Arts & Culture

The fourth annual Winnipeg Baroque Festival is set to provide Winnipeg music lovers with a buffet of musical offerings from the city’s best choirs and instrumentalists. 

In anticipation of National Poetry Month in April, Plume Winnipeg (formerly known as the Winnipeg International Writers Festival) is putting out the call to poets from across the province for its annual Writes of Spring. Writers of all backgrounds, geographies and styles can submit their works for a chance at earning money for their works, publication, and live readings.

This year’s Writes of Spring is extra special as the initiative, which began as a collaboration with the Winnipeg Free Press, is celebrating its tenth anniversary in 2025.

This Saturday is World Piano Day. Every year, on the 88th day of the calendar, music lovers around the world unite to celebrate World Piano Day—a nod to the 88 keys that make up a standard piano. This annual event is more than just a tribute to an instrument; it’s a global appreciation of the music, creativity and emotions the piano has inspired for centuries. 

The Royal Winnipeg Ballet (RWB) is set to close its season with a historic triple bill, marking the farewell of Artistic Director André Lewis after a remarkable 50-year tenure. Lewis, who has led the company for three decades, will take his final bow at the Centennial Concert Hall from May 1–4, 2025, in what promises to be an unforgettable celebration of his legacy.

The music school at Canadian Mennonite University marked a significant milestone last week as it presented the 20th edition of the Verna Mae Janzen Music Competition.  

The competition was founded in 2006 by Peter Janzen in memory of his wife Verna Mae, who was deeply embedded in the Mennonite music community before her death in 1989.

It’s a concert that blends the old with the new, and inspires both conversation and reflection. 

The latest offering from the University of Manitoba Symphony Orchestra is literally called Reflections, and it offers up very personal pieces that the students that comprise the orchestra cab relate to on a very intimate level.  

Celebrating Amy Beach: A Week of Music in Honour of International Women's History Month

March marks International Women's History Month, a time to reflect on and honour the contributions of women throughout history. To celebrate, a special 1 p.m. hour-long feature is highlighting the work of one of America's most influential classical composers: Amy Beach. From March 24 to March 28, a series of her remarkable compositions will be showcased, demonstrating her genius and the lasting legacy she left on the music world.

After three weeks of performances, adjudications and awards, the 107th Winnipeg Music Festival officially closed on Sunday afternoon. 

Artists of all disciplines, instruments and abilities were able to celebrate their accomplishments during the festival at a gala performance at St. Andrew’s River Heights United Church.  

Award-winning local musicians Erin Propp and Larry Roy are set to bring their signature blend of expressive vocals and masterful guitar work to the Rady JCC on March 25 at 2 p.m. Their concert, Circle Games and Summer Lawns: A Joni Mitchell Anthology, is part of the Music and Mavens concert and lecture series, celebrating the legendary Canadian singer-songwriter. 

The 9 o’clock hour in today’s playlist is a time-travelling journey through music history, celebrating composers whose legacies continue to shape the classical world. From Baroque to Broadway, let’s explore the significance of each selection.