HITTING THE
HIGH NOTES
70 years after its inception, the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra continues to be the heart and soul of the city’ s arts community. By ARVEL GRAy
music is embedded in winnipeg’ s Dna. our prairie town has always marched to a different drum, and we have plenty to show for it: the birthplace of musicians like neil young and Burton cummings, winnipeg also boasts world famous festivals, a lively music scene, some of the oldest and most esteemed arts institutions in the country. among these institutions: the winnipeg symphony orchestra. celebrating its 70th season, the symphony is integral to the city’ s cultural life, delighting more than 100,000 audience members each year with almost 300 concerts. the wso first opened its curtain in December 1948 to an audience of 3,000, and within six seasons had become one of the top four orchestras in canada. it regularly tours throughout the country and has participated in hundreds of radio broadcasts, released numerous recordings, launched and nurtured an internationally renowned new music festival, and played twice at carnegie hall. the wso also provides the music for the royal winnipeg Ballet and manitoba opera association.
“ not many orchestras are able to switch so seamlessly between the classics, pop, Broadway, and playing with young local indie bands such as royal canoe, not to mention the amount of new music they play during the new music festival,” says music director alexander mickelthwate.“ it’ s astonishing really.” with a nucleus of 67 musicians, the organization has attracted professionals from around the world who have established significant careers here and a have made winnipeg their home( currently, a husband, wife, and daughter all play in the string section). photos: JJ Gil( winnipeG symphony orchestra with royal canoe); winnipeG symphony orchestra courtesy of winnipeG symphony orchestra.
6 where. ca September / OctOber 2017