Interview with Paul Ong - Educator, Entertainer, Philanthropist

Edited by Leigh Karras

Interview has been edited for length and clarity

How did you first get involved with the WSO?

As a singer, I don’t usually chase opportunities myself, but WSO was one thing that I knew I wanted to chase. As a young child, I’ve always wanted to have a Symphony Orchestra backing me up. And when I first got into Canada’s Got Talent, I thought I’d send an e-mail to reach out and then again, in 2015, when I was scouted to represent for the World Championships of Performing. I was fortunate enough to have brought home several awards from that competition in Los Angeles, at which point I was given an opportunity to first perform with the WSO. At that time, it was still Alexander [Mickelthwate] who was the Music Director. My first gig with the Symphony was at the Lyric Theatre and then at the Concert Hall the same year.

I’m very happy that from there, it just grew and that the relationship has really evolved year after year. I think we are on to our 12th performance already with the Symphony this September [at the Community Celebration] and then in November for Concert for a Cause with the WSO. It’s been a relationship that I’ve been so fortunate to have and happy to have kept over the years – at least once or twice a year, I’ve had the opportunity to perform with the WSO. But I did chase the WSO, I kept emailing. And, as an artist, it’s a dream come true.  Within the many facets of being an artist, it really adds value to somebody who is into music, to be able to perform with the Symphony Orchestra. One thing that I am truly happy about is [that] as an artist, it has increased my value, but now, as somebody who is in the community, I’m also in some capacity, an ambassador for the WSO, so that mutual working relationship with the WSO is something that I truly, truly appreciate.

 So where did you get the idea to start the Concerts for a Cause?

The Concert for a Cause idea started because in 2015, I was scouted to go to Los Angeles. [My family and I] were prepared to pay for the whole trip and whatever costs that were related to it, but the organization  [World Championship of Performing], did not want for us to just pay it out of our own pockets. They sold this as a concept where it’s a Performing Arts Olympics. And so within that notion, they wanted the participants, the representatives to be supported somehow by the community that they belong to. So that was the very first time that I tried to fundraise for my trip. I’m telling you, that was an embarrassing moment because I was so ashamed of what I was doing. I was literally handing out sponsorship packages to businesses that we were going to, handing it to the owner, and leaving without a word. Like, I literally felt like I was begging and that I didn’t have to because [my family and I] could have paid for the whole thing. But I’m like, “why did I say yes to doing this and now I have to solicit for my own trip?” So the first concert, it all started in April, before the trip in July, at a restaurant. We had 500 people [attending] and at that time Investors Group was on board and I knew that regardless of the results in Los Angeles, I’d come home to a Thanksgiving concert in October, at the Park Theatre that was [supported] by Investors Group. So that was really the inception of the Concert for a Cause series started from this LA trip in 2015. I did the Concert coming back at the Park [Theatre] and I thought, OK, this is done with. But the community wanted more.

So 2016, we did [another] one and at that point I told myself, you know, I don’t want to do this to make money. Let’s donate the proceeds. That’s how it all started in 2016. 2015, when you look at it, the cause was me going to LA. And now I wanted to pay forward [in] 2016 and then we’re now in our 10th year. Every single year, I thought it was a one-off, I didn’t think it was going to be an annual thing. The only time I knew that I had a concert the year after was 2018, because it was at that point that I was called into the WSO Office and JF [retired Director of Artistic Planning] have told me, “I’m looking at what you’re doing in your community, I want to be a part of it”. And I was like what?! I don’t have $50,000 or $60,000 to pay a Symphony to play at my concerts. I’m a small production, and we donate all the proceeds and he goes, “Don’t worry about the money. I just need you to guarantee me that in 2019, we’re doing this and that you’re going to be capable to raise at least $15,000”. And I’m like, whoa, will I be able to do it? Because at that point, we were only raising maybe $8,000 -$10,000 a year. But you know that year 2019 came [and] we raised $28,000 that year.

