Canada’s 16th Prime Minister has received a milestone gift to celebrate a milestone birthday.

Joe Clark attended a performance of the National Arts Centre Orchestra last night for his 75th birthday when he was surprised by his daughter, Catherine. She walked out on stage and told her father that the family was marking the milestone by commissioning a new orchestral work by a composer who already has a history with the NAC.

John Estacio wrote Brio: Toccata and Fantasy for Orchestra. NAC music director Pinchas Zukerman chose it as the orchestra’s signature work when it toured China.

Like Joe Clark, Estacio hails from Alberta.

Clark’s wife, Maureen McTeer, says, “This seemed the perfect opportunity to have a living memory created to capture the essence of Joe – proud, optimistic, generous, honest and strong – qualities that also reflect this country.”

The new work for Joe Clark will premiere as part of the NAC’s 2015-16 season.