From a Children’s Orchestra to a Lifelong Legacy of Music

The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra community joins many across Manitoba in remembering Tannis Richardson (1926–2026), whose generosity, leadership, and deep commitment to community left a lasting mark on the arts, health care, and education in our province.

A Member of the Order of Canada, Tannis was widely recognized for her leadership in healthcare initiatives, particularly in diabetes research, as well as her long-standing involvement with Winnipeg’s cultural institutions. Within the WSO community, she was known not only as a supporter, but as a thoughtful and engaged presence whose belief in the power of music shaped decades of impact.

Her connection to the orchestra spanned much of her life, from attending concerts as a young woman to serving on the WSO Board and championing initiatives that expanded access to music education for young people, including her support of Sistema Winnipeg. For Tannis, music was never separate from community. It was something that helped build it.

That belief in music as a formative force reaches back even further. As a child in Winnipeg, Tannis herself was part of an early children’s string orchestra, a small but spirited group of young musicians rehearsing weekly under the direction of violinist Valborg Leland.

There was a sense, even then, that something meaningful was taking shape. The group was described as a “happy affair,” full of energy and dedication, and seen as a promising beginning for a lasting musical tradition for Winnipeg’s children. Tannis participated alongside other young musicians, forming early ties not only to music, but to shared experience and community through ensemble playing.

It is striking, looking back, how that early story mirrors what Tannis would later support throughout her life: the idea that music education is not an extra, but something that helps shape confidence, discipline, and connection at a young age. Those values carried forward into her lifelong support of the arts. Whether through governance, philanthropy, or advocacy, Tannis approached her involvement with care and intention. She gave not only resources, but time and thoughtful engagement, always grounded in a belief that strong cultural institutions strengthen the wider community.

Her legacy can still be felt in the programs and people she supported, and in the many young musicians whose opportunities have been expanded through initiatives she believed in so deeply.

As we reflect on her life, we also recognize how rare it is for a single story to span so many stages of musical experience: from a child in a small string orchestra, to a lifelong concertgoer, to a leader helping ensure future generations have access to music education and performance.

The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra is deeply grateful for Tannis Richardson’s vision, generosity, and enduring commitment to music and community. Her legacy continues in the work we do today, and in the many lives touched by the programs she helped sustain and grow.