Statement by the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, on the Death of Mario Bernardi

OTTAWA, June 3, 2013 /CNW/ - It was with great sadness that I learned of the death of Maestro Mario Bernardi, a man whose talent and leadership in the world of classical music earned accolades in Canada and around the globe.

Born in 1930 in Kirkland Lake, Mario Bernardi studied music overseas at the Venice Conservatory and began his professional career with the Royal Conservatory Opera School in Toronto. In 1968, he played a fundamental role in the creation of the world-renowned National Arts Centre Orchestra, for which he served as conductor until 1982.

Mario Bernardi was the recipient of several prestigious awards, including the Order of Canada in 1972 and the Governor General's Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2001.

On behalf of the Government of Canada, I offer my sincere condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Mario Bernardi.

SOURCE: Canadian Heritage