Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra
Encyclopedia
The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra (WSO) is a Canadian orchestra based in Winnipeg
, Manitoba
. Its primary concert venue is the Centennial Concert Hall
, and the orchestra also performs throughout the province of Manitoba.
Andrey Boreyko
was the WSO's music director from 2001 to 2006. During his tenure, the musicians experienced a labour lockout in December 2001, and the mass resignation of the orchestra's board in the winter of 2003. The musicians took a 20% pay cut and Boreyko donated a portion of his salary to the orchestra during the financially troubled 2002-2003 season. The orchestra musicians took an additional pay cut for the 2003-2004 season. The orchestra retired its accumulated debt in September 2005. In his final season as music director, Boreyko led 6 weeks of concerts, in contrast to 12 the season before. Overall, Boreyko received praise for his musicianship, but also criticism for a lack of community outreach, and not fulfilling an intention to establish residency in Winnipeg.
In February 2006, Alexander Mickelthwate
was named the WSO's eighth music director. He took up the post in September 2006, with an initial contract of 3 years. In December 2008, Mickelthwate extended his contract with the orchestra through the 2012 season. The orchestra's current executive director is Trudy Schroeder, effective July 2008.
, and provides educational outreach programs to 25,000 students annually.
and the WSO's Composer-in-Residence Glenn Buhr, along with others, created the WSO's New Music Festival.
in April 1968.
As of May 2011, there are 68 musicians in the WSO.
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
, Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
. Its primary concert venue is the Centennial Concert Hall
Centennial Concert Hall
The Centennial Concert Hall, as part of the Manitoba Centennial Centre, was built as a Canadian Centennial project. With seating for over 2,300 people, the Concert Hall is the performing home of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, the Manitoba Opera and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet.The concert hall cost...
, and the orchestra also performs throughout the province of Manitoba.
History
Established in 1947, the WSO played its first concert on December 16, 1948 in the Civic Auditorium to an audience of 3,000.Andrey Boreyko
Andrey Boreyko
Andrey Boreyko is a Russian conductor. At the Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory in Saint Petersburg, he studied conducting , graduating summa cum laude...
was the WSO's music director from 2001 to 2006. During his tenure, the musicians experienced a labour lockout in December 2001, and the mass resignation of the orchestra's board in the winter of 2003. The musicians took a 20% pay cut and Boreyko donated a portion of his salary to the orchestra during the financially troubled 2002-2003 season. The orchestra musicians took an additional pay cut for the 2003-2004 season. The orchestra retired its accumulated debt in September 2005. In his final season as music director, Boreyko led 6 weeks of concerts, in contrast to 12 the season before. Overall, Boreyko received praise for his musicianship, but also criticism for a lack of community outreach, and not fulfilling an intention to establish residency in Winnipeg.
In February 2006, Alexander Mickelthwate
Alexander Mickelthwate
Alexander Mickelthwate is a German-born conductor. He is one of three sons in his family, and studied piano and cello as a youth. He studied piano performance and conducting in Karlsruhe, Germany, and participated in international conducting courses in Austria and France...
was named the WSO's eighth music director. He took up the post in September 2006, with an initial contract of 3 years. In December 2008, Mickelthwate extended his contract with the orchestra through the 2012 season. The orchestra's current executive director is Trudy Schroeder, effective July 2008.
Programs
The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra performs to about 100,000 listeners per year, with an average of 80 concerts. It also contributes to performances by other groups, such as the Royal Winnipeg BalletRoyal Winnipeg Ballet
The Royal Winnipeg Ballet, based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, is Canada's oldest ballet company and the longest continuously operating ballet company in North America....
, and provides educational outreach programs to 25,000 students annually.
New Music Festival
In 1992, then-Music Director Bramwell ToveyBramwell Tovey
Bramwell Tovey, OM is an English-born Grammy Award winning conductor and composer. His musical roots are in The Salvation Army. He was educated at Ilford County High School, the Royal Academy of Music and the University of London. His formal music education was as a pianist and composer...
and the WSO's Composer-in-Residence Glenn Buhr, along with others, created the WSO's New Music Festival.
Performance venues
The WSO initially performed out of the Civic Auditorium. The orchestra moved to its present home in the 2,300-seat Centennial Concert HallCentennial Concert Hall
The Centennial Concert Hall, as part of the Manitoba Centennial Centre, was built as a Canadian Centennial project. With seating for over 2,300 people, the Concert Hall is the performing home of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, the Manitoba Opera and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet.The concert hall cost...
in April 1968.
Discography
- Mozartiana (1993)
- Music for Violin and Orchestra (1998)
- Lark Ascending (1998)
- Songs of Paradise (1998)
- Winter Poems (1999)
Music directors
- Walter KaufmannWalter Kaufmann (composer)Walter Kaufmann was a composer, conductor, musicologist, and educator. Born in Karlsbad, Bohemia , Kaufmann enjoyed a career that crossed international boundaries, taking him to Berlin, Bombay , London, and Canada, before he settled in Bloomington, Indiana, USA in 1957...
(1948–1958) - Victor FeldbrillVictor FeldbrillVictor Feldbrill, OC, O.Ont, FRHCM, is a Canadian conductor and violinist.He attended Harbord Collegiate Institute at an early age....
(1958–1968) - George Cleve (1969–1970)
- Piero GambaPiero GambaPiero Gamba, also called Pierino Gamba is an Italian orchestral conductor and pianist.- Biography :Gamba was born in 1936. He first came to attention as a child prodigy....
(1971–1980) - Kazuhiro KoizumiKazuhiro Koizumiis a Japanese conductor who has had an active international career since the 1970s. He has appeared as a guest conductor throughout Europe and the United States, appearing with such ensembles as the Berlin Philharmonic and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra...
(1983–1988) - Bramwell ToveyBramwell ToveyBramwell Tovey, OM is an English-born Grammy Award winning conductor and composer. His musical roots are in The Salvation Army. He was educated at Ilford County High School, the Royal Academy of Music and the University of London. His formal music education was as a pianist and composer...
(1989–2001) - Andrey BoreykoAndrey BoreykoAndrey Boreyko is a Russian conductor. At the Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory in Saint Petersburg, he studied conducting , graduating summa cum laude...
(2001–2006) - Alexander MickelthwateAlexander MickelthwateAlexander Mickelthwate is a German-born conductor. He is one of three sons in his family, and studied piano and cello as a youth. He studied piano performance and conducting in Karlsruhe, Germany, and participated in international conducting courses in Austria and France...
(2006–present)
Musicians
The principals of the orchestra are:- First violin: Gwen Hoebig (Concertmaster, Sophie-Carmen Eckhardt-Gramatte Memorial Chair)
- Second violin: Darryl Strain
- Viola: Daniel Scholz (conductor of Winnipeg Youth Orchestras)
- Cello: Yuri Hooker
- Bass: Meredith Johnson
- Flute: Jan Kocman
- Oboe: Bede Hanley
- Clarinet: Micah Heilbrunn
- Bassoon: Alex Eastley
- French horn: Patricia Evans
- Trumpet: Brian Sykora
- Trombone: John Helmer
- Bass trombone: Julia McIntyre
- Tuba: Chris Lee
- Timpani: Jeremy Epp
- Percussion: Frederick Liessens
- Harp: Richard Turner
As of May 2011, there are 68 musicians in the WSO.