CMC Prairie Region

New Music Edmonton Presents NOW HEAR THIS 2026: Elusive Things: Standing Wave Ensemble | Makenna Graham
2026-06-13 19:30 - 22:00 (America/Edmonton) | Holy Trinity Anglican Church, 10037 84 Ave, Edmonton, Alberta, T6E 2G6, Canada
Elusive Things: Standing Wave Ensemble | Makenna Graham
Date: Saturday, June 13, 2026 7:30 PM
Venue: Holy Trinity Anglican Church (10037 84 Ave, Edmonton)
Bringing the festival to spectacular close, New Music Edmonton is honoured to present our guests from Vancouver, Standing Wave, in an exhilarating program of new work that will take you to some very unexpected places. There are only a handful of Canadian ensembles comparable to Standing Wave: now in their fourth decade, the group has, since its inception, commissioned and performed dozens of new works by Canadian composers. With several albums to their credit, the group has been nominated for many Juno and Western Canadian Music awards. This concert offers a great selection of classical music behaving badly, and will include works by some of our country’s most important composers, each of them nominees or winners of several Juno Awards. Get ready for an onslaught of glitches, raucous psychedelia, misfiring thoughts, alongside some of the most profoundly meditative and ecstatically gorgeous music you will hear anywhere!
Standing Wave: Christie Reside, AK Coope, Rebecca Whitling, Cristian Markos, Allen Stiles, and Vern Griffiths
Program: Bekah Simms, single Red flower; Linda Caitlin Smith, new work; Nicole Lizée, Turntaazm; Dorothy Chang, Of All Things Elusive; Bekah Simms, Metamold; Makenna Graham: Nakalele (2024) and New Work (2026), for woodwind quartet
hy not donate to our Endowment Fund, administered by the Edmonton Community Foundation? Every cent of this fund will be used to support emerging artists!

New Music Edmonton Presents NOW HEAR THIS 2026: Rising Sounds: A Celebration of New Voices from Amiskwaciy-wâskahikan (Edmonton)
2026-06-12 19:30 - 22:00 (America/Edmonton) | Mile Zero Dance Space, 9931 – 78 Avenue NW, Edmonton, Alberta, T6E 1N6, Canada
Rising Sounds: A Celebration of New Voices from Amiskwaciy-wâskahikan (Edmonton)
Date: Friday, June 12, 2026 7:30 PM
Venue: Mile Zero Dance Space (9931 – 78 Avenue NW, Edmonton)
Featuring: kirmeve; Tamarack Cunningham; Borborygmi; Tzadeka; Andrew Noakes and Julian Eveneshen
Now Hear This, weekend 2, begins with an outstanding multiple bill featuring some of the most exciting early-career creative voices from the Amiskwaciy-wâskahikan (Edmonton) region. For NME, there is nothing more important than highlighting and supporting creatives from our city in the early stages of their careers. Be prepared to immerse yourself in wild and risky new ideas in music and sound performance covering a mind-blowing, awe-inspiring range of practices, and to come away inspired and ready for more – this is the newest generation of artists from your community!
And, speaking of emerging artists, if you can, why not donate to our Endowment Fund, administered by the Edmonton Community Foundation? Every cent of this fund will be used to support emerging artists!

New Music Edmonton Presents NOW HEAR THIS 2026: 管弦回響: Echoes of Winds and Strings
2026-06-06 19:30 - 22:00 (America/Edmonton) | Mile Zero Dance Space, 9931 – 78 Avenue NW, Edmonton, Alberta, T6E 1N6, Canada
管弦回響: Echoes of Winds and Strings
Echo Ensemble 悦耳歌 | Virginia Wan – Consensus 43
Date: Saturday, June 6, 2026 7:30 PM
Venue: Mile Zero Dance Space (9931 – 78 Avenue NW, Edmonton)
This is the NME début of Echo Ensemble, our city’s amazing collective of traditional Chinese instruments. Comprised of erhu, yangqin, dizi, ruan, sanxian, and various Chinese percussion instruments, Echo Ensemble will share a rich repertoire of works, ranging from arrangements of traditional Chinese songs to contemporary compositions, and selections from some of their favourite Anime, games, and films. If you’ve never heard a full ensemble of Chinese instruments before, this is a great chance! If you have, then you’ll know why this event is a must!
Consensus 43 by Virginia Wan is a composition written for guided improvisation, a sonic exploration of spontaneous interaction between three instrumentalists
Echo Ensemble: Nanyen Lau, Chris Leung, Joshua Ching, Huisun Lau, Alan Ching, Shawn Gan, Joseph Adams, Chloe Ching, Leeying Lau

