SAC opens 2024/25 season with big bands

Steinbach Arts Council has opened its 2024/25 ticket season with the first act being a return to the big band era.

“Our first show is featuring the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra called Swingin’ In Time and it’s called a musical survey of some of the best big bands throughout the last 100 years. So this will be really well known famous big band music that everybody will have heard before and will really love. So that should be a big party,” said Tara Schellenberg, performing arts coordinator.

Swingin’ In Time will hit the stage on Oct. 4.

Following the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra will be a group of Syrian musicians known as Orontes Guitarists on Nov. 1.

“I heard them live in Steinbach last year when we hosted showcase. They are just lovely, lovely musicians who have an incredible story. There will be some elements of story in that concert kind of woven in because they’ve got an incredible story and we have many people in our community that have incredible stories in finding refuge in one way or another,” said Schellenberg.

Of course it wouldn’t be the holidays without a performance by the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra’s Holiday Tour stopping by on Dec. 3.

“It’s classic. We love it. The community always loves it. This one is always sold out and it’s going to include special guest local choir and special guest local celebrity narrator. It’s a real classic favourite,” said Schellenberg.

Kicking off the new year for SAC will be Fiddler On The Roof, Feb. 6. Schellenberg said this is a homecoming play for the organization as returning actors and singers from the Southeast who have begun to make a name for themselves will be performing on the Steinbach stage once again.

Finishing off the season on March 4 will be the MTC’s touring production of Murder for Two. The story is about an aspiring detective who must solve the death of a well known author.

“It’ll be a comedy musical murder mystery which should be a real hoot,” said Schellenberg.

Tickets for the series went on sale on Wednesday with a few season tickets left. To get tickets visit steinbacharts.ca/concert-series/.