Ottawa (Monday, May 7, 2007) — To celebrate Europe Day, Dorian Prince, Ambassador and Head of Delegation of the European Commission to Canada, will on Friday, May 11 take to the stage with soprano Margaret Lysak to present a programme of classical music. Europe Day commemorates the Declaration of May 9, 1950 by French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman, which initiated European reconciliation and integration. The Friday evening concert, which will be held at First Baptist Church on Laurier Avenue West, is free.

The repertoire will span music from the late 16th to the early 20th century. It will include piano and organ compositions from Bach, Caccini, Franck, Handel, Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, Mozart and Telemann. Ambassador Prince will accompany Margaret Lysak with musical scores from Handel, Chausson, Wolf and Wagner.

Dorian Prince started his piano studies at the age of nine, completing his Performer's Diploma when he was just 13. As an undergraduate, he continued his studies at the Paris Conservatoire with Jean Courbin, as well as in Oxford and London, England under the tutelage of several prominent organists.

Ambassador Prince has since been a regular concert performer - as a pianist, organist and conductor - in Europe. While Ambassador to Korea, he gave several live, as well as radio and TV recitals. Dorian Prince was posted to Canada in October 2006.

Margaret Lysak is an English soprano based in Belgium, where she studied with the renowned British bass Malcolm King.

Over the years, she has taken leading roles that span a wide repertoire: from Gilbert and Sullivan operettas, to Strauss (Rosalinde in 'Die Fledermaus'), to Kurt Weill's 'Street Scene' (as Mrs. Fiorentino).

Her oratorio performances include many of the great composers: Bach, Brahms, Dvorak, Gounod, Handel, Haydn and Mozart.

Date	May 11, 2007
Time	8:00 p.m.
Place	First Baptist Church 140 Laurier Avenue West (at Elgin) Ottawa
Entry	Free to all