2026 Canadian Jazz Composers Workshops: TRANSFORMING TRADITION: CRAFTING NEW STORIES FROM OLD MELODIES
2026-06-06 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Winnipeg) | AB
2026 Canadian Jazz Composers Workshops:
June 6, 2026 – with Daniel Hersog

GIVING THE ESSENTIALS: WRITING EFFECTIVE DRUM PARTS – Allison Au
During this session, Allison will share select scores from her 2024 Juno award-nominated album “Migrations”, written and arranged for a ten-piece chamber jazz ensemble (vocals, saxophone, vibraphone, piano, bass, drums, and string quartet). Long-time bandmate and co-collaborator, drummer Fabio Ragnelli, will complement this discussion exploring the individual parts and what makes for effective drum parts in this context.
HOW TO WRITE A MIDDLE SCHOOL BIG BAND CHART – Chelsea McBride
Over the course of this workshop, we will discuss the specific needs of middle and high school ensembles and the traits of effective big band arrangements – and how to marry those two concepts into music that is fun for the ensemble, director, and audience alike. We will discuss a general form outline, instrumentation/alternate parts, range considerations, and how the writing process can influence rehearsal and performance.
TRANSFORMING TRADITION: CRAFTING NEW STORIES FROM OLD MELODIES – Daniel Hersog

Daniel Hersog explores how long-loved folk material can become the foundation for contemporary jazz orchestra writing. Attendees will follow the creative arc – from the moment a folk tune sparks an idea, through the shaping of form and colour, to the final ensemble score. Hersog will break down his approaches to reinterpreting source material, including strategies in orchestration, harmonic reframing, and developing narrative intention. Participants will gain insight into how familiar melodies can be reshaped into expansive, modern works while retaining their emotional core.
Sponsors: Winnipeg Arts Council & the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra
There is no charge for this event, and we hope to keep it this way.
Donations toward this project are welcomed and donations over $25 will receive a tax receipt. (https://www.winnipegjazzorchestra.com/donate.html)
An email with the link to the event will be sent to you the morning of the workshop.
This session will be in English.
​Thank you for your participation in the Canadian Jazz Composers Workshops.

New Music Edmonton Presents NOW HEAR THIS 2026: Re-Zoning: Pigeon Breeders with Kate Stashko | Alicia Proudfoot – Perennial
2026-06-05 19:30 - 22:00 (America/Edmonton) | Mile Zero Dance Space, 9931 – 78 Avenue NW, Edmonton, Alberta, T6E 1N6, Canada
Re-Zoning: Pigeon Breeders with Kate Stashko | Alicia Proudfoot – Perennial
Date: Friday, June 5, 2026 7:30 PM
Venue: Mile Zero Dance Space (9931 – 78 Avenue NW, Edmonton)
The 15th edition of Now Hear This kicks off with an exciting collaboration between two of Edmonton’s leading experimental artists: Pigeon Breeders (Myles Bartel and Will Scott) and dance artist Kate Stashko. Their new work, Re-Zoning, is a dynamic structured improvisation that transforms Stashko’s dance into a living expression pedal, guiding Pigeon Breeders—armed with a fascinating array of found objects and instruments—through her captivating movement language. The result is an electrifying journey that unfolds across the performance space, blurring the lines between sound and motion.
Perennial by Alicia Proudfoot is a performance of sound and sculpture. The engulfing heave of metal and pulp and fibre that grows out from my harp is chronic illness. The body is the thematic root of my art practice. A sick body, in my case an asthmatic body, creates friction with society’s mandates of idealized productivity, strength, and sustainable health.

Pro Coro Canada Presents Ice: Voices for a Frozen World featuring Katerina Gimon
2026-05-31 17:00 - 19:00 (America/Edmonton) | St. Basil’s Cultural Centre, 10819 71 Ave NW, Edmonton, Alberta, T6E 0X8, Canada
Edmonton, AB – JUNO Award-winning Pro Coro Canada, joined by guests Edmonton Young Voices (Lyndsey Olsen, director), proudly presents its final concert of the 2025-2026 season, Ice: Voices for a Frozen World.
This timely program featuring innovative choral works invites audiences to reflect on their relationship to the earth and the impact of climate change on this planet we call
home. Program highlights include Rachel Portman’s Earth Song, which evokes the words of renowned climate activist Greta Thunberg. This program will also feature the works of other female composers from Canada and abroad on this pressing theme:
● Sherryl Sewepagaham – nitohtamok askîy
● Rebecca Gray – The Great Patch
● Sarah Albu – we’ve gone too far!
● AURORA – The Seed
● Shruthi Rajasekar – Heart of the Earth
● Katerina Gimon – Earth
● Sofia Söderberg – Mother Earth
● Katerina Gimon – Water
In partnership with Naheyawin and through the support of Edmonton Community Foundation, there will be a smudging prior to the concert outside of the venue as well as a tobacco ceremony following led by Cree facilitator Jacquelyn Cardinal. The concert will also feature a display of vinyl album covers designed by students from the University of Alberta’s Art & Design program inspired by the works presented in this concert. Come hear Edmonton’s own JUNO Award-winning professional chamber choir and join us in this thought-provoking concert to honour our planet through the power of music.
Ice: Voices for a Frozen World
May 31, Sunday, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
St. Basil’s Cultural Centre, Edmonto

