between several countries, notably between Japan and Canada. Mr. Kawasaki, in turn, expressed his gratitude for the Ambassador’s Award and thanked the members of the orchestra and friends present at the ceremony.
The ceremony continued with congratulatory remarks from Ms. Annabelle Cloutier, Executive Director of Strategy and Communications at Canada’s National Arts Centre. Mr. Nelson McDougall, Managing Director of Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra, also said a few words, highlighting Mr. Kawasaki’s leadership and personability. Lastly, Mr. Alexander Shelley, Music Director of Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra, gave a toast.
The ceremony was followed by a rendition of “Imagine” by John Lennon with the Ambassador on the piano accompanied by guests.
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| Congratulatory remarks by Ambassador Yamanouchi |
Conferment of the Ambassador’s Award upon Mr. Yosuke Kawasaki |
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| Mr. Yosuke Kawasaki and Ms. Jessica Linnebach with Ambassador Yamanouchi and Mrs. Yamanouchi | Group Photo with NAC colleagues |