LSM Newswire

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

The Nylons are ’ÄúPutting It Together’Äù with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra


Winnipeg, MB ’Äì January 13, 2010 ’ÄìThe Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra (WSO) welcomes veteran vocal group The Nylons this Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Centennial Concert Hall!

The Nylons, a four-member vocal group with a 30-year history, has seven gold and six platinum recordings and over three million albums sold. A global institution and one of Canada’Äôs top international success stories, they have performed more than 1000 concerts in dozens of worldwide tours.

A legend in the world of a cappella music, The Nylons are renowned for their vibrant live shows, featuring dazzling harmonies, smooth arrangements, tight choreography, and fabulous showmanship. Their rapport with their audiences makes them perennial favorites for all age groups. The Nylons continue to perform worldwide to passionate audiences and critical acclaim.

Guiding the smooth show will be special guest conductor Charles Cozens, an internationally known arranger, composer, conductor, and producer, with credits including The Nylons, The Canadian Tenors, Eagle & Hawk, David Foster, and many Canadian Symphony Orchestras. He is a past recipient of the Established Performing Artist Award from the Mississauga Arts Council and has been nominated for a Juno Award for his album ’ÄúBalance’Äù (Instrumental Album of the Year).

The Nylons: Putting It Together will feature favourites like Putting It Together, Lovers Never Say Goodbye, Small Town Boy, If You Could Read My Mind, Time of the Season, and more!

The WSO performs the Pops concert, The Nylons: Putting It Together, on Friday, January 15 and Saturday, January 16 at 8 pm and on Sunday, January 17 at 2 pm at the Centennial Concert Hall. Tickets range from $18 to $75 and are available through the WSO box office at 949-3999, online at www.wso.ca or through Ticketmaster 780-3333 or ticketmaster.ca.

Click here listen to listen to The Nylons’Äô tenor Garth Mosbaugh speak with executive director Trudy Schroeder and composer-in-residence Vincent Ho on Musically Speaking with the WSO on CJOB about how it feels to perform with a full orchestra.

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Friday, January 15, 2010

Foodies invited to join the WSO on a gourmet

Winnipeg, MB ’Äì January 11, 2010 ’Äì Winnipeg foodies are invited to explore the world of music and food as the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra (WSO) and four fine dining establishments partner up to provide lovers of fine cuisine and symphony music with a gourmet journey ’Äì all in one location at the Centennial Concert Hall.

The Winnipeg Symphony will be presenting a gourmet journey of food and music in partnership with: Fude, Bistro 7 ¬º, Bergmann’Äôs on Lombard and Lobby on York.

Each restaurant will be offering a three course meal that is themed to a specific WSO concert - thereby offering patrons a unique opportunity to explore cuisine from Russia, the New World, North America, Italy and Mexico.

’ÄúThe WSO wants to create memorable musical experiences for audience members. One way we can do this is by considering the opportunities to build other pleasurable components into a concert evening. Winnipeg has so many fine restaurants and chefs, and we can make it easy to explore new restaurants with cuisine inspired by the musical offerings in the concert,’Äù said Trudy Schroeder, Executive Director of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra.

The dates of the four dining and concert experiences are as follows:

January 23: Rhythm & Heat ~ Local & Inspired Cuisine
Rhythm & Heat examines the exotic flavours and rhythms from Mexico, Spain and Egypt in partnership with Fude (dinner at 5:30 pm; concert at 8:00 pm).

Cardini Salad (Fude version of classic Caesar):
Field greens, leaf lettuce and artichoke hearts, tossed with
house-made cardini vinaigrette, topped with fresh parmesan cheese

Chili Chocolate Chicken with Cayenne Cream:
Manitoba free range chicken breast, seared then grilled to finish, slathered in a house-made dark chocolate sauce off-set with a spicy cayenne cream and chilies. Served with our featured potatoes & featured veggies

Or
Boomerang Gorang:
An Indonesian classic reworked Manitoba-style, curried basmati & Lac
du Bonnet wild rice sautˆ©ed in exclusive ’Äúboom’Äù sauce with celery, red peppers, red onion & bananas, topped with mango, pineapple, tart apples to bring on the cool house-made rhubarb chutney (vegan friendly)

Grand Marnier-Callebaut Chocolate Mousse Flute

February 20: Boreyko and Russian Masters ~ Russian Cuisine
Boreyko and Russian Masters explores the monumental and raw with former WSO music director Andrey Boreyko in partnership with Bistro 7 ¼ (dinner at 5:30 pm; concert at 8:00 pm).

Zakuski:
An array of marinated mushrooms, minsk eggs, meat and cabbage piragi, russian potato salad, cured fish and pickled vegetables to be eaten with dark bread and ice cold vodka

Beet ’Äúcaviar’Äù with sour cream and potato blini
Coulibiac:
Salmon or Cabbage cooked in pastry with vegetables served with horseradish sauce and green beans

Trio of Aleksandr Torte, Gogol Mogol and Strawberries Romanoff
March 27: Classic Movie Heroes and Villains ~ American Cuisine
Classic Movie Heroes and Villains delves into a musical battle of good vs. evil, featuring the themes of some of your favourite pop culture heroes and villains with Bergmann’Äôs on Lombard (dinner at 5:30 pm; concert at 8:00 pm).

Hero Spinach Salad:
Shaved Red Onion, Mushrooms, Bothwell Cheese Crumble and Creamy Herb Dijonette

Slow Roasted Breast of Chicken ’ÄúMartini:’Äù
Crowned with a Vermouth Jazzed Olive & Tomato Tapenade
Set on Fire Roasted Bell Pepper Infused Angry Rice
Sinister Streaked Balsamic Current Reduction

Or
Bow tie pasta with truffle cream, vegetable julienne and parmesan
All American Apple Pie with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream and Caramel Drizzle
May 15: Pines, Fountains & Festivals ~ Italian Cuisine
Pines, Fountains & Festivals investigates the colour and pageantry of Rome brought to life through Respighi’Äôs stunning orchestral trilogy in partnership with Lobby on York (dinner at 5:30 pm; concert at 8:00 pm).

Insalata Caprese

Veal Marsala with Mushroom Risotto
Or
Penne with Grilled Peppers and Rose Sauce
Panna Cotta garnished with Berries

Prices are $85 per person for each event, which includes the meal and a ticket to the concert. Concert goers who already have a ticket to these concerts can enjoy the meal for just $60 per person. Or create a world package tour and enjoy all four dinner and concert events for only $75 per person per evening.

Tickets for the dinner and concert are only available through the WSO box office at 949-3999, online at www.wso.ca.

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Friday, January 1, 2010

The Concert of Next Year is Almost Here!

Winnipeg, MB ’Äì December 23, 2009 ’Äì Tickets are going fast for 2010: The Concert! This unique performance will showcase 17 homegrown talents with their own fabulous flair ’Äì everything from jazz, folk and rock to French funk, Japanese drums, ballet, Ukrainian and contemporary dance to Baroque and modern works! Hosted by Monique LaCoste and Wab Kinew, this concert will truly be a kaleidoscope of culture!

All of Winnipeg is invited to celebrate the incredible year ahead by attending 2010: The Concert. This event, featuring a diverse and impressive array of talent, will leave Winnipeggers full of prairie pride on Saturday, January 2, 2010 at 8:10 p.m. at the Centennial Concert Hall. This concert, presented by The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra (WSO), Winnipeg Cultural Capital of Canada 2010, and Manitoba Homecoming 2010, is sure to attract people to hear their favourites, and give everyone something new to love.

The celebration is in honour of Winnipeg’Äôs recent designation as ’ÄúCultural Capital of Canada 2010’Äù by The Department of Canadian Heritage, and will also celebrate the much anticipated arrival of Manitoba Homecoming 2010.