CMC Prairie Emerging Composer Competition Deadline
2026-05-31 | AB
APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN – DEADLINE MAY 31 – APPLY HERE
Emerging Composers with a connection to Canada’s Prairie Region, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut are invited to submit their orchestral works to the CMC Prairie Region Emerging Composer Competition for Orchestra with a cash prize and performance by the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra (WSO) during the 2027 edition of the Winnipeg New Music Festival (WNMF).
Applicants must either be current residents of, have been born in, or have completed a substantial portion of their musical education in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, The Northwest Territories, or Nunavut.
Applications will close on May 31, 2026. Guidelines and additional information below.

History:
The CMC Prairie Region invites emerging composers to enter this annual competition produced with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra at its Winnipeg New Music Festival. Conceived by anonymous donors, the Canadian Music Centre Prairie Region Emerging Composer Competition prize was first awarded in 2004; 2027 will mark the 24nd annual edition of the contest. The winning composition will receive a performance by the WSO during the 2027 edition of the WNMF.
Mentorship:
The winner will be invited to participate in the WNMF Composers Institute, giving them the opportunity to experience the Winnipeg New Music Festival from behind the scenes, attending WSO rehearsals and concerts, and participating in professional development workshops with Canadian and international guest composers.
Eligible applicants are also welcomed to apply separately to the WNMF Composers Institute HERE.
Emerging Composer Competition Requirements and Guidelines Found HERE.

Esther Ling with Peace Region Girls Choir
2026-05-30 13:00 - 15:00 (America/Edmonton) | Christian Fellowship Assembly Church, 11449 92 St, Grande Prairie, AB, T8X 1P4, Canada
Join us for a beautiful spring concert with our Novella, Canta, and Viva choirs. An afternoon of song: Earth, Fire, Wind and Water, premiering “Orange Skies” by Esther Ling.
“Orange Skies”, is an exciting 4-part/SSAA piece with percussion and piano, commissioned by the Peace Region Girls Choir for the senior girls to sing. It is a haunting, and suspenseful fire-themed song; a story about a young indigenous child losing their home to a wildfire disaster.
When asked about the inspiration behind the commissioned song, Rosanne Mayer and Esther Ling says:
“Orange Skies has challenged our singers to explore new vocal colours while helping them connect deeply to the human impact of wildfire disasters. It’s been a meaningful reminder that choral music not only builds musicianship, but also empathy in these young voices. We are thankful to Esther for writing such a powerful and thought-provoking piece that truly captures the human experience, fostering compassion and awareness.”
– Rosanne Mayer, director, Peace Region Girls Choir
“This song was inspired by the recent wildfires we’ve been experiencing as a nation. I recall the Jasper (Alberta) wildfires in 2023, where I saw pictures of orange skies in the night all across the news. I thought to myself how terrifying it must have been for young children to be woken up in the night, having to evacuate their home…in setting the story… I incorporated a few things I learned from the Fire Teachings of indigenous Cree… I was inspired to weave into this song all the feelings and emotions of impending danger, urgency, worry, cry and sadness of losing a home to a wildfire…”
-Esther Ling, artist and composer
This song will be premiered by the Peace Region Girls Choir at their upcoming Spring concert, “An Afternoon of Song: Earth, Fire, Wind, Water” on Saturday, May 30, at 1.00 PM at the Christian Fellowship Assembly in Grande Prairie, AB.
I’d be happy to share more with you, in an interview or share the music and/or story to your audience on your program or podcast.
Bio:
“Known to her audiences as Esther Ling, Yun Shyuan Ling is a Malaysian-born Canadian pianist, composer, singer-songwriter, and recording artist based in Calgary, AB. A multi-genre artist and soulful composer, her debut children’s song, “Cheeky Wind” (2025) won the 2025 Grande Prairie Boys Choir Songwriting Competition, of which was premiered by the choir and earned local acclaim for its creativity, charm and contemporary appeal. Her debut single, “Pink Walls” (2024), delivered a poignant message about domestic violence and received notable attention on local and national radios, CBC, CKUA, and used by women shelters across Canada and the U.S. in domestic-violence awareness campaigns. As an associate composer with the Canadian Music Center (CMC), Esther continues to compose playful and modern music for young voices, and expand her craft across genres with the hope of offering listeners the same sense of healing and connection it gives her.”