Because [of] the Symphony being on board, we were really able to increase the value of the production. I keep telling this to the WSO, to JF: thank you for taking the risk. And taking the chance to even [have me as a] guest, as a performer in your concerts, and coming to my Concert for a Cause. It’s increased my value as an artist, the production [value], but it also has allowed us to increase our donation money for the charity that we’ve chosen, Sistema Winnipeg. It’s been mutual, which I’m so happy [about]. Even as a guest performer, I made sure that when I’m performing, I want at least 30 – 40 tickets that I’m selling because I want to make this count. And the only way I could make this count is if my community is aware of it. And here we are. It’s now been 10 years since I’ve chased the WSO and have had my first performance.

What made you join the Board of Directors? That’s a very different role than before.

After the concert [in] April 2023, Angela [Birdsell, Executive Director] came to the concert and I was invited to go for lunch with her. I didn’t have any idea what that lunch was going to be about. She opened the idea of me joining the Board. This is [my] first experience being a board member. I didn’t really know what to expect, but I told Angela I don’t know if I’m cut out for that, I really don’t know the responsibilities, but I’m willing to learn. Where [can I] contribute and offer any inputs or help or support? So this is what I was asked to consider by Angela. It wasn’t hard to just think through.

Why do you think the WSO is important in Winnipeg’s arts and culture community?

I think it is super important. Not every city has a Symphony Orchestra. I think we’re one of the oldest Symphony orchestras around in Canada, but more than that, I think the exposure to symphony music is something that we can’t deny the benefits of. And I think it enriches somebody’s life. Not just the classical because people always think that it’s the Symphony, [it’s] for the elites, it’s elitist in some way. There’s some prestige attached to it, but I would bet you that every single human being, every single person in Manitoba would have been exposed to some sort of symphony music when they watch movies, when you watch animation. All of those are symphonic music that they just don’t realize that they’re exposed to.

Having a Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra to call our own, it’s something that’s really important. People need to be a part of it though, people need to be exposed to it. There’s a different kind of magic when you see 60, 70 musicians playing, and as a singer myself, who’s done this many times, I still find it really thrilling. You know, the shivers down my spine because it’s absolute magic to see 70 people coming together. And creating something beautiful. Exposure [to that experience] is one of the most important [reasons] why it is important to have the WSO in the city. And not just for, especially for kids. At a young age, I was exposed to it. I feel fortunate to be aware of it.

Everybody needs, at the very least, to attend at least one WSO concert. The opportunity to attend is available in the city and not all cities in the world have it. So this needs to be taken advantage of by every single Winnipegger and Manitoban because we have it here in the city and it’s something to be proud of.

What value do you think individual donors play to an arts organization like the WSO?

More than the fact that you’ve helped out a nonprofit organization, being able to support an organization like the WSO is more than that, it’s like a movement. If we’re able to gather people through concerts, through performing arts, from different backgrounds, from different demographics, it’s more than just the concert, it’s a movement. It’s a bridge. It’s breaking barriers. And it’s connecting [people]. And more than that, it’s the power of music that transcends through differences. As an artist and doing the Concerts for a Cause for 10 years, that was one thing that I realized. Yes, we’re trying to really raise money, right? But more than that, when you look at the concert, at the people who are there. They all come from different backgrounds. You have people who work in the grocery stores and you know from entry level jobs, new immigrants, to people who are in management positions, who are CEOs and music transcends everything. The impact of being able to contribute and be a part of that extends from just the financial support that you’re able to give your organization, but [also] knowing that you’re part of something bigger. And the power of music that transcends those barriers and bridges everybody and brings people together.

The other day, I was almost choked up. Our sponsorship goal this year for our Concert for a Cause was to raise $60,000 in sponsorships. We’re less than $10,000 away. When I said $75,000 [as an overall goal] this year, I set it intentionally with the premise that we may not achieve it, but we could still reach $50,000 or $60,000. But it looks like we’re going to achieve it.