The full roster of artists performing at 2010: The Concert includes (in alphabetical order):

  • Steve Bell
  • D.Rangers
  • Eagle & Hawk
  • Fubuki Daiko
  • Monica Huisman
  • James Keelaghan
  • Steve & Anna-Lisa Kirby Jazz Quintet
  • Momentum Aerial
  • Daniel ROA
  • Stacey Nattrass
  • Sierra Noble
  • Camerata Nova
  • Fred Penner
  • Royal Winnipeg Ballet
  • Rusalka Ukrainian Dance Ensemble
  • The School of Contemporary Dancers
  • Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra

Tickets are on sale now for $20.10 (plus applicable fees) for all reserved seating. To purchase tickets, please call the WSO Box Office at 949-3999; go to www.wso.ca; call Ticketmaster at 780-3333 or go to www.ticketmaster.ca.

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Wednesday, December 16, 2009

2010: The Concert announces hosts for Celebration of Culture

Winnipeg, MB ’Äì December 12, 2009 ’ÄìWinnipeg Symphony Orchestra (WSO), Winnipeg Cultural Capital of Canada 2010, and Manitoba Homecoming 2010 are pleased to announce that Monique LaCoste and Wab Kinew will be the hosts for 2010: The Concert. The event, which was announced earlier, will feature a diverse and impressive array of seventeen performances that will dazzle and awe the audience!

Bios on the hosts and featured guest artists are detailed below:

Hosts:

Monique LaCoste: A seasoned TV and radio host, Monique LaCoste is best known for her many years with Radio-Canada Manitoba. Fluently bilingual, this veteran voice over artist and Master of Ceremonies has lent her voice to hundreds of commercials, documentaries, and corporate projects worldwide. In February, she will realize her Olympic dream by taking part in the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games, as an announcer for the team welcome ceremonies as well as the curling venue.

Wab Kinew: Wab Kinew (pron: WOB ka-NOO) is a one-of-a-kind musical talent, becoming one of the artists ’Äúto watch for’Äù emerging from the Prairie Provinces. He is a hip-hop artist and CBC radio producer/host based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Wab exemplifies what it means to be multicultural in Canada today, holding both a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and training in the traditional Medicine ways of his Anishinaabe people.

Guest Artists:

Monica Huisman: Touted as the ’Äònext great voice on the Canadian Opera scene exuding dramatic flair with a resonant voice as rich as melted chocolate’Äô (Winnipeg Free Press), lyric soprano Monica Huisman has already made her mark in the musical world. Born and raised in Winnipeg, Ms. Huisman received her operatic training at the University of Toronto in the studio of Mary Morrison. Ms. Huisman continued on to the International Opera Centre of the Netherlands, where she made her European debut at the famous Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. She has sung with Pacific Opera Victoria, Vancouver Opera, Edmonton and Calgary Opera and Opera Hamilton and, of course, Manitoba Opera.

School of Contemporary Dancers: is recognized as a leading national centre for professional contemporary dance training in Canada whose mandate is to prepare students for careers in contemporary dance performance. The Professional Program of The School of Contemporary Dancers is a four-year professional training program for dancers seeking a career in contemporary dance performance. The Fourth-Year of the Program is a special bridging year from the professional student to the professional emerging artist level. Fourth-Year dancers are given opportunities to connect with the professional community and to undertake professional projects. The School of Contemporary Dancers is co-directed by Odette Heyn-Penner and Faye Thomson.

Steve Bell: Singer, song writer, story teller, Steve Bell’Äôs music offers an astonishing combination of familiar and fresh, provocative and comforting, exuberant and reflective, salty and sweet. Immediately attractive, it rewards repeated listening: the genuine beauty on the surface gives away to treasures in the depths. In a normal year of touring, Steve Bell performs about one hundred concerts. Steve’Äôs concerts feature his award winning songwriting and evocative tenor vocals, as well as his scintillating finger style acoustic guitar artistry and his captivating story telling.

D.Rangers: From where else but Winnipeg could come an operation like the D.Rangers? Their brand of music is simultaneously dangerous-as-hell and brilliantly inventive. Blending bluegrass, western swing, punk rock, and just about anything else, the D.Rangers are one of a kind. Described as ’Äúmutant bluegrass,’Äù un-country, and ’Äúarm-swinging hillbilly-stomp,’Äù their live shows are an engaging mix of originals, traditional classics and off-the-wall covers.

Fred Penner: At a recent keynote address to an early childhood education conference, acclaimed family entertainer, singer/songwriter, composer, actor, writer, author, TV host and keynote speaker Fred Penner delivered a simple, yet powerful message. "Never underestimate your ability to make a difference in the life of a child." A gentle giant with kind eyes and an undeniable ability to make you feel good about yourself, this musical master brings 25 years of commitment, consistency and depth to a career that skillfully blends the many genres of performing and communication. Dubbed "Mr. Multi-Media" by Billboard Magazine, his diverse repertoire includes a prolific 12 Children’Äôs albums and countless energetically packed live shows for throngs of eager audiences across North America.

Fubuki Daiko: Audiences everywhere are energized by Fubuki Daiko's (Blizzard Drums) high-powered style of Japanese drumming. The group's North American roots push the envelope of tradition to create a truly eclectic experience that is part martial arts, part meditation and all rhythm. For Hiroshi Koshiyama, Naomi Guilbert, and Bruce Robertson, taiko is not just a performance art form but a way of life. Performing, training, and teaching year-round, each member has over ten years of taiko experience including four years of traditional Japanese apprenticeship under the watchful and highly critical eye of Grandmaster Seiichi Tanaka, founder of the San Francisco Taiko Dojo and the father of North American taiko. After performing at Carnegie Hall and leaving with their Sensei's blessing, the three core members relocated to Winnipeg, Manitoba where they expanded into the five member professional touring ensemble that is Fubuki Daiko. The group has since gone on to electrify audiences in festivals, rodeos, bars, temples, schools, legions, hockey arenas, land fills and concert halls from San Francisco to Prince Edward Island with their innovative brand of taiko.

Camerata Nova: Camerata Nova was founded in Winnipeg in 1996 as a choral ensemble dedicated to the exploration and performance of a cappella Renaissance music. As the group has evolved, it has branched out well beyond this period to medieval and early Baroque works as well as 20th-century repertoire, including compositions by Andrew Balfour, the group’Äôs Artistic Director. Camerata Nova takes an increasingly innovative approach to performance, experimenting with unusual venues and exploring the use of unconventional sounds, including throat and overtone singing, and instruments such as crystal bowls, sackbut, and didgeridoo, in contemporary compositions and in arrangements of traditional works.

Sierra Noble: Best known as a fiddle virtuoso who breezes through Celtic, Bluegrass, Jazz, World beat and other styles of music with stunning ease, Sierra's breadth of experience is impressive. Her talent has taken her around the world where she has visited countries in Asia, Europe and North America. She amazes audiences with compelling contemporary performances which feature exceptional instrumentals, beautiful innovative vocals, and her infectious down to earth charm. Sierra dedicates much of her time to various causes, from her involvement with the global fight to ban landmines, her work with welcoming war-affected refugee families to Canada, as well as programs for inner-city youth in Winnipeg, all in an effort to make the world a better place.

Anna-Lisa Kirby: Before moving to Winnipeg in 2003, Anna-Lisa Kirby established her professional career as a jazz vocalist in New York City. She has had the privilege of sharing the stage with many world-class jazz artists. Some of these include Steve Kirby, Wynton Marsalis, Cyrus Chestnut, Ted Nash, Stefon Harris and Xavier Davis. Anna-Lisa is featured on the Larry Roy and Steve Kirby 2008 CD-release Wicked Grin and is the vocalist for Steve Kirby’Äôs acclaimed Oceanic Jazz Orchestra.