Samy Moussa, Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra
2026-05-23 19:30 - 21:30, 2026-05-22 19:30 - 21:30 (America/Edmonton) | Jack Singer Concert Hall, 205 8 Ave SE, Calgary, AB, T2G 0K9, Canada
Program

Discover Mahler’s mighty First Symphony as the Calgary Phil, conducted by Earl Lee, perform this orchestral epic that takes you from the joys of springtime — through rustic dances to an ironic funeral march — and culminates in victory over worldly despair. Before it, relish the rich, nostalgic poetry of Robert Schumann’s eloquent Cello Concerto, featuring distinguished cellist Steven Isserlis.
Samy Moussa Elysium
Robert Schumann Cello Concerto in A Minor
Gustav Mahler Symphony No. 1
Program and artists are subject to change without notice.

Artists

EARL LEE conductor
STEVEN ISSERLIS cello
CALGARY PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA

UltraViolet performs music by Anthony Braxton, Mirela Ivičević, Larisa Vrhunc, Robert Lemay, and Zoltan Jeney
2026-05-02 19:00 - 21:30 (America/Edmonton) | St. Mary’s Anglican, 11203 68 St., Edmonton, Alberta, T5B 1N6, Canada
Shadowy incorporeal timbres melt upon the skin as a dream of velvet sound unfolds, while liquid rhythms pulse through golden light of melting clocks.
Experience this as UltraViolet performs music by Anthony Braxton, Mirela Ivičević, Larisa Vrhunc, Robert Lemay, and Zoltan Jeney
Robert Lemay – Zones d’Ombre (Canadian premiere)’
Mirela Ivičević – Car II
Larisa Vrhunc, – Leseni Kamni (Wooden Stones)
Zoltan Jeney – Being Time IV
Roger Admiral – piano
Chenoa Anderson – flutes
Allison Balcetis – saxophones
Mark Segger – percussion

Marie Clements/Brian Current & Ian Cusson, Manitoba Chamber Orchestra
2026-04-30 19:30 - 21:30 (America/Winnipeg) | Desautels Concert Hall, University of Manitoba, 150 Dafoe Rd W, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3T 2N2, Canada
7 / SONGS OF RIVER & FIRE
7.30pm, Thursday, April 30
Desautels Concert Hall, University of Manitoba
Melody Courage and Marion Newman, vocals
Anne Manson, conductor
Themes of motherhood, loss, and joy emerge in a program that spans opera, Indigenous voices, and folk tradition, with song and spirit rising together like flame and tide.
Métis soprano Melody Courage gained national attention as The Native Girl “…played with ethereal grace…” in the 2017 world premiere of Marie Clements’ and Brian Current’s opera Missing, co-produced by City Opera Vancouver and Pacific Opera Victoria. Missing gives voice, in English and Gitxsan, to the story of Canada’s missing and murdered Indigenous women.
Critically acclaimed and award-winning mezzo-soprano Marion Newman is Kwagiulth and Stó:lō First Nations with English, Irish and Scottish heritage. She is one of Canada’s most accomplished singers in repertoire ranging from Charpentier to Cusson and operatic roles, including Carmen and Rosina in The Barber of Seville.
–
Cassandra Miller
Perfect Offering
Marie Clements/Brian Current
Language Duet from “Missing”
Jacques Offenbach
Belle Nuit
Joy Harjo/Ian Cusson
Fire
Marion Newman
Kinanu
Gioachino Rossini
Una voce poco fa
Camille Saint-Saëns
Mon cœur s’ouvre à ta voix
Richard Strauss
Csárdás
Ian Cusson
Dodo, mon tout petit
G.F. Handel
Piangerò la sorte mia
Program subject to change