I couldn’t quite [have] imagine[d] the power of connection [of] music and the performing arts as a platform, not just bringing communities together and having a movement of different people in one room. We have it at a church which in one sense, not everybody would be stepping into that church, if it weren’t for the music aspect. And even so, not everybody would be willing to attend, just because it’s in a church, but people come. That really struck me last week. I was just like, we’re almost there. We’re less than $10,000 away and it’s August. We still have like 2 1/2, three months. We’re going to get it. So for me, it’s more than the money aspect, it’s knowing that you’re part of something bigger. If you’re able to help out, it really fills me up with joy to help other people. The joy with knowing that the Concert for a Cause, music with the WSO, is able to be a platform for a movement, for community causes to build community, to build connections. That’s at a different level for me. The monetary value is what you see but at the core, there’s so many other things. It’s [the] networks out outside of that.

What is the most memorable WSO experience you’ve ever had, and how did it impact you?

2019 was very memorable because it was the first time ever that the WSO came to accompany me for a full concert. So that was like a dream come true. And yet, after the pandemic, which felt so long, last year when we raised almost $47,000, I was choking up on stage, which never happens. I’m also at a different part of my life right now, where as a singer, I don’t constantly feel the need to prove myself, I have less inhibitions. I have come to accept that I’m human. I may not be at 100% all the time performing, but I will perform at the best of where I’m at that day and that the concert is not really just about me performing and singing anymore. It’s about the moment where we unveil and share with everybody how much we’ve raised as a collective, because every single ticket buyer that gave $30 out of their own pocket has contributed to what we’ve raised. The WSO is a huge part of that because you guys have willingly and generously donated the musicians to come to the concert and be part of the community. Last year was memorable to share that moment and to hear the gasps of people, people that are emotional when they see how much we raised together. It’s memorable.

I kept telling myself I need to prepare myself this year because right now, as I’m thinking, if we are able to raise 75 grand.. I know we’re there, I could see the numbers coming in, but I’m still in disbelief. It’s really memorable to have been able to collaborate with the WSO for community causes.

Do you have a long-term goal for these concerts?

Right now, no. I’m hoping we could extend to our 15th year, for sure. I don’t know what the future holds. I don’t know up till when I could sing at the rate that I’m singing. Ultimately that’s a part of it, but a part of me also wants to make sure that we pass this on. Maybe I could still be the one organizing it, but I don’t need to be headlining the whole concert. Maybe it’s the [Winnipeg] Youth Orchestra or Sistema Winnipeg could be singing, students from the Winnipeg School Division or other school divisions could be singing. Maybe I could sing a few songs at the end. I could spearhead the initiative still, without having to be constantly the producer and the performer. Yeah, but that’s ultimately where I see it. Hopefully, we could reach our 20th year. But I think we’re only shooting for 15 right now and then we’ll see how it goes.

Ultimately, I think part of our intent to make this sustainable [is] starting the endowment fund for Sistema, which I’m happy that this year, with the way that things are looking, that endowment fund will be at a $20,000. Which is not bad.

What do you hope for the future of the WSO?

OK, I’ll just tell you, my pie in the sky: I wish that people would respond to the WSO and to the music that we offer and to the product that we offer similar to how they respond to sports teams. Because I don’t see it any different. This is our own WSO. Why don’t people respond to it the way that they would respond to the Jets or the Sea Bears or the Bombers? I don’t see any difference. That’s my hope for the future of WSO where everybody feels that there’s a part of them in the WSO, that they could see themselves being represented in the WSO, not just with the members, but with the programming. That they would see a connection to themselves and the WSO, that would hopefully prompt them to intrinsically support the WSO and see the value that the WSO has and the value that it adds to our city and the culture of our city. That’s my pie in the sky. If we could somehow have people feel and share the pride of having the WSO as part of the fabric of Winnipeg, then I think it’s a step closer to getting to where we need to be.

The 2024 Concert for a Cause on November 16, 2024 raised $88,206.