Thanks for a musical Sistema term!

Sistema Winnipeg held it’s first concert for the 24/25 school year with the Tannis M. Richardson Winter Concert, highlighting the students and staff in the program! This concert is named after Tannis M. Richardson, following their groundbreaking gift to launch an endowment fund for Sistema Winnipeg, jointly started with Michael Nozick. Led by Sistema Music Director, Monica Chen, the students’ shared many musical moments to welcome the winter break.

All ensembles within Sistema Winnipeg had the opportunity to shine on stage – the youngest players in the Vivaldi Orchestra performed the Sistema Winnipeg classic, The Orchestra Song, singing and playing about the different instruments in an orchestra. The Mozart Orchestra showed off a gentle side of their playing through Downtown Suite for Strings, playing the first movement called The Library, and the energetic and contrasting Hunters’ Chorus. The eldest participants in the Dvorak Orchestra, performed an arrangement of A Town With An Ocean View from the famous Studio Ghibli film, Kiki’s Delivery Service. The Beethoven Orchestra started off the evening with an up-tempo arrangement of the familiar tune, Carol of the Bells, and performed an arrangement of The Toreadors (from “Carmen”), which was created by former Sistema Teaching Artist, Meg Specht. The performance of The Toreadors (from “Carmen”) is unique in that it was the first time the program had a featured soloist accompanied by Sistema orchestra. WSO Musician and Sistema Teaching Artist, Michiko Singh, received this honor of being the featured soloist with the Beethoven Orchestra, as the program explores the “concerto” style of music with a featured soloist.

This concert also saw the induction of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra to the Jerry Maslowsky Performing Arts Centre Hall of Fame located at the Seven Oaks Performing Arts Centre (SOPAC) in Seven Oaks School Division (SOSD). This honor is bestowed upon the WSO, recognizing the education & community outreach initiatives over the years, which includes the Sistema Winnipeg program. Placed permanently in the hall of SOPAC, the WSO has a plaque placed with a picture of Sistema Winnipeg and the WSO sharing the stage along with a brief bio. “On behalf of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, it is our pleasure, privilege and honor to have received this recognition at Sistema Winnipeg’s Tannis M. Richardson Winter Concert, celebrating the social and musical impacts we make on youth, and the positive change in the community as a result.” says Jeffrey Acosta, Manager of Sistema Winnipeg.

Sistema Winnipeg is a partnership between the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra (WSO), Seven Oaks School Division (SOSD), and Winnipeg School Division (WSD). Sistema Winnipeg engages with youth in grades 1-12 at two main school locations, Elwick Community School (SOSD), and King Edward Community School (WSD). Programming includes general music, instrumental sectionals, full orchestra and choir rehearsals, and other activities for violin, viola, cello, double bass, flute, clarinet, French horn, trumpet, trombone, and tuba.

Sistema Winnipeg is fully dependent on the support of our generous donors and partners to fund the program. If you would like to donate to Sistema, please click HERE.

Do you have an unused instrument at home and want to share the music with a student in need? Sistema Winnipeg needs ½ & 3/4 size Violins, 11” & 12” Violas and 1/2 Cellos. We also accept donations of other instruments. Click HERE to learn how you can donate your instrument today.

Jeffrey Acosta (he/him) is the Manager, Sistema for the WSO.