Arts & Culture

Calling all young musical artists! Join the ranks of Keri-Lynn Wilson, David Moroz, Mel Braun, Rosemary Siemens, Keith Dyrda, Madeline Hildebrand and more as a WMC Scholarship winner.  

For more than a century, the Women’s Musical Club of Winnipeg (WMC) has not only brought world-renowned performers to the city, they have also fostered the talents of local, emerging musical artists through scholarships and performance opportunities. 

“It’s part of our mission statement that we support evolving musicians,” says Joanne Pearson of the WMC. 

Since 1958 the Canadian Music Competition (CMC) has been showcasing the very best in Canadian classical music. Divided up into age groups beginning with seven and under, students are selected from a Provincial round of competition to compete in the national competition that is being held in Quebec City this year.

On music's biggest night, singer, songwriter, bandleader and all-round talent Jon Batiste was the biggest winner with 5 wins including the prestigious album of the year award Sunday for “We Are.” 

The superduo Silk Sonic (singer Bruno Mars and rapper and singer Anderson .Paak) won four Grammys, including song of the year with their debut "Leave the Door Open.”

Here's a look at all the nominees and winners of the classical music categories.

Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez has asked arts bodies that get federal funding to suspend all cultural activities involving Russians linked to Vladimir Putin's regime in protest of his invasion of Ukraine.  

Canadian Heritage has written to organizations receiving the department's funding, asking them to cancel tours and co-productions bankrolled by Russian or Belarusian state organizations. 

After surviving this cold, snowy winter we in Winnipeg have just had, Chris Hall from McNally Robinson Booksellers has obviously spent the tail end of winter holed up, reading some great books. Here are his suggestions for what to read as we emerge from our winter cabin fever:

The Gryphons Return! Canadian Trio plays music of Ukrainian composer Valentyn Silvestrov,  Shostakovich and Beethoven

This Saturday April 2nd at 7:30pm at St. Andrews United Church, The Virtuosi Concert Series will be welcoming back to Winnipeg the Gryphon Trio. The concert is called Homage A Harry, and pays tribute to long time Virtuosi Artistic Director Harry Strub. This concert will feature music of Shostakovich, Beethoven and the Ukrainian composer Valentyn Silvestrov.

This weekend, Virtuosi Concerts honours longtime artistic director Dr. Harry Strub in a concert featuring a favourite and regular group of performers, the Gryphon Trio. 

Opening for the stellar ensemble is Virtuosi Young Artist Alice Macgregor.

Expect nothing but the best on Saturday evening at the Centennial Concert Hall. 

Beloved composers Mozart, Bizet, Puccini, and Verdi sung by some of Canada's brightest opera stars: Andriana Chuchman, Catherine Daniel, Lizzy Hoyt, David Pomeroy and James Westman. 

"We thought what a better way to end the season with lots of familiar repertoire," says Manitoba Opera General Director and CEO Larry Desrochers. "Just such a great array of artists just singing hit after hit. It should be fun!"

In a special concert this weekend, Virtuosi Concerts Inc. recognizes the longtime leadership of Dr. Harry Strub.

Founder of the premiere chamber music and recital series in 1991, Strub served as impresario for nearly 3 decades, inviting up-and-coming as well as internationally established artists and ensembles to perform as part of the concert series. 

Winnipeg’s Classic 107 had the opportunity to chat with Harry ahead of the show. In the conversation, Harry recalls some fond memories of the early years, muses on this weekend’s festivities, and shares what’s next. 

One of the world’s most sought-after voices, Canadian countertenor Daniel Taylor, O.C. is certainly among the nation’s most prolific performers and recording artists.