Ottawa Chamber Music Society

History

AWARDS

Cellist Julian Armour first conceived the idea of a chamber music festival back in 1993 in response to the meagre availability to live classical music in Ottawa during the summer months. From the very beginning in 1994, the Festival was an immediate hit, drawing 12,000 listeners to 22 concerts and rave reviews.

Following the success of the first Festival, the Ottawa Chamber Music Society was incorporated as a charitable organization. Growing steadily over the years, last year's 13th Ottawa International Chamber Music Festival presented 120 concerts, attracting over 60,000 listeners and is the largest chamber music festival in the world!

The Society is the only cultural organization to win the Lieutenant Governor's Award for the Arts seven times. Regularly honoured for their artistic achievement, excellence in management and their contribution to the tourism industry, they have won numerous awards and accolades.

Our major activities include:

Ottawa International Chamber Music Festival
OCMS Concert Series
Family Music Fair
CD recordings (CMS Classics, Atma, CBC)
The Concert Hall

Awards

2004	Small Company of the Year at the Ottawa Tourism Awards
2003	Lieutenant Governor’s Award for the Arts
2003	Event of the year at the Ottawa Tourism Awards
2003	Society's Artistic Director awarded Meritorious Service Decoration by Her Excellency the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, Governor General of Canada
2002	Society's Artistic Director awarded the Order of Arts and Letters (L’ordre des Arts et des Lettres), in the rank of Chevalier, by the Government of France
2002	Lieutenant Governor’s Award for the Arts
2000	Lieutenant Governor’s Award for the Arts
1999	Lieutenant Governor’s Award for the Arts
1998	Lieutenant Governor’s Award for the Arts
1997	Lieutenant Governor’s Award for the Arts
1996	Lieutenant Governor’s Award for the Arts
1996	Best New Product/Company of the Year at the Ottawa Tourism Awards