Known for her lyrical and soulful clarinet playing, Virginia MacDonald has been described as a "powerful new voice in the Canadian scene" by Juno Award-winning bassist Mike Downes. Born and raised in Toronto, Virginia began playing clarinet at the age of seven. She has since established an international reputation as a bandleader, sidewoman, and composer, and regularly performs across Canada, the United States, and Europe. In 2020, Virginia was chosen as the first-prize winner of the International Clarinet Competition, judged by several leading jazz clarinetists including Anat Cohen, Victor Goines, and Ken Peplowski. Virginia has performed on several albums with Juno Award-winning artists including Kirk MacDonald, Will Bonness, and Jocelyn Gould. Recently, Virginia appeared on Caity Gyorgy’s 2022 Juno Award-winning album “Now Pronouncing”. Virginia seeks to bring the clarinet back to the forefront of this music, in a modern setting, and hopes to challenge expectations of what the clarinet is capable of as an instrument.
COVID Policy
The Ottawa Jazz Festival will align its Covid policy with any government safety regulations whether from civic, provincial, or federal authorities as they arise. At the moment (May 29th), there are no advisories mandating precautions for wearing masks or showing vaccination certificates for any festivals or indoor/outdoor performing arts events.
However, it is our practise to ask patrons, staff, and volunteers to wear masks while attending performances at indoor venues and wearing masks while outdoors in the Park is optional.
In addition, we will be going cashless at all our points of sale this year.
Our concern is everyone’s health and safety, naturally. Please do what’s best for you and makes you feel comfortable, except for masks indoors, you are free to do as you choose.
Catherine O’Grady
Executive Producer
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