Steve Kirby’Äôs career as a jazz musician spans over 25 years of performance collaboration with many of the finest artists in the field, both in North America and abroad. Throughout these years, his role as an educator has been a fundamental and vital part of his commitment to music. Steve has performed extensively and recorded with some of the most high profile jazz artists on the scene today. He spent two years as bassist for Elvin Jones and Jazz Machine and four years with Cyrus Chestnut Trio. He is the bass player on two of Mr. Chestnuts Atlantic Recordings: the critically acclaimed Dark Before the Dawn and Earth Stories. He has also performed in club and/or concert hall settings with Wynton Marsalis and Jazz @ Lincoln Center, opera star Kathleen Battle, legendary Jazz vocalist Abbey Lincoln, Jazz violinist Regina Carter and The Joanne Brackeen Trio featuring Horatio "El Negro" Hernandez. In the summer of 2003, Steve Kirby accepted the position as the Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Manitoba. Since then, Steve has overseen a full-fledged rejuvenation of the jazz scene in Winnipeg.

Momentum Aerial: Momentum is comprised of performers who share a background of dance, gymnastics, and the aerial arts. The performance group is dedicated to bringing dance, acrobatics, and the circus arts of aerial fabric, hoop, and trapeze together in the spirit of exploration to create exciting new works for Winnipeg audiences in both indoor and outdoor venues. Troupe members have studied and performed across Canada, the United States and Europe. Locally, members have performed during the 1999 Pan Am Games, The Festival of the Arts at The Forks, The Festival of Trees & Lights at The Winnipeg Convention Centre, The MTS Opening, The Junos held at MTS Centre, and various school and sporting events throughout Winnipeg.

Rusalka Ukrainian Dance Ensemble: For nearly half a century Rusalka has been capturing the imagination of audiences around the world with its often fiery, always colourful presentation of Ukrainian dance. Tours of North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Australia, combined with performances for heads of state, religious figures and royalty, have placed Rusalka among the most widely recognized Ukrainian dance groups in the world. The Ensemble embarks on a new era as it begins preparing for its 50th Anniversary in 2012 under the Artistic Directorship of Marijka Stanowych, a former Rusalka dancer/instructor and professional Ballet teacher with Canada’Äôs Royal Winnipeg Ballet Schools, who studied at the Choreographic School of the Ukrainian Folk Dance Ensemble named after Pavlo Virsky. Deep within each dancer burns a passion to showcase the power and beauty of Ukrainian dance and they are eager to enchant audiences with the experience that is, Rusalka!

James Keelaghan: "I love touching people with my music as a performer," James Keelaghan says. "Putting a song across so that people get inside the story. I love the immediacy of it, the feedback.’Äù James is one of Canada's greatest songwriters, and he's written songs recorded by the likes of Cry,Cry,Cry. But he can sing too, you know. Like, really sing. In a resonant baritone voice that has been called everything from sweet and smooth, to coffee-rich, to glorious. "Keelaghan's voice is so easy to listen to that the thorns in his lyrics can catch the listeners unawares," comments Dirty Linen. "I am not just a pen," James points out wryly. "I am a voice as well."

Daniel ROA: Daniel ROA = francophone pop with a worldly twist and a unique blend of socially aware, witty and intelligent lyrics, touching matters of the heart and of everyday life. Daniel ROA's fiery musical universe is rich in flavor, overflowing with humor, candor and intelligence. In love with life, song and poetry, Daniel presents an alternative pop woven with original sounds in a style like no other. With an ear consistently attuned to new sounds, and an eye forever gazing on the human condition, the leader of the highly-acclaimed Johnny Cajun performs music that will have you dancing to a Rio swing before exploding into modern pop, with stops from spacious all the way to funky.

Stacey Nattrass: Stacey Nattrass is a versatile vocalist known to musical theatre, jazz and classical audiences alike. In addition to performing with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, she has appeared with the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra, Winnipeg’Äôs Classical Guitar Society, and Winnipeg’Äôs Contemporary Dancers. Stacey’Äôs stage credits include The Full Monty, The Sound of Music, The Wizard Of Oz, Miss Saigon, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Footloose (Rainbow Stage), My Fair Lady (MTC), and Strike!

Royal Winnipeg Ballet: Versatility, technical excellence, and a captivating style are the trademarks of Canada's Royal Winnipeg Ballet; qualities that have garnered both critical and audience acclaim. These qualities keep the RWB in demand as it presents more than 100 performances every season. Founded in 1939, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet holds the double distinction of being Canada's premier ballet company and the longest continuously operating ballet company in North America. In 1953, the Company received its royal title, the first granted under the reign of Queen Elizabeth II. In 1958, Arnold Spohr was appointed artistic director, and under his direction, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet grew and developed to take its place among the world's internationally renowned companies.

Eagle & Hawk:
One listen to Eagle & Hawk’Äôs distinctive sound and you’Äôll be hooked. By blending inspired vision with musical talent, Eagle & Hawk have created a progressive style of ’Äòrock’Äô steeped in roots, fusion, and solid songwriting that continues to earn fans ’Äì and loads of fanfare ’Äì worldwide. Eagle & Hawk’Äôs music takes the lead in defining the genre of contemporary Indigenous music. Envisioning a sound that fused modern rock with traditional elements, guitarist and bandleader Vince Fontaine founded Eagle & Hawk in 1994. The journey took the band from Winnipeg, Manitoba to stages in European capitals where they blasted onto the scene with a powerful live show. While their effervescent performances won over international and national audiences, their talent and determination quietly garnered respect from fans and critics alike.

Tickets to 2010: The Concert are affordably priced at $20.10 in order to be accessible to all Winnipeggers. The faster you buy tickets the better chance you have at choice seating.

To purchase tickets, please call the WSO Box Office at 949-3999; go to www.wso.ca; call Ticketmaster at 780-3333 or go to www.ticketmaster.ca.

Winnipeg, MB ’Äì December 12, 2009 ’ÄìWinnipeg Symphony Orchestra (WSO), Winnipeg Cultural Capital of Canada 2010, and Manitoba Homecoming 2010 are pleased to announce that Monique LaCoste and Wab Kinew will be the hosts for 2010: The Concert. The event, which was announced earlier, will feature a diverse and impressive array of seventeen performances that will dazzle and awe the audience!

Bios on the hosts and featured guest artists are detailed below:

Hosts:

Monique LaCoste: A seasoned TV and radio host, Monique LaCoste is best known for her many years with Radio-Canada Manitoba. Fluently bilingual, this veteran voice over artist and Master of Ceremonies has lent her voice to hundreds of commercials, documentaries, and corporate projects worldwide. In February, she will realize her Olympic dream by taking part in the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games, as an announcer for the team welcome ceremonies as well as the curling venue.

Wab Kinew: Wab Kinew (pron: WOB ka-NOO) is a one-of-a-kind musical talent, becoming one of the artists ’Äúto watch for’Äù emerging from the Prairie Provinces. He is a hip-hop artist and CBC radio producer/host based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Wab exemplifies what it means to be multicultural in Canada today, holding both a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and training in the traditional Medicine ways of his Anishinaabe people.

Guest Artists:

Monica Huisman: Touted as the ’Äònext great voice on the Canadian Opera scene exuding dramatic flair with a resonant voice as rich as melted chocolate’Äô (Winnipeg Free Press), lyric soprano Monica Huisman has already made her mark in the musical world. Born and raised in Winnipeg, Ms. Huisman received her operatic training at the University of Toronto in the studio of Mary Morrison. Ms. Huisman continued on to the International Opera Centre of the Netherlands, where she made her European debut at the famous Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. She has sung with Pacific Opera Victoria, Vancouver Opera, Edmonton and Calgary Opera and Opera Hamilton and, of course, Manitoba Opera.

