Welcome back to another Made in Manitoba, as we continue our celebration of the Manitoba nominees at this year's Juno Awards coming up at the end of the Month in Vancouver. This weekend, we are taking a turn to the classical, with former Winnipegger Andrew Balfour. The Cree composer and conductor, who now calls Toronto home, has been nominated for the 2025 Juno Award for Classical Album of the Year - Large Ensemble.
His album "Ispiciwin" was nominated with the Calgary vocal ensemble Luminous Voices, alongside artists Jessica McMann and Walter MacDonald White Bear . "Ispiciwin", meaning “Journey,” is a musical exploration, bridging cultures and perspectives. Andrew has described it as a dream collaboration, one that deepens the understanding of truth and storytelling from an Indigenous standpoint.
"Ispiciwin" is a unique project that brings together many strands of Indigenous and non-Indigenous identity, a sentiment that attracted Andrew Balfour, who said, “Working with Luminous Voices and Timothy Shantz, along with artists Jessica McMann and Walter MacDonald White Bear, is a dream collaboration that results in a closer understanding of truth-telling and storytelling from an Indigenous perspective.”
Nolan Kehler, from our sister station Classic 107, connected with Andrew Balfour for Made in Manitoba, and we'll be sharing that conversation, alongside the three movements from Ispiciwin in their entirety.