Locals to participate in WSO tour visit

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This article was published 30/11/2023 (519 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Local residents will be participating in the holiday festivities when the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra comes to visit on Nov. 30.

“It’s little earlier this year than previous years, in November, but still I think it’s a great way to usher in the Christmas season,” said Tara Schellenberg, performing arts coordinator for the Steinbach Arts Council which is hosting the show.

The WSO Holiday Tour sold out this year for the second consecutive year.

“We want to bring music from the heart of Winnipeg into communities so that we can share this music in person live,” said RBC assistant conductor Monica Chen.

This year, the symphony will change some of its selections but keep most of the holiday favourites. It will also be joined by soprano Ashley Schneberger who will sing But Who May Abide from Handel’s Messiah and O Holy Night.

“We have some guest artists coming in as well so that there is a different thing to look forward to during this holiday season,” said Chen.

Guest performing with the WSO will be the Eastman Youth Choir directed by Johanna Hildebrandt and accompanied by local native Kim Bestvater-Sidorchuk. The choir will perform two songs without the accompaniment of the symphony and one song with the symphony. They will also lead the audience with a holiday carol sing-along with such hits as Silent Night and Deck the Halls.

Also performing will be Pistons head coach Paul Dyck who will narrate ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas while the symphony plays along.

Perhaps the littlest locals to perform that night will be three Grade 3 or 4 students from the Hanover School Division, where two will perform with the symphony and one will conduct a song.

“They filled out a ballot of what instrument they would love to play with the symphony and either drew a little picture or explained why they wanted to do that,” said Schellenberg. “We collected over 300 ballots in Hanover and these ballots will all be on display so we can see what all those students aspire to do with the symphony one day.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity to expose not only the audience, but kids of all ages to professional musicians. It’s not often we get to see musicians of this caliber and this many of them within our city without travelling to Winnipeg. We really like being able to incorporate that community awareness and education piece as well.”

To capture the evening, local artist Nico Narvaez will be painting a picture that will be completed by the end the of the night and auctioned off in December on SAC’s website.

Manitoba Hydro Holiday Tour with the WSO will play at the Crossview Church starting at 7:30 p.m. The tour will stop in Steinbach, Brandon, and Portage la Prairie.