School of Contemporary Dancers: is recognized as a leading national centre for professional contemporary dance training in Canada whose mandate is to prepare students for careers in contemporary dance performance. The Professional Program of The School of Contemporary Dancers is a four-year professional training program for dancers seeking a career in contemporary dance performance. The Fourth-Year of the Program is a special bridging year from the professional student to the professional emerging artist level. Fourth-Year dancers are given opportunities to connect with the professional community and to undertake professional projects. The School of Contemporary Dancers is co-directed by Odette Heyn-Penner and Faye Thomson.

Steve Bell: Singer, song writer, story teller, Steve Bell’Äôs music offers an astonishing combination of familiar and fresh, provocative and comforting, exuberant and reflective, salty and sweet. Immediately attractive, it rewards repeated listening: the genuine beauty on the surface gives away to treasures in the depths. In a normal year of touring, Steve Bell performs about one hundred concerts. Steve’Äôs concerts feature his award winning songwriting and evocative tenor vocals, as well as his scintillating finger style acoustic guitar artistry and his captivating story telling.

D.Rangers: From where else but Winnipeg could come an operation like the D.Rangers? Their brand of music is simultaneously dangerous-as-hell and brilliantly inventive. Blending bluegrass, western swing, punk rock, and just about anything else, the D.Rangers are one of a kind. Described as ’Äúmutant bluegrass,’Äù un-country, and ’Äúarm-swinging hillbilly-stomp,’Äù their live shows are an engaging mix of originals, traditional classics and off-the-wall covers.

Fred Penner: At a recent keynote address to an early childhood education conference, acclaimed family entertainer, singer/songwriter, composer, actor, writer, author, TV host and keynote speaker Fred Penner delivered a simple, yet powerful message. "Never underestimate your ability to make a difference in the life of a child." A gentle giant with kind eyes and an undeniable ability to make you feel good about yourself, this musical master brings 25 years of commitment, consistency and depth to a career that skillfully blends the many genres of performing and communication. Dubbed "Mr. Multi-Media" by Billboard Magazine, his diverse repertoire includes a prolific 12 Children’Äôs albums and countless energetically packed live shows for throngs of eager audiences across North America.

Fubuki Daiko: Audiences everywhere are energized by Fubuki Daiko's (Blizzard Drums) high-powered style of Japanese drumming. The group's North American roots push the envelope of tradition to create a truly eclectic experience that is part martial arts, part meditation and all rhythm. For Hiroshi Koshiyama, Naomi Guilbert, and Bruce Robertson, taiko is not just a performance art form but a way of life. Performing, training, and teaching year-round, each member has over ten years of taiko experience including four years of traditional Japanese apprenticeship under the watchful and highly critical eye of Grandmaster Seiichi Tanaka, founder of the San Francisco Taiko Dojo and the father of North American taiko. After performing at Carnegie Hall and leaving with their Sensei's blessing, the three core members relocated to Winnipeg, Manitoba where they expanded into the five member professional touring ensemble that is Fubuki Daiko. The group has since gone on to electrify audiences in festivals, rodeos, bars, temples, schools, legions, hockey arenas, land fills and concert halls from San Francisco to Prince Edward Island with their innovative brand of taiko.

Camerata Nova: Camerata Nova was founded in Winnipeg in 1996 as a choral ensemble dedicated to the exploration and performance of a cappella Renaissance music. As the group has evolved, it has branched out well beyond this period to medieval and early Baroque works as well as 20th-century repertoire, including compositions by Andrew Balfour, the group’Äôs Artistic Director. Camerata Nova takes an increasingly innovative approach to performance, experimenting with unusual venues and exploring the use of unconventional sounds, including throat and overtone singing, and instruments such as crystal bowls, sackbut, and didgeridoo, in contemporary compositions and in arrangements of traditional works.

Sierra Noble: Best known as a fiddle virtuoso who breezes through Celtic, Bluegrass, Jazz, World beat and other styles of music with stunning ease, Sierra's breadth of experience is impressive. Her talent has taken her around the world where she has visited countries in Asia, Europe and North America. She amazes audiences with compelling contemporary performances which feature exceptional instrumentals, beautiful innovative vocals, and her infectious down to earth charm. Sierra dedicates much of her time to various causes, from her involvement with the global fight to ban landmines, her work with welcoming war-affected refugee families to Canada, as well as programs for inner-city youth in Winnipeg, all in an effort to make the world a better place.

Anna-Lisa Kirby: Before moving to Winnipeg in 2003, Anna-Lisa Kirby established her professional career as a jazz vocalist in New York City. She has had the privilege of sharing the stage with many world-class jazz artists. Some of these include Steve Kirby, Wynton Marsalis, Cyrus Chestnut, Ted Nash, Stefon Harris and Xavier Davis. Anna-Lisa is featured on the Larry Roy and Steve Kirby 2008 CD-release Wicked Grin and is the vocalist for Steve Kirby’Äôs acclaimed Oceanic Jazz Orchestra.

Steve Kirby’Äôs career as a jazz musician spans over 25 years of performance collaboration with many of the finest artists in the field, both in North America and abroad. Throughout these years, his role as an educator has been a fundamental and vital part of his commitment to music. Steve has performed extensively and recorded with some of the most high profile jazz artists on the scene today. He spent two years as bassist for Elvin Jones and Jazz Machine and four years with Cyrus Chestnut Trio. He is the bass player on two of Mr. Chestnuts Atlantic Recordings: the critically acclaimed Dark Before the Dawn and Earth Stories. He has also performed in club and/or concert hall settings with Wynton Marsalis and Jazz @ Lincoln Center, opera star Kathleen Battle, legendary Jazz vocalist Abbey Lincoln, Jazz violinist Regina Carter and The Joanne Brackeen Trio featuring Horatio "El Negro" Hernandez. In the summer of 2003, Steve Kirby accepted the position as the Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Manitoba. Since then, Steve has overseen a full-fledged rejuvenation of the jazz scene in Winnipeg.

Momentum Aerial: Momentum is comprised of performers who share a background of dance, gymnastics, and the aerial arts. The performance group is dedicated to bringing dance, acrobatics, and the circus arts of aerial fabric, hoop, and trapeze together in the spirit of exploration to create exciting new works for Winnipeg audiences in both indoor and outdoor venues. Troupe members have studied and performed across Canada, the United States and Europe. Locally, members have performed during the 1999 Pan Am Games, The Festival of the Arts at The Forks, The Festival of Trees & Lights at The Winnipeg Convention Centre, The MTS Opening, The Junos held at MTS Centre, and various school and sporting events throughout Winnipeg.

Rusalka Ukrainian Dance Ensemble: For nearly half a century Rusalka has been capturing the imagination of audiences around the world with its often fiery, always colourful presentation of Ukrainian dance. Tours of North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Australia, combined with performances for heads of state, religious figures and royalty, have placed Rusalka among the most widely recognized Ukrainian dance groups in the world. The Ensemble embarks on a new era as it begins preparing for its 50th Anniversary in 2012 under the Artistic Directorship of Marijka Stanowych, a former Rusalka dancer/instructor and professional Ballet teacher with Canada’Äôs Royal Winnipeg Ballet Schools, who studied at the Choreographic School of the Ukrainian Folk Dance Ensemble named after Pavlo Virsky. Deep within each dancer burns a passion to showcase the power and beauty of Ukrainian dance and they are eager to enchant audiences with the experience that is, Rusalka!