2026 Canadian Jazz Composers Workshops: HOW TO WRITE A MIDDLE SCHOOL BIG BAND CHART
2026-04-25 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Winnipeg) | AB
2026 Canadian Jazz Composers Workshops:
​
April 25, 2026 – with Chelsea McBride
June 6, 2026 – with Daniel Hersog
–
GIVING THE ESSENTIALS: WRITING EFFECTIVE DRUM PARTS – Allison Au
During this session, Allison will share select scores from her 2024 Juno award-nominated album “Migrations”, written and arranged for a ten-piece chamber jazz ensemble (vocals, saxophone, vibraphone, piano, bass, drums, and string quartet). Long-time bandmate and co-collaborator, drummer Fabio Ragnelli, will complement this discussion exploring the individual parts and what makes for effective drum parts in this context.
HOW TO WRITE A MIDDLE SCHOOL BIG BAND CHART – Chelsea McBride
Over the course of this workshop, we will discuss the specific needs of middle and high school ensembles and the traits of effective big band arrangements – and how to marry those two concepts into music that is fun for the ensemble, director, and audience alike. We will discuss a general form outline, instrumentation/alternate parts, range considerations, and how the writing process can influence rehearsal and performance.
TRANSFORMING TRADITION: CRAFTING NEW STORIES FROM OLD MELODIES – Daniel Hersog
Daniel Hersog explores how long-loved folk material can become the foundation for contemporary jazz orchestra writing. Attendees will follow the creative arc – from the moment a folk tune sparks an idea, through the shaping of form and colour, to the final ensemble score. Hersog will break down his approaches to reinterpreting source material, including strategies in orchestration, harmonic reframing, and developing narrative intention. Participants will gain insight into how familiar melodies can be reshaped into expansive, modern works while retaining their emotional core.
Sponsors: Winnipeg Arts Council & the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra
There is no charge for this event, and we hope to keep it this way.
Donations toward this project are welcomed and donations over $25 will receive a tax receipt. (https://www.winnipegjazzorchestra.com/donate.html)
An email with the link to the event will be sent to you the morning of the workshop.
This session will be in English.
​Thank you for your participation in the Canadian Jazz Composers Workshops.

Kevin Lau, Manitoba Chamber Orchestra
2026-04-12 14:30 - 16:30 (America/Winnipeg) | Crescent Arts Centre, 525 Wardlaw Ave, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3L 0L9, Canada
6 / IN THE COMPANY OF BIRDS
2.30pm, Sunday, April 12
Crescent Arts Centre, 525 Wardlaw Ave.
Winnipeg Sonora Voices
Anne Manson and Valdine Anderson, conductors
Nature sings in this evocative choral program with Winnipeg Sonora Voices, where birds, voices, and the turning of the seasons inspire new meditations on the rhythms of nature.
Winnipeg Sonora Voices (formerly known as Pembina Trails Voices) is an award-winning auditioned choral program offered to children and young people. Recent performing highlights include the world premiere of Sid Robinovitch’s Jonah with the MCO in 2022 and a guest appearance with the Winnipeg Philharmonic Choir performing Sir Paul McCartney’s Ecce Cor Meum in 2024.
–
Kevin Lau
New commissioned work
Ola Gjeilo
Song of the Universal
Astor Piazzolla
The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires
Program subject to change

Celebrating World Premieres in partnership with The University of Calgary
2026-03-28 19:30 - 21:30 (America/Edmonton) | Eckhardt-Gramatté Hall, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada
Celebrating World Premieres in partnership with The University of Calgary

March 28, 2026 7:30 pm

Location: Rozsa Centre
Pre-Concert Chat: 6:45pm
Concert: 7:30pm
Come and experience this special event as we celebrate today’s emerging, established, and senior musical voices. As part of University of Calgary’s Alchemy Festival and our annual Student Composers’ Program, we are excited to present five world premieres by students of the U of C composition program and twelve (!) from some of Canada’s acclaimed living composers. These were written just for us to premiere in this year-end concert that highlights the collaborative relationships we have with composers—some spanning almost 30 years!
Program
World premieres of new works by:
Five students of the UofC Composition program
Arthur Bachmann
Allan Gordon Bell
Dorothy Chang
Derek Charke
Vincent Ho
Gary Kulesha
Larysa Kuzmenko
Alexina Louie
Maxime McKinley
Kelly-Marie Murphy
Donovan Seidle

Donovan Seidle and James Watson, Rocky Mountain Symphony Orchestra
2026-03-28 19:30 - 21:30 (America/Edmonton) | AB
The Program
A cheeky mashup of classical elegance and contemporary hits—where Regency flair meets pop, rock, and orchestra in a one-of-a-kind experience.
Enjoy original pieces and arrangements by Donovan Seidle, James Watson, and Revv52 Remix.
Featured Artists
JANNA SAILOR Conductor

Donovan Seidle and James Watson, Rocky Mountain Symphony Orchestra
2026-03-27 19:30 - 21:30 (America/Edmonton) | AB
The Program
Rock choir meets full symphony in a high-voltage fusion of hits — Stairway to Heaven, Bittersweet Symphony, Coldplay favourites, Yellow Brick Road, Hallelujah and more — performed live at Summit View United Church!
Enjoy original pieces and arrangements by Donovan Seidle, James Watson, and special guest ReMix: Powered by Revv52.

