Arts & Culture

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. 

The Izzy Asper Jazz Performances takes the stage at the Desautels Concert Hall this weekend to present an ensemble with a wide-ranging musical language. 

At a press conference outside the Royal Winnipeg Ballet headquarters in downtown Winnipeg on Friday, the federal government announced new funding for performing arts organizations in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. 

How does an orchestra become an orchestra in the first place? 

That’s the question that the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra will be answering this weekend with the help of guest artists. Together, they will trace the history of the orchestra’s development and growth over the centuries in a concert called How to Grow an Orchestra with a healthy dose of comedy to boot. 

It’s a Canadian moment that many people will remember: Princess Diana visiting AIDS patients at the Casey House in Toronto in 1991. 

Thirty years later, that visit has been given a theatrical treatment in the form of Casey and Diana. The play debuted back in 2023 at the Stratford Festival in 2023, and now, it will grace the John Hirsch Mainstage at the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre starting this week.