James Keelaghan: "I love touching people with my music as a performer," James Keelaghan says. "Putting a song across so that people get inside the story. I love the immediacy of it, the feedback.’Äù James is one of Canada's greatest songwriters, and he's written songs recorded by the likes of Cry,Cry,Cry. But he can sing too, you know. Like, really sing. In a resonant baritone voice that has been called everything from sweet and smooth, to coffee-rich, to glorious. "Keelaghan's voice is so easy to listen to that the thorns in his lyrics can catch the listeners unawares," comments Dirty Linen. "I am not just a pen," James points out wryly. "I am a voice as well."

Daniel ROA: Daniel ROA = francophone pop with a worldly twist and a unique blend of socially aware, witty and intelligent lyrics, touching matters of the heart and of everyday life. Daniel ROA's fiery musical universe is rich in flavor, overflowing with humor, candor and intelligence. In love with life, song and poetry, Daniel presents an alternative pop woven with original sounds in a style like no other. With an ear consistently attuned to new sounds, and an eye forever gazing on the human condition, the leader of the highly-acclaimed Johnny Cajun performs music that will have you dancing to a Rio swing before exploding into modern pop, with stops from spacious all the way to funky.

Stacey Nattrass: Stacey Nattrass is a versatile vocalist known to musical theatre, jazz and classical audiences alike. In addition to performing with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, she has appeared with the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra, Winnipeg’Äôs Classical Guitar Society, and Winnipeg’Äôs Contemporary Dancers. Stacey’Äôs stage credits include The Full Monty, The Sound of Music, The Wizard Of Oz, Miss Saigon, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Footloose (Rainbow Stage), My Fair Lady (MTC), and Strike!

Royal Winnipeg Ballet: Versatility, technical excellence, and a captivating style are the trademarks of Canada's Royal Winnipeg Ballet; qualities that have garnered both critical and audience acclaim. These qualities keep the RWB in demand as it presents more than 100 performances every season. Founded in 1939, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet holds the double distinction of being Canada's premier ballet company and the longest continuously operating ballet company in North America. In 1953, the Company received its royal title, the first granted under the reign of Queen Elizabeth II. In 1958, Arnold Spohr was appointed artistic director, and under his direction, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet grew and developed to take its place among the world's internationally renowned companies.

Eagle & Hawk:
One listen to Eagle & Hawk’Äôs distinctive sound and you’Äôll be hooked. By blending inspired vision with musical talent, Eagle & Hawk have created a progressive style of ’Äòrock’Äô steeped in roots, fusion, and solid songwriting that continues to earn fans ’Äì and loads of fanfare ’Äì worldwide. Eagle & Hawk’Äôs music takes the lead in defining the genre of contemporary Indigenous music. Envisioning a sound that fused modern rock with traditional elements, guitarist and bandleader Vince Fontaine founded Eagle & Hawk in 1994. The journey took the band from Winnipeg, Manitoba to stages in European capitals where they blasted onto the scene with a powerful live show. While their effervescent performances won over international and national audiences, their talent and determination quietly garnered respect from fans and critics alike.

Tickets to 2010: The Concert are affordably priced at $20.10 in order to be accessible to all Winnipeggers. The faster you buy tickets the better chance you have at choice seating.

To purchase tickets, please call the WSO Box Office at 949-3999; go to www.wso.ca; call Ticketmaster at 780-3333 or go to www.ticketmaster.ca.

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Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Time For the WSO to ’ÄúGo Baroque’Äù

Winnipeg, MB ’Äì December 10, 2009 ’Äì The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra (WSO), together with Virtuosi Concerts, are proud to present Baroque I ’Äì Bach & Sons. The two concerts being held at the Eckhardt-Gramattˆ© Hall at The University of Winnipeg, on December 12 and 13, will feature the WSO’Äôs Gwen Hoebig, Yuri Hooker, and the Baroque Chamber Players performing classics by Bach.

Johann Sebastian Bach's towering musical stature produced sons whose music reflected both their heritage and their times. With stories and insights to complement the music, we explore the mightiest of musical families.

Recognized as one of Canada's most outstanding violinists, Gwen Hoebig is a graduate of the Juilliard School in New York City and has been the WSO concertmaster since 1987, a position she was awarded by a unanimous choice of the audition committee. Gwen was recently recognized at the 50th anniversary celebrations for the Canadian Music Centre for her exemplary commitment to the performance of the music of Canadian composers.

Principle Cellist with the WSO and Manitoba Chamber Orchestra (MBO) and an avid chamber musician, Yuri Hooker has performed with a variety of ensembles at numerous venues throughout Western Canada and the United States. In past seasons he has performed concertos with the WSO, MCO and MusikBarock, arranged and performed music for the MCO Chamber Music Night, and has been featured on CBC Radio's Arts Encounters.

For more information, visit www.wso.ca or www.virtuosi.mb.ca.

In partnership with Virtuosi Concerts, the WSO presents Baroque I on Sunday, December 12 at 8 pm and Saturday, December 13 at 2 pm at the Eckhardt-Gramattˆ© Hall at The University of Winnipeg.

Regular tickets are $29 and student tickets are just $10. Tickets for Saturday are nearly sold out and are only available through Virtuosi at 785-9000. Tickets for Sunday are available at the WSO box office until noon on Friday, December 11, at 949-3999 or wso.ca. After noon, tickets will be available through Virtuosi.

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Monday, December 14, 2009

In the midst of the Copenhagen Summit, here is a new perspective on the subject of climate change’Ķ

Hot News from the Arctic

ARCTIC SYMPHONY

By Vincent Ho

World Premiere Performance: February 6, 2010

At Opening Gala of 2010 Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra’Äôs New Music Festival

Centennial Concert Hall, Winnipeg

December 10, 2009: Following his once-in-a-lifetime trip to the Canada’Äôs arctic aboard a scientific research vessel in 2008, Vincent Ho - Composer-in-Residence at the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra- delivers Arctic Symphony, a piece of music that expresses his new-found spiritual connection to the land he describes as ’Äúwondrous and full of angelic beauty untouched by utilitarian society.’Äù The 30-minute symphony will be premiered as part of the opening gala of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra’Äôs New Music Festival, February 6, 2010 at Centennial Concert Hall in Winnipeg. The performance will include the Nunavut Sivuniksavut Performers, a group of throat singers from various Nunavut communities, and recorded sound-files of the Arctic environment. WSO’Äôs Music Director Alexander Mickelthwate conducts the awaited performance, which will be recorded by CBC Radio Two and broadcasted coast to coast as part of ’ÄòThe Signal’Äô with host Laurie Brown on February 13, and ’ÄòIn Concert’Äô with host Bill Richardson on February 28, 2010. Arctic Symphony will also be available for streaming on CBC's website as a ’ÄòConcert on Demand’Äô (http://www.cbc.ca/radio2/cod/).

For 2010, the WSO New Music Festival’Äôs theme is ’ÄòEarth’Äô, and features music that reflects our connection with nature. The creation of Ho’Äôs Arctic Symphony coincides with the International Polar Year. The commissioning of the piece was part of a partnership between WSO and the worldwide climate change research community. Many of the people involved in this arctic research project have been invited to attend the gala concert, including some of the world's leading climate change scientists to celebrate arctic research, which will be featured throughout the Festival.

