Ottawa’s Alec Joly Pavelich has a lifelong love of the NAC Orchestra, having studied with NACO percussionists Jonathan Wade and Kenneth Simpson, and having performed with NACO and the Ottawa Symphony. He is now based in the UK where he maintains a freelance career along with his duties as Music Librarian for the BBC.
Listen to how his time in the 2023 NACO Mentorship Program has given him the confidence to express himself and find his place on the stage with the renowned orchestra with which he grew up.
Alec began his studies at the University of Ottawa with NACO percussionists Jonathan Wade and Kenneth Simpson, during which time he performed frequently with the Ottawa Symphony and NACO as well as with the Beijing Symphony Orchestra during their 2017 tour. He then obtained a Master's Degree in percussion from CSU Long Beach, where he studied with Ted Atkatz. After his studies, Alec became the timpani fellow at Southbank Sinfonia in London, UK, where he maintains a freelance career along with his duties as Music Librarian for the BBC. He is currently Principal Timpanist for the Isle of Wight Symphony Orchestra.
Alec a commencé ses études à l’Université d’Ottawa avec les percussionnistes de l’OCNA Jonathan Wade et Kenneth Simpson, période durant laquelle il s’est fréquemment produit avec l’Orchestre symphonique d’Ottawa et l’OCNA, ainsi qu’avec l’Orchestre symphonique de Pékin lors de sa tournée de 2017. Il a par la suite obtenu une maîtrise en percussion de l’Université d’État de Californie à Long Beach (CSU Long Beach), où il a étudié auprès de Ted Atkatz. Après ses études, Alec a participé en tant que timbalier boursier au Southbank Sinfonia de Londres (R.-U.) tout en poursuivant une carrière de musicien indépendant et de musicothécaire pour la BBC. Il est actuellement timbalier solo pour l’Orchestre symphonique Isle of Wight.