Sally Benson
1945 – 2012
NAC Orchestra violinist Sally Benson died after a short illness on April 12, 2012, in Ottawa.
A US native and proud dual citizen of the US and Canada, Sally grew up in a musical household, with her mother and two sisters all playing instruments. She studied at the Eastman School of Music and Indiana University. She joined NACO in 1970, a year after the Centre opened, and remained with the orchestra her entire career as one of its longest-serving members. As well as being an occasional soloist and violist with NACO, Sally performed over the years with the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra, Thirteen Strings, and the Ottawa Chamber Music Festival.
Sally was extremely well regarded not only in NACO but throughout Ottawa’s music community. Because of her solid musicianship and versatility, she was in high demand for freelance concerts outside the orchestra, no matter what the genre.
Sally was so well-loved that there was hardly a time when there weren’t several people by her bedside. Her passing leaves a huge hole, and her many friends in Ottawa will miss her always.
Rest in peace, Sally.
Source: News Harp, June 2012