About Arctic Symphony: ’ÄúIn the summer of 2008, I was provided with the opportunity to visit the Arctic region as part of an ’ÄòArtist on Board’Äô program through the Circumpolar Flaw Lead System Study (CFL),’Äù explains Vincent Ho. ’ÄúI was taken on board a state-of-the-art research vessel, the CCGS Amundsen, where I was introduced to studies conducted by many of the world’Äôs leading arctic research scientists. I was also taken to Inuit communities to learn about their culture and how the current state of the environment has impacted their way of life. The goal was to provide me with first-hand experience of the Northern region while gaining a better understanding of climate change (from both the scientific and the cultural perspective) so it may inspire the composing of a large-scale symphonic work. During my limited time there, I spent my days and nights observing the landscape. Though the information given to me from the scientists and local Inuit communities was invaluable in broadening my perspective, I ultimately felt that the musical work had to be my own interpretation of the region. Writing it from any other perspective (let it be from the scientists’Äô or Inuit point of view) would be creatively disingenuous and unrepresentative of my connection to the North. As well, I found myself developing a spiritual connection with the environment, and for good reason: I was in a vast open area; I was constantly being subjected to the environmental conditions of the region; and I was continually surrounded by nature’Äôs angelic beauty, untouched by utilitarian society. I therefore felt that the music needed to express this spiritual connection that had formed.’Äù

The work is written in five movements: I. Prelude ’Äì Lamentations; II. Meditation; III. Aboard the Amundsen; IV. Nightfall; and V. O Glorious Arcticus ’Äì Postlude.

Vincent Ho aboard the CCGS Amundsen

Photo by Doug Barber

About Vincent Ho: Born in Ottawa, Ontario in 1975, Vincent Ho has emerged as a much sought-after composer and is the winner of numerous awards and prizes. During his academic studies, his works were already being performed by many prestigious ensembles and orchestras, including the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, and l’ÄôOrchestre de la Francophonie canadienne. His music has also been featured at numerous festivals such as the Winnipeg New Music Festival, New York’Äôs MATA New Music Festival, Parry Sound’Äôs Festival of the Sound, Markham Music Festival, Toronto’Äôs Massey Hall New Music Festival, Ottawa’Äôs Strings of the Future Festival, and Bakersfield’Äôs New Directions Series. In addition to North America, his works have been performed in China, France and Italy. He is currently the Composer-In-Residence to the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. After studying music in Ottawa, Calgary and Toronto, he received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Southern California in 2005. He also studied in Europe. An accomplished pianist, Vincent Ho is also a former dance teacher and an avid runner. He enjoys exploring the vast world of creative thinking, bridging Eastern and Western musical languages.

Upcoming projects include Hellshock: A Pulp Fiction Symphony (for full orchestra) and Five Snapshots of a Dream (for flute and piano), both to be premiered during the WSO’Äôs 2011 New Music Festival; Red Zen (re-orchestrated version of an existing work for wind symphony) to be performed during the WSO’Äôs 2012 New Music Festival; and a new piano piece to be written for internationally acclaimed pianist Jenny Lin.

About the International Polar Year: As part of the International Polar Year (IPY), the Canadian Government has funded the Circumpolar Flaw Lead System Study (CFL) through the University of Manitoba (www.ipy-cfl.ca). The study has brought together over 300 scientists from 27 countries including Russia, USA, France, Denmark, Germany, Poland, Japan, Spain, Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands, UK, Sweden, China and Canada, for a multi-year climate change study in the Canadian high Arctic. For more details about the International Polar Year, please visit: www.ipy.org .

For more information, please visit:

¬… Vincent Ho: http://vinceho.com/

¬… Circumpolar Flaw Lead System Study: http://www.ipy-cfl.ca/

¬… Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra: http://www.wso.ca/

Arctic Symphony

By Vincent Ho

World Premiere Performance: February 6, 2010

Pre-concert talk at 7:30PM; 8PM performance

Opening Gala of 2010 Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra’Äôs New Music Festival

Program also includes works by Steven Stucky and John Tavener

Alexander Mickelthwate, WSO Director

Centennial Concert Hall: 555 Main St Winnipeg, Manitoba


For tickets, visit https://tickets.wso.mb.ca

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Tuesday, December 8, 2009

The WSO Spreads the Joy of the Season Through Share the Music Program!


Winnipeg, MB ’Äì December 7, 2009 ’ÄìThe Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra (WSO) was excited to spread holiday cheer this season with the sold-out presentation of Raymond Briggs’Äô heart-warming film, The Snowman, conducted by Richard Lee.

Through the WSO’Äôs Share the Music Program, the WSO provided over 300 tickets at no cost to families that would otherwise not be able to attend this symphony concert.

The following organizations were the recipients of the Share the Music tickets:

Adult EAL Program, Winnipeg School Division
Association for Community Living, Beausejour Branch
Behavioural Health Foundation Inc.
Big Brothers & Sisters of Winnipeg
Canadian Mental Health Association, Winnipeg Region
Community Living Winnipeg
Doray Enterprises Inc.
Event Horizon Planning Inc.
Immigrant Centre of Winnipeg
Independent Living Resource Centre
Jewish Child & Family Services
L’ÄôArche Winnipeg, Inc.
Manitoba Interfaith Immigration Council Inc.
Mood Disorders Association of Manitoba
Native Women’Äôs Transition Centre
Point Douglas Residents Committee
Ronald McDonald House
Simaril Inc.
Society for Manitobans with Disabilities - Adult Leisure & Recreation
Teulon & Area Advocates for Active Living Inc.
University of Manitoba Access Program
Voices: Manitoba’Äôs Youth in Care (Winnipeg Boys & Girls Club)
Winnipeg Child & Family Services

’ÄúFor more than a decade, the WSO has provided concert tickets to more than 30 organizations allowing disadvantaged children and families to experience the magical world of symphonic music,’Äù says Carol Cassels, WSO Development Manager. ’ÄúProviding the opportunity to see and hear live music being performed, opening their eyes to new sights and sounds and exposing them to a genre of music they might never hear otherwise, helps to enrich our community. As well, our exceptional musicians are wonderful role models for young people and inspire many to pursue music in their own lives. We are very grateful to our patrons and sponsors who have enriched our community by supporting our Share the Music program.’Äù

This holiday season families got to enjoy The Snowman. The charming tale of the little boy James who builds a snowman ’Äì only to have it come to life ’Äì brought the audience to its feet when the WSO performed Howard Blake’Äôs magical soundtrack score live to the film yesterday.

Soprano Andrea Macasaet was the vocal highlight of The Snowman, singing its famous song Walking in the Air. Macasaet, a 15-year old Grade 10 student at Garden City Collegiate in Winnipeg, 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.

For Sunday’Äôs concert, CBC TV’Äôs Janet Stewart narrated three favourite fables of Aesop in Anthony Plog’Äôs engaging settings with orchestra. Janet is well known for her contributions to the community having served as the Honorary Chairperson of Easter Seals and the Parkinson Society of Manitoba.

Pre-concert activities began at 1 pm with crafts, rhythm ensembles, a conducting station, and more, in partnership with the Music For Young Children program!

Share the Music is a unique partnership with other Winnipeg organizations that enables economically disadvantaged children, adults and their families to attend WSO performances. Because of the generous donations by corporations and individuals, more than 3000 tickets are provided to organizations across the province each year. These organizations distribute the tickets free of charge to people they know want to hear the orchestra, but simply could not afford it.

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Monday, December 7, 2009

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.

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Friday, December 4, 2009

Emerging Composer Competition Winner’Äôs Work to Be Premiered at Winnipeg’Äôs New Music Festival



November 30, 2009 (CALGARY, AB) ’Äì The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra (WSO) will debut a new work by Darren Miller, the young Saskatchewan composer who won the 2010 Emerging Composer Competition of the Canadian Music Centre, Prairie Region. Miller’Äôs work will be premiered at the Winnipeg New Music Festival on February 10, 2010. Winning the competition also earned him a composition residency at the Banff Centre.

The winning composition by Miller, for amma, was chosen from orchestral works submitted by emerging Canadian composers, all of whom have Prairie connections. Each entry was judged by a jury, which included the WSO’Äôs composer-in-residence ’Äì and former Emerging Composer Competition winner ’Äì Vincent Ho.

