Artistic Directors
The Artistic Director is the most senior artistic staff of a ballet company and is responsible for developing and promoting the vision and focus of a company. Throughout the National Ballet’s 60 year history there have been a number of memorable and enigmatic Artistic Directors that have continued to carry out Celia Franca’s vision for the company and have continued to earn The National Ballet of Canada an international reputation for excellence.
| 1951 - 1973 | Celia Franca |
| 1973 - 1974 | Celia Franca & David Haber |
| 1974 - 1975 | David Haber |
| 1975 - 1976 | Celia Franca |
| 1976 - 1983 | Alexander Grant |
| 1983 - 1986 | Erik Bruhn |
| 1986 - 1989 | Valerie Wilder & Lynn Wallis |
| 1989 - 1996 | Reid Anderson |
| 1996 - 2005 | James Kudelka |
| 2005 - | Karen Kain |
Executive Directors
The Executive Director holds the highest administrative position in The National Ballet of Canada and is responsible for managing a network of departments ranging from Finance to Education. While the Artistic Director of the company is concerned with producing the highest quality productions possible, the Executive Director is responsible for overseeing the operations of the company, ensuring that it can support the artistic excellence that has come to be expected. Throughout the National Ballet’s 60 year history our administrative leaders have seen the company through artistic triumphs and administrative growth both at home and abroad.
| 1951 | Stewart James, Company Manager |
| 1951 - 1955 | Walter Homburger, General Manager |
| 1955 - 1964 | Carman Guild, General Manager |
| 1964 - 1966 | Anthony Lawless, General Manager |
| 1966 - 1967 | John H. Wilson, General Manager |
| 1967 - 1973 | Wallace A. Russell, General Manager |
| 1973 - 1979 | Gerry Eldred, Administrator |
| 1979 - 1996 | Robert Johnston, Administrative Director |
| 1996 - 2002 | Valerie Wilder, Executive Director |
| 2002 - | Kevin Garland, Executive Director |
Music Directors
The Music Director oversees the musicianship of each National Ballet of Canada Orchestra performer and the artistry of the orchestra as a whole. In addition to leading music rehearsals, the Music Director is the Principal Conductor of the orchestra. During performances, the Music Director is not only responsible for guiding the orchestra, he must also watch the dancers to ensure that the orchestra and the performers on stage are equally paced. Throughout The National Ballet of Canada’s 60 years history there have been only four Music Directors, each of whom has striven for musical perfection.
| 1951 - 1984 | George Crum |
| 1985 - 1990 | Ermanno Florio |
| 1990 - 2006 | Ormsby Wilkins |
| 2006 - | David Briskin |