Jean Coulthard, Colleen Athparia, Rachel Laurin, Liezel Kruger, The Women with the Golden Flutes
2026-03-22 15:00 - 16:30 (America/Edmonton) | St. Stephen’s Anglican Church, 1121 14 Ave SW, Calgary, Alberta, T2R 0P3, Canada
PROGRAM
In the month of International Women’s Day, we present a concert to celebrate women musicians. Programmed by Calgary’s prominent flutists, the afternoon concert will feature Canadian and American female composers who have shaped and enriched the contemporary music landscape: Jean Coultard, Catherine McMichael, Rachel Laurin, Colleen Athparia, and Amanda Harberg. The program will also feature the premiere of Calgary composer Liezel Kruger and their piece The Trees of Kortillion, commissioned by Lucie Jones.
ARTISTS
Gwen Klassen, Emily Phernambucq, Sarah MacDonald, Lucie Jones (flutes), Akiko Tominaga (piano)
PROGRAM
The Trees of Kortillion by Liezel Kruger
Sonata for Flute and Piano, op. 29, Rachel Laurin
Ascending Ashes, Colleen Athparia
Lyric Sonatina for Flute and Piano, Jean Coultard
Court Dances Suite for flute and Piano, Amanda Harberg
Gaelic Offering, Catherine McMichael
SUNDAY, MARCH 22 2026
Doors at 2:30 PM
Show at 3:00 PM
Show Duration: 70 minutes (with no intermission)

LOCATION
St. Stephen’s Anglican Church
1121 14 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2R 0P2

Vivian Fung, Edmonton Symphony Orchestra
2026-03-22 14:00 - 16:00, 2026-03-21 19:30 - 21:30 (America/Edmonton) | Winspear Centre, 4 Sir Winston Churchill Square NW, Edmonton, AB, T5J 4X8, Canada
About The Concert

Beethoven’s beloved “Pastorale” Symphony is filled with imaginative musical depictions of birdsong, a flowing stream, a thunderstorm, and other sounds of country life.
Edmonton-born Vivian Fung’s Parade, inspired by watching her 6-year old son in a parade following pandemic lockdowns, is a “celebration of community that also explores the journey from solitude to togetherness.”
Camille Saint-Saëns often said, “form is the essence of art,” a principle that is eloquently realized in his compact Cello Concerto No. 1, featuring Montreal-born Jean-Guihen Queyras in his long overdue ESO debut.
This concert will include an intermission.

Program to Include

BEETHOVEN
Symphony No. 6 “Pastoral”

FAURÉ
Élégie for Cello

SAINT-SAËNS
Cello Concerto No. 1

VIVIAN FUNG
Parade
ESO Premiere

Program subject to change.

Featured Artists

Jean-Marie Zeitouni, Conductor & Music Director
Jean-Guihen Queyras, Cello
ESO Debut

About ESO Classics

ESO Classics are dynamic and engaging concerts that feature the most memorable orchestral pieces. This masterworks series is our flagship and showcases the greatest symphonic masterpieces in classical music. From Bach and Handel in the Baroque period and Mozart and Beethoven in the 18th century Classical period, all the way to 21st century contemporary composers, this series encompasses the best of classical music. Our world-class musicians are joined by some of the most talented soloists from around the world, delivering unparalleled performances of these illustrious works. Let the timeless beauty of live classical music enrich and transport you!

2026 Canadian Jazz Composers Workshops: GIVING THE ESSENTIALS: WRITING EFFECTIVE DRUM PARTS
2026-03-21 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Winnipeg) | AB
2026 Canadian Jazz Composers Workshops:
​
​ March 21, 2026 – with Allison Au
April 25, 2026 – with Chelsea McBride
June 6, 2026 – with Daniel Hersog

