Clockwise from top left: FNACo President Albert Benoit thanks Ambassador Garcia for hosting the concert; Nathan Bredeson performs Recuerdos de la Alhambra; Guests listen to the performances; and Ambassador Garcia welcomes the audience. Center: Steven Smith and Cathy Baerg during the trio’s renditions of pieces by Astor Piazzolla.

20 March 2019, Ottawa – Members of the Ottawa community gathered at the Chancery of the Embassy of the Philippines in Canada on Wednesday, 20 March 2019, to greet the first day of spring with an evening concert organized in partnership with the Friends of the National Arts Centre Orchestra (FNACO).

Classical guitarist Nathan Bredeson and trio Cathy Baerg (flute), Steven Smith (cello), and Judith Ginsburg (piano) performed a variety of musical pieces from classical and contemporary composers to a full house at the Sentro Rizal Ottawa of the Philippine Embassy. Guests included members of FNACO, Canadian government officials, representatives of Filipino organizations, and local residents.

Philippine Ambassador to Canada Petronila P. Garcia welcomed the audience, noting that the year 2019 marks the 70th Anniversary of Philippines-Canada Relations. She related the story of how Filipinos first came to Canada in the 1930s and the growth of the countries’ bilateral relationship since then. “Some may say that our two countries are divided by the Pacific Ocean, but this vast body of water has actually served as the corridor for exchanges between Filipinos and Canadians for almost one hundred years. The ocean, indeed, connected our two countries and peoples,” she remarked. END.