For amma, composed after the recent passing of Miller’Äôs grandmother, Alda, was dedicated to her memory. ’ÄúIn 2001, my amma (grandmother in Icelandic) paid for the first year of my musical studies at the University of Saskatchewan, and she continued to encourage all of the compositional activities that resulted from these studies,’Äù Miller says. ’ÄúShe was a lifelong resident of Gimli and Winnipeg, making the premiere of this work in Winnipeg, so soon after her passing, an extremely moving experience for me.’Äù

Miller, a current PhD student at the State University of New York, received his Bachelor degree at the University of Saskatchewan and his Master’Äôs from The University of Victoria. He has also pursued studies in Germany and at the Banff Centre, where he directed the 2009 International Young Composers Forum. A diverse number of groups ’Äì from Ensemble Contemporain de Montrˆ©al to Turning Point Ensemble to the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra ’Äì have performed his works. In addition to composition, Miller also dabbles in conducting and computer music performance. For more information on Miller, visit his website at www.darrenmiller.ca.

The Emerging Composer Competition prize, established by an anonymous donor and administered by the Canadian Music Centre, Prairie Region, aims to help young composers establish themselves in this extremely challenging and competitive field. The opportunity to have a work performed by a professional symphony orchestra is not one presented to many composers, and is a great honour. Previous winners include Abigail Richardson, Jocelyn Morlock and Vincent Ho, all of whom have gone on to very successful composing careers.

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Saskatoon composer wins the Canadian Music Centre’Äôs Emerging Composer Competition

November 13, 2009 (CALGARY, AB) ’Äì This February, Darren Miller, a young Saskatchewan composer, will have a new work premiered by the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra on February 10, 2010, as part of the Winnipeg New Music Festival as part of his prize for winning the 2010 Emerging Composer Competition of the Canadian Music Centre, Prairie Region. Another part of his prize is a composition residency at the Banff Centre.

The winning composition, for amma, was composed after the recent passing of Alda, his grandmother (amma in Icelandic) and is dedicated to her memory. ’ÄúIn 2001, my amma paid for the first year of my musical studies at the University of Saskatchewan, and she continued to encourage all of the compositional activities that resulted from these studies,’Äù Miller says. ’ÄúShe was a lifelong resident of Gimli and Winnipeg, making the premiere of this work in Winnipeg so soon after her passing an extremely moving experience for me.’Äù

Miller’Äôs work, for amma, was chosen from orchestral works submitted by emerging Canadian composers with Prairie connections by a jury, which included composer-in-residence of the Winnipeg Symphony and former Emerging Composer Competition winner Vincent Ho.

Currently a PhD student at the State University of New York, Miller received his Bachelor degree at the University of Saskatchewan and his Master’Äôs from The University of Victoria. He has also pursued studies in Germany and at the Banff Centre, where he directed the 2009 International Young Composers Forum. Ensembles from Ensemble Contemporain de Montrˆ©al to Turning Point Ensemble to the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra have performed his works. In addition to composition, Miller also dabbles in conducting and computer music performance. His website is: www.darrenmiller.ca

The Emerging Composer Competition prize, established by an anonymous donor and administered by the Canadian Music Centre, Prairie Region aims to help young composers establish themselves in this extremely challenging and competitive field. The chance to have a work performed by a professional symphony orchestra is not an opportunity afforded to many composers, and is a great honour. Previous winners include Abigail Richardson and Jocelyn Morlock and Vincent Ho, who have gone on to very successful composing careers.

For more information:
Lindsey Wallis
Canadian Music Centre, Prairie Region
(403)220-7403
prairie@musiccentre.ca
www.musiccentre.ca

Backgrounder

Darren Miller

Born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Darren Miller began piano lessons at a relatively young age. Impatient with the difficulties involved in learning western art music, Darren instead turned to the punk and underground music scenes of Saskatoon. Ventures in this realm afforded him the chance to travel across Canada for the first time, and resulted in several months spent living in a van with three of his best friends. Upon his return to Saskatchewan, a music appreciation class with Joan Halmo awoke in Darren a desire to pursue music seriously. Having forgotten any earlier musical training, Darren began from scratch with strict practice and study regimens under Saskatoon pianist Martin Janovsky. In the fall of 2001, Darren was accepted to the theory and composition program at the University of Saskatchewan, where he obtained a B.Mus. with distinction. While at the University of Saskatchewan, Darren had the chance to study with Bonnie Nicholson, Walter Kreyszig, David Kaplan, Elizabeth Sayrs, and Gyula Csapˆ„.

Between 2006 and 2008 Darren completed his M.Mus. in composition at the University of Victoria under Michael Longton, Christopher Butterfield, Andrew Schloss, Jonathan Goldman, Dˆ°niel Pˆ©ter Birˆ„, John Celona, and Harald Krebs, among others.

In the summer of 2008 Darren left Canada for the first time to present his newly composed string quartet at the Darmstadt Summer Courses for New Music in Darmstadt, Germany. The following fall and winter were spent composing, programming, studying, and performing at the Banff Centre, where Darren also organized and directed the 2009 Banff Centre International Young Composers Forum.

Though a relative newcomer to the world of composition, his works have already been performed or read by: The Ensemble Contemporain de Montrˆ©al (2006), Susu Robin (2006), The Turning Point Ensemble (2007), Aventa (2007), The Quatuor Bozzini (2007 and 2008), The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (2008), The New York Miniaturist Ensemble (2008), as well as countless student ensembles.

Darren is currently a PhD candidate with the State University of New York at Buffalo. While focusing mainly on his compositional studies with Cort Lippe, Darren is also pursuing opportunities off campus as a pianist, performer of computer music, conductor, and composer. Upcoming performances and collaborations are scheduled with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, pianist Luciane Cardassi, the Talujon percussion quartet, recorder and electronics duo Terri Hron and Juan Parra, visual artist Lindsay Royale, and the In Extensio trio of Montrˆ©al.

The Canadian Music Centre

The Canadian Music Centre (CMC) celebrates its 50th Anniversary in 2009 as Canada's only organization mandated to house, actively promote and distribute the music of Canada's composers within Canada and around the world. The CMC acts as a multi-pronged organization offering a rich portfolio of programs, products and services that help develop a viable marketplace for the music of its Associate Composers. With over 700 established composers to date, the CMC is Canada's primary resource for scores, parts, recordings and information about Canadian composition and is an essential body in Canada's cultural landscape. It makes its vast catalogue of music accessible through an array of programs. At its core, the CMC houses a public lending Library and Archive with some 20,000+ scores and recordings which continue to expand as composers deposit new works. Visit www.musiccentre.ca for more information.

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Wednesday, December 2, 2009

The WSO Gets Into the Holiday Spirit With Three Festive Shows!

Winnipeg, MB ’Äì December 1, 2009 ’ÄìThe Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra (WSO) is offering something for everyone this holiday season! Whether your musical palette favours the classics or pops, or you like to enjoy an afternoon of fun with the kids, you can be sure to enjoy a holiday concert presented by the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra! Covering six dates, the WSO is presenting three concerts to help get Winnipeggers into the spirit of the holidays.’Ä®’Ä®

Masterworks: The Creation’Ä®
Friday, December 4 at 8 pm’Ä®
Saturday, December 5 at 8 pm’Ä®’Ä®
Alexander Mickelthwate leads the orchestra for The Creation, known as Haydn’Äôs greatest choral work. Along with the Mennonite Festival Chorus (with co-conductors William Baerg and Rudy Schellenberg), an all-star line-up will help us celebrate the 200th anniversary of the composer’Äôs death.’Ä®’Ä®Canadian soprano, Donna Brown, who performs on the world’Äôs great opera and concert stages, will share the stage with the WSO for The Creation. She has received critical acclaim for her many operatic and her numerous recordings include programs with conductors Kent Nagano, Sir John Eliot Gardiner and Helmuth Rilling.

