The WSO Sleigh Makes Stops All Over Manitoba!

Winnipeg, MB ’Äì December 7, 2009 ’Äì Proudly presented by Manitoba Hydro, The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra (WSO) is decking the halls all over Manitoba with four stops on the Power Smart Holiday Express Tour on December 8, 14, 15, and 16!

The orchestra is packing up and travelling to Steinbach, Gimli, Neepawa, and Portage la Prairie to perform holiday favourites like The Christmas Song, Sleigh Ride, Ave Maria, Tchaikovsky’Äôs Nutcracker Suite and more! The orchestra will also perform Howard Blake’Äôs magical soundtrack score live to the heart-warming film, The Snowman.

Richard Lee will steer the symphony sleigh throughout Manitoba, with the first stop in Steinbach. Gabriela Gallo will be the singing soprano. Gabriela, a Steinbach native and recent graduate of the University of Manitoba’Äôs Music-Education Integrated program, has been performing since age eight. She has won multiple awards in both classical voice and musical theatre from the Southeast Manitoba Music Festival. On Tuesday, December 8, she will be joined by the Junior High Symphony Singers with conductor Meredith Daley.

For the remaining three stops, Andrea Macasaet will provide soothing soprano. The 15-year old Garden City Collegiate student was a finalist for YTV and CMT’Äôs ’ÄúKaroke Star Jr’Äù and the 2009 Grand Champion of Red River Ex’Äôs Stars of Tomorrow. With a strong propensity towards music ’Äì taking voice, piano and dance lessons ’Äì Andrea has won various awards and competitions such as the 2008 Top 12 for YTV’Äôs ’ÄúThe Next Star.’Äù

See below for contact information for each concert regarding ticket pricing and purchasing, transportation, venue information and directions.

Steinbach: Tuesday, December 8, 7:30 pm
Steinbach Mennonite Church, 345 Loewen Avenue 204-326-9773
Venue/Ticket Info: www.steinbachartscouncil.ca or call 204-346-1077
Media Contact: Cindi Rempel-Patrick, Steinbach Arts Council, 204-326-9865

Gimli: Monday, December 14, 7:30 pm
Gimli High School, 52 ’Äì 7th Avenue, 204-642-8546
Venue/Ticket Info: Call 204-642-9898 or visit Respunthreads, 96 ’Äì 3rd Street, or Tergesen HP and Sons, 82 ’Äì 1st Street
Media Contact: Ann Kishka, Evergreen Basic Needs, 204-642-7388

Neepawa: Tuesday, December 15, 7:30 pm
Neepawa Area Collegiate, 440 Hospital Street, 204-476-3305
Venue/Ticket Info: Viscount Cultural Centre, 204-476-3232 or Its Time Promotions, 204-476-5986
Media Contact: Val Jarema, Kaleidoscope Concert Series, 204-476-5193

Portage la Praire: Wednesday, December 16, 7:30 pm
William Glesby Centre, 11 ’Äì 2nd Street N.E., 204-239-5591 Venue/Ticket Info: Portage & District Arts Centre, 204-239-6029
www.portageartscentre.ca
Media Contact: Jean Armstrong, Portage & District Arts Council, 204-239-5591

The Power Smart Holiday Express Tour is sponsored by Manitoba Hydro and Manitoba Public Insurance and supported by Manitoba Arts Council.