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Diana Ross, the Queen of Motown, will join the NAC Orchestra as the featured performer at this year’s National Arts Centre gala on Oct. 3.

It’s an unexpected booking for the NAC, which often strives to spotlight Canadian performers at its signature fundraising event. In recent years, the black-tie affair has featured Canadian musicians k.d. lang and Diana Krall, although Chinese concert pianist Lang Lang was the marquis guest in 2015.

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Ross, who may not have visited Ottawa since a Civic Centre show in 1990, will be the glamorous centre of a red-carpet party designed to show off the NAC’s new, multimillion-dollar digs. The 74-year-old pop diva has been performing regularly in Las Vegas this year, dazzling fans with a set list that includes vintage Supremes numbers such as Where Did Our Love Go, You Can’t Hurry Love and Baby Love, to name a few.

Appearing with her will be a thrill for the orchestra’s Motown-loving musical director, Alexander Shelley, who praised Ross’s achievements in a statement: “Her career and successes have transcended borders and generations.”

Proceeds from the 22nd annual gala go to the National Youth and Education Trust, which provides youth and education programming across Canada.

Tickets go on sale April 9, ranging from $229 to $399, which includes a red carpet event and pre-concert reception with complimentary beverages,hors d’oeuvres prepared by NAC executive chef Kenton Leier andmusic by the Montreal party bandDiscothèque. Music will continue throughout the NAC after the main concert.

Tickets are available online at nac-cna.ca and in person at the NAC box office.