GIVING THE ESSENTIALS: WRITING EFFECTIVE DRUM PARTS – Allison Au
During this session, Allison will share select scores from her 2024 Juno award-nominated album “Migrations”, written and arranged for a ten-piece chamber jazz ensemble (vocals, saxophone, vibraphone, piano, bass, drums, and string quartet). Long-time bandmate and co-collaborator, drummer Fabio Ragnelli, will complement this discussion exploring the individual parts and what makes for effective drum parts in this context.
HOW TO WRITE A MIDDLE SCHOOL BIG BAND CHART – Chelsea McBride
Over the course of this workshop, we will discuss the specific needs of middle and high school ensembles and the traits of effective big band arrangements – and how to marry those two concepts into music that is fun for the ensemble, director, and audience alike. We will discuss a general form outline, instrumentation/alternate parts, range considerations, and how the writing process can influence rehearsal and performance.
TRANSFORMING TRADITION: CRAFTING NEW STORIES FROM OLD MELODIES – Daniel Hersog
Daniel Hersog explores how long-loved folk material can become the foundation for contemporary jazz orchestra writing. Attendees will follow the creative arc – from the moment a folk tune sparks an idea, through the shaping of form and colour, to the final ensemble score. Hersog will break down his approaches to reinterpreting source material, including strategies in orchestration, harmonic reframing, and developing narrative intention. Participants will gain insight into how familiar melodies can be reshaped into expansive, modern works while retaining their emotional core.
Sponsors: Winnipeg Arts Council & the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra
There is no charge for this event, and we hope to keep it this way.
Donations toward this project are welcomed and donations over $25 will receive a tax receipt. (https://www.winnipegjazzorchestra.com/donate.html)
An email with the link to the event will be sent to you the morning of the workshop.
This session will be in English.
​Thank you for your participation in the Canadian Jazz Composers Workshops.

Keyan Emami, Manitoba Chamber Orchestra
2026-03-11 19:30 - 21:30 (America/Winnipeg) | Crescent Arts Centre, 525 Wardlaw Ave, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3L 0L9, Canada
5 / TEAL RAINBOWS
7.30pm, Wednesday, March 11
Crescent Arts Centre, 525 Wardlaw Ave.
Mahan Esfahani, harpsichord
Anne Manson, conductor
With glittering wit and playfulness, this program celebrates the harpsichord as it creates vivid soundscapes and shimmering colours — a spectrum of forms, textures, and shades.
Since making his London debut in 2009, Mahan Esfahani has established himself as the first harpsichordist in a generation whose work spans virtually all the areas of classical music-making—from critically-acclaimed performances and recordings of the standard repertoire, to working with leading composers, to pioneering concerto appearances with major symphony orchestras on four continents, and more.
–
Julian Grant
Vaudeville in Teal
J.S. Bach
Harpsichord Concerto BWV 1054 in D Major
Keyan Emami
Kian in Rainbows
Igor Stravinsky
Pulcinella Suite
Program subject to change

Vincent Ho, Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra
2026-03-07 19:30 - 21:30 (America/Winnipeg) | Centennial Concert Hall, 555 Main Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3B 1C3, Canada
Rune Bergmann, conductor
Jean Sibelius: Finlandia
Vincent Ho: Earthbeat (Saturday only)
Edvard Grieg: Norwegian Dances
Carl Nielsen: Symphony No. 4 “The Inextinguishable”
Photo: Kristin Hoebermann.
Sometimes, the guest artist dictates the program… and that is precisely the case in this concert of Scandinavian greats led by Norwegian conductor Rune Bergmann.
Jean Sibelius’ Finlandia is a symphonic mega-hit emblematic of the nationalism so often found in his music.
The Norwegian Dances by Edvard Grieg are athletic, boisterous, and charming folk-inspired numbers that will surely get everyone feeling the groove.
Like his contemporary Gustav Mahler, Carl Nielsen of Denmark was both a great symphonic conductor and a great symphonic composer. Written during the First World War and dubbed “The Inextinguishable,” Nielsen’s Symphony No. 4 is a powerful and grand work, expressive of the indomitable human spirit.
(Saturday only) To round out the program, a musical trip to Canada with the music of Vincent Ho, with whom Rune Bergmann worked closely at the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. A name that may also be familiar to Winnipeggers, Ho previously served as WSO’s Composer-in-Residence.

Malcolm Forsyth, Edmonton Symphony Orchestra
2026-02-28 19:30 - 21:30, 2026-02-27 19:30 - 21:30 (America/Edmonton) | Winspear Centre, 4 Sir Winston Churchill Square NW, Edmonton, AB, T5J 4X8, Canada
About The Concert

Celebrated British pianist Benjamin Grosvenor returns after a 12-year absence to perform Benjamin Britten’s energetic Piano Concerto, written when the composer was 24 and known for its rhythmic drive and inventive orchestration.
At its premiere, a critic wrote cryptically of Brahms’ final symphony, “It is like a dark well; the longer we look into it, the more brightly the stars shine back.”
Malcolm Forsyth wrote his celebratory Jubilee Overture in 1964 when he was 28, four years before he moved to Edmonton and became a member of the ESO. Don’t miss this intriguing concert juxtaposing music of youthful exuberance and wise experience.
This concert will include an intermission.

