In Bloom: Sistema Winnipeg Spring Concert
- News
On Tuesday, June 16 at 6:30 p.m., the Sistema Winnipeg – 2026 Michael Nozick Spring Concert takes the stage at Tec Voc Theatre (1555 Wall St.). More than an end‑of‑year recital, it is a celebration of community, growth, and accomplishment for students, families, teachers, mentors, and friends of the program.
Manager of Sistema Winnipeg Héctor Pinzón describes concerts as “communal rituals” – moments when people from different walks of life gather to experience something powerful through music, whether on stage or in the audience. In the communities Sistema serves, where encouragement and confidence are not always assured, these shared experiences matter deeply.
Students from grade 1 to grade 6 and beyond participate in the WSO’s Sistema Winnipeg program offering orchestra music education everyday after school. / photo: Matt Duboff
Sistema Winnipeg, a partnership between the WSO, Seven Oaks School Division, and Winnipeg School Division, offers two hours of free after‑school music education each day during the school year. Students receive an instrument, a nutritious snack, and a safe place to learn and make friends at no cost to families.
At Tec Voc, audiences will hear the three orchestras – Vivaldis, Mozarts, and Beethovens – along with a mass orchestra and choir of about 120 students. Music Director Monica Chen has chosen a program that explores a wide range of characters and emotions, giving students the chance to show how far they have come over the season. Divisional Teachers and Teaching Artists, including several WSO musicians, will also lead and perform alongside the students.
Winnipeg audiences are used to hearing polished performances at the Concert Hall. This spring concert offers something a little different: a chance to see the path toward excellence, and to watch young musicians discover their own voices on stage.
As Héctor notes, “each child at Sistema is different.” They arrive with their own backgrounds and challenges, but all find empowerment through music – a voice, a way to express themselves, and a sense of belonging to something larger. Many alumni go on to new paths while carrying the friendships and memories built through music, continuing to strengthen community and pass the torch forward.