’Ä®’Ä®Tenor James McLennan is hailed for his ’Äúemotional intensity’Äù (Opera News) with "a sweet lyric voice of great promise" and has won praise for compelling portrayals in repertoire ranging from baroque to contemporary works. ’Ä®’Ä®British Columbia-born baritone Tyler Duncan is in high demand as an artist at home in lieder, opera and oratorio repertoire ranging from Monteverdi to modern music. Highlights of his 2009-2010 Season include Bach’Äôs ICH HABE GENUG with Tafelmusik in Toronto, Haydn’Äôs DIE JAHRESZEITEN for the Calgary Philharmonic, MESSIAH with the Toronto Symphony, and performances at Carnegie Hall with the New York Oratorio Society.’Ä®’Ä®

Sundays With the Family: The Snowman’Ä®Sunday, December 6 at 2 pm
’Ä®’Ä®We bring back Raymond Briggs’Äô heart-warming holiday film, The Snowman. The charming tale of the little boy James, who builds a snowman ’Äì only to have it come to life ’Äì brought the audience to its feet when the full WSO performed Howard Blake’Äôs magical soundtrack score live to the film performed it with live music two seasons ago.’Ä®’Ä®Soprano Andrea Macasaet will be the vocal highlight of The Snowman, singing its famous song Walking in the Air. Macasaet, a 15-year old Grade 10 student at Garden City Collegiate in Winnipeg, 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.’Ä®’Ä®For Sunday’Äôs concert, CBC TV’Äôs Janet Stewart will narrate three favourite fables of Aesop in Anthony Plog’Äôs engaging settings with orchestra. Janet is well known for her contributions to the community having served as the Honorary Chairperson of Easter Seals and the Parkinson Society of Manitoba. WSO resident conductor Richard Lee will be on the podium.’Ä®

Pre-concert activities begin at 1 pm with crafts, rhythm ensembles, a conducting station, and more!
’Ä®’Ä®
Pops: John McDermott's Holiday Special’Ä®
Friday, December 11 at 8 pm
’Ä®Saturday, December 12 at 8 pm’Ä®
Sunday, December 13 at 2 pm’Ä®’Ä®
Richard Lee steers the WSO’Äôs holiday sleigh to their last stop: John McDermott’Äôs Holiday Special.’Ä®’Ä®McDermott’Äôs performance of Celtic-inspired holiday music has fast become a Canadian tradition. An original member of the Irish Tenors and multiple Juno-nominee, McDermott boasts a remarkable work ethic, releasing at least an album a year, and averaging more than 100 performances a year over the last decade. John’Äôs musical roots are equal parts Scottish and Irish.

The WSO performs the following concerts in December:
Masterworks - The Creation, on Friday, December 4 and Saturday, December 5 at 8 pm
Sundays with the Family - The Snowman, on Sunday, December 6 at 2 pm
Pops - John McDermott’Äôs Holiday Special on Friday, December 11, Saturday, December 12 at 8 PM and Sunday, December 13 at 2 PM.

All concerts are being held at the Centennial Concert Hall. Tickets for all three shows range from $11.25 to $75 and are available through the WSO box office at 949-3999, online at www.wso.ca or through Ticketmaster (780-3333 or ticketmaster.ca).

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Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Wawanesa Insurance provides the WSO musicians ’Ä®with innovative support



The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra is the celebrated hub of Winnipeg's rich cultural life, delighting more than 100,000 audience members each year with innovative programming and musical excellence. The WSO presents educational programs for more than 25,000 students annually and tours outside the city reaching out to communities across Manitoba.

Winnipeg, MB ’Äì November 12, 2009 ’Äì Wawanesa Insurance has been a long time corporate donor of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra (WSO) since 1963 by providing financial support throughout most of the life of the orchestra.’Ä®’Ä®

For the 2009/2010 season, Wawanesa Insurance is proud to announce their continued support - but of a different nature! New special symphonic chairs were unveiled at the October 16, 2009 concert, thanks to Wawanesa, that will support the musicians in a more comfortable manner. After 20 years of providing lumbar support, the WSO has said goodbye and retired the long standing red and gold chairs.’Ä®’Ä®

’ÄúThese chairs were specially designed for each WSO musician, taking into account their respective height and ergo dynamic requirements. We went the extra mile to ensure the safety, comfort and physical health of our valued musicians,’Äù said Jean-Francois Phaneuf, Director of Artistic Operations. Two suppliers were engaged in the process, Concert Design and Wenger, and the musicians were consulted as to their specific chair requirements. In fact, each chair is personalized with their respective names.’Ä®’Ä®

George Bass, Vice-President, General Counsel and Secretary, Wawanesa Insurance, is delighted to support the musicians in this way. ’ÄúIt was a natural fit with us as an insurance company ’Äì looking out for the best interests of the musicians’Äô physical health allows us to partner with the WSO in a productive way so that they can continue to provide exceptional musical experiences for all Manitobans.’Äù ’Ä®’Ä®

Together, the WSO and Wawanesa Insurance are thrilled to be promoting good health and musical excellence!

Below, viola player Anne Elise Lavallˆ©e models her new chair:

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Friday, November 13, 2009

The WSO Reaches Out to the Student Community With Free Concert



Winnipeg, MB ’Äì October 27, 2009 ’Äì This Friday, the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra presents Dvorˆ°k’Äôs New World Symphony, one of the most popular works in the modern repertoire, to over 650 students from across the province ’Äì at no charge.’Ä®’Ä®

The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra is committed to reaching audiences of all ages with their Education and Outreach Programs, and throughout the month of October, high school students were introduced to orchestral music in a unique, up close and personal way ’Äì some for the very first time.’Ä®’Ä®

As a result of the success of the Up Close & Orchestral (UCO) program, over 3,500 students have received a rare opportunity to meet the WSO musicians and music director Alexander Mickelthwate and to make a direct connection to symphonic music. ’ÄúWe choose a concert to offer to students on the free night that is a natural evolution to the programming that UCO currently does,’Äù says Tanya Derksen, Director of Education & Outreach. ’ÄúAt the Up Close & Orchestral concerts, Alexander talks to the students in an engaging and interactive way that appeals to them, so when we offer the opportunity to hear the WSO again, there is always a positive response from the students. Alexander is one of the key reasons for the success of the free concert as he continues that rapport with them even at the concert hall!’Äù’Ä®’Ä®

Schools who will be attending from across the province include: WC Miller Collegiate, Oak Park High School, College Jeanne-Sauve, R.B. Russell High School; Faith Academy High School; Garden City Collegiate, St. John’Äôs-Ravenscourt, St. James Collegiate, Dakota Collegiate, Glenlawn Collegiate, West Kildonan Collegiate, Gordon Bell, MBCI, Miles Macdonell Collegiate; River East Collegiate; Westpark High School; Kelvin High School; St. Norbert Collegiate; Ecole Christine-Lesperance; and College Louis-Riel.’Ä®’Ä®

The October 30 concert will feature: Bramwell Tovey’Äôs Urban Runway ’Äì a jazzy interpretation of American folk history ’Äì through the world of fashion; Christopher Rouse’Äôs Flute Concerto ’Äì a certifiable hit being performed by the WSO’Äôs flutist, Jan Kocman; and Dvorˆ°k’Äôs New World Symphony ’Äì a multicultural blend of Native and African-American musical traditions ’Äì all conducted by Alexander Mickelthwate.’Ä®’Ä®

The WSO performs the Masterworks concert, Dvorˆ°k’Äôs New World Symphony, on Friday, October 30 and Saturday, October 31 at 8 pm at the Centennial Concert Hall. Tickets range from $20 to $75 and are available through the WSO box office at 949-3999, online at www.wso.ca or through Ticketmaster (780-3333 or ticketmaster.ca).

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