Program to Include

BRAHMS
Symphony No. 4

BRITTEN
Piano Concerto
ESO Premiere

MALCOLM FORSYTH
Jubilee Overture

Program subject to change.

Featured Artists

Alain Trudel, Conductor
Benjamin Grosvenor, Piano

About ESO Classics

ESO Classics are dynamic and engaging concerts that feature the most memorable orchestral pieces. This masterworks series is our flagship and showcases the greatest symphonic masterpieces in classical music. From Bach and Handel in the Baroque period and Mozart and Beethoven in the 18th century Classical period, all the way to 21st century contemporary composers, this series encompasses the best of classical music. Our world-class musicians are joined by some of the most talented soloists from around the world, delivering unparalleled performances of these illustrious works. Let the timeless beauty of live classical music enrich and transport you!

Ian Cusson, Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra
2026-02-28 19:30 - 21:30, 2026-02-27 19:30 - 21:30 (America/Edmonton) | Jack Singer Concert Hall, 205 8 Ave SE, Calgary, AB, T2G 0K9, Canada
Program
Catch the brilliance of Shostakovich’s Ninth Symphony as conductor Jessica Cottis leads the Orchestra in revealing the complexities behind the work’s seemingly lighthearted façade. The Orchestra’s own concertmaster Diana Cohen takes the spotlight in Max Bruch’s riveting and romantic First Violin Concerto — voted the #1 violin concerto of all time by Classic FM.
Ian Cusson 1Q84: Sinfonietta Metamoderna
Max Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1
Dmitri Shostakovich Symphony No. 9

Artists
JESSICA COTTIS conductor
DIANA COHEN violin
CALGARY PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA

Pro-D Sessions: Agency and Advocacy For Composers with Stefani Truant
2026-02-27 11:00 - 12:30, 2026-02-20 11:00 - 12:30 (America/Edmonton) | AB
Session 1, February 20: So you’ve been offered a commission — now what?
Beyond the excitement of writing a new piece, commissions often come with questions that many composers are left to navigate on their own. This session offers a composer-centered look at what typically happens after the offer: how commissioning agreements work, what fees and rights usually cover, how exclusivity and consortia function, and how relationships and professional networks often play a role in opening these opportunities. Designed for composers at any stage, the goal is to demystify the commissioning process, normalize common questions, and help composers move forward with clarity, confidence, and a stronger focus on the music.
Session 2, February 27: Ask Us Anything: Commissioning, Relationships, and the Realities In Between
Not everything composers navigate fits neatly into a contract or a job description. This open conversation invites composers to bring their questions — big, small, and in-between — about commissioning, networking and relationship-building, and navigating professional situations that don’t always come with clear answers. In dialogue with CMC Prairie Region Director Janna Sailor, this session creates space for honest discussion about what works, what doesn’t, and how composers can approach opportunities with clarity, confidence, and integrity.
This event is FREE for everyone to attend, but requires pre-registration.
Where: ZOOM
When: February 20 and 27 | 11:00am MST

REGISTER

Kati Agócs, Manitoba Chamber Orchestra
2026-02-18 19:30 - 21:30 (America/Winnipeg) | Crescent Arts Centre, 525 Wardlaw Ave, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3L 0L9, Canada
4 / DANCES OF DREAMS
7.30pm, Wednesday, February 18
Crescent Arts Centre, 525 Wardlaw Ave.
Jeneba Kanneh-Mason, piano
Jeri Lynne Johnson, conductor
A vibrant celebration of fantasy and rhythm featuring prodigy British pianist Jeneba Kanneh-Mason and conductor Jeri Lynne Johnson — both returning to the MCO stage since last appearing in spring 2024 — this program is a tapestry of dance and reverie; a place where memory, motion, and music intertwine.
Pianist Jeneba Kanneh-Mason is already captivating audiences with her “maturity in performance and interpretation […], the former an uncanny phenomenon” (Fraser). The third of the Kanneh-Mason clan to establish herself as a soloist, Jeneba recently made her BBC Proms debut with the Chineke! Orchestra, performing the Florence Price Concerto and was heralded by the press as “demonstrating musical insight, technical acuity, and an engaging performing persona” (Music OMH).
–
Frédéric Chopin
Piano Concerto No. 2 (arr. for strings)
Kati Agócs
New commissioned work
William Grant Still
Danzas de Panama
Program subject to change
