“A unique tribute to the National Arts Centre Orchestra was unveiled Tuesday, consisting of 12,500 curved toothpicks—and it may be the first of its kind in the world,” reads an unsigned Tuesday (6/25) article at the CBC website (Ottawa). “The ‘Toothpick Orchestra,’ a model of the NAC Orchestra, was painstakingly created by Ottawa resident Go Sato…. The model of 61 musicians is modeled on a Beethoven romantic orchestra. Only the conductor and percussionist are standing, while the rest are seated on chairs or stools. ‘Two of the musicians, the principal cello (who is wearing high heels) and the principal double bass (who holds his bow with an underhand grip and sits on a backless stool), were created with the NAC Orchestra’s Amanda Forsyth and Joel Quarrington in mind,’ according to an NAC news release…. ‘I want to give it to the NAC because Canada has given me so much in my life, and I love classical music,’ Sato said. The model was officially unveiled at the NAC foyer Tuesday and will be on public display on Canada Day [July 1].”
Posted June 26, 2013