WSO Names Composers Institute in Honour of Michael Nesbitt

The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra (WSO) has announced the commemorative naming of the Michael Nesbitt Composers Institute, in recognition of Mr. Nesbitt’s 90th birthday today, Thursday, October 2. After a hiatus in 2025, the Composers Institute will return under its new name as part of the renowned Winnipeg New Music Festival (WNMF), with sessions running Monday, January 19 through Friday, January 23, 2026.

“I feel deeply grateful to Michael and particularly happy he has accepted our wish to honour his many years of support and generous contributions by calling the platform Michael Nesbitt Composers Institute,” says Music Director Daniel Raiskin.

“Michael has always been passionate about the highest quality education opportunities available in Winnipeg, and his unconditional support of numerous such initiatives in our community have been fundamental to the ongoing success of the WNMF Composers Institute,” adds Raiskin.

Started in 2017 under the helm of WSO Composer-in-residence, and WNMF Co-Curator, Haralabos [Harry] Stafylakis, this national, juried, six-day competition provides a unique professional training opportunity for emerging composers.

Participants are immersed in the orchestral world through mentorship by some of Canada’s leading orchestral composers and through close integration with the WNMF.

“I originally conceived of the WNMF Composers Institute based on my own life-changing experience taking part in the 2014 Underwood New Music Readings” reflects Stafylakis. “That event dramatically altered the course of my emerging career and directly led to my position with the WSO. It has been my honour to direct the Composers Institute since 2017, a program that has since helped foster so many of Canada’s finest young musical voices. And it feels eminently appropriate to now bear the name of the great Michael Nesbitt, who has been the staunchest supporter of the Winnipeg New Music Festival’s artistic mission”.

Each year, five emerging composers are selected to have their works premiered live by the WSO. Winners also receive a recording of the performance to add to their portfolio. The jury comprises WNMF guest composers and Composers Institute mentor composers—past mentors have included Sarah Kirkland Snider, Samy Moussa, Jocelyn Morlock, and Kelly-Marie Murphy.

Mr. Nesbitt, renowned for his philanthropic work in Winnipeg and across Canada, has been a longtime supporter of the WSO and the broader arts community. His contributions reflect his passions and have directly brought world-class art and culture to Winnipeg. Through his philanthropy, he has enriched the lives of many, providing educational opportunities through support for the University of Manitoba’s School of Art Gallery’s Visiting Curator Program, the Desautels Faculty of Music—helping to establish the Babs Asper Professorship in Jazz Performance and later supporting the launch of the Bridge Program to bring jazz music instruction to inner-city kids—as well as a foundational gift to the newly opened Desautels Concert Hall.

Mr. Nesbitt is also an ardent lover of the visual arts and has been a major supporter of the Winnipeg Art Gallery Qaumajuq, as well as the National Gallery, where he is funding the first three years of the National Engagement Initiative – a program designed to build meaningful new regional relationships, while also expanding cultural engagement from coast to coast to coast. The multi-year initiative focuses on highlighting both Canadian and international artists and will include one large-scale commission per year.

Throughout its history, the WSO has played a leading role in supporting the creation of new music in Canada, most notably through the 35 years that the WNMF has run. Building on this tradition of fostering the voices of the future, the WNMF Composers Institute has played a fundamental role in this process. For over a decade, Mr. Nesbitt has been the WNMF’s premier patron and due to his support, the festival has seen the likes of Philip Glass, Caroline Shaw, Julia Wolfe and other highly influential and celebrated artists.

Mr. Nesbitt has left an indelible mark on Winnipeg’s cultural landscape; his extensive contributions to the arts, education and community development sectors in Winnipeg is a testament to the power of philanthropy and will be a legacy that has, and will continue to, enrich the lives of many.

WNMF returns Wednesday, January 21, through Thursday, January 29, 2026, with bold new voices and music. The festival features the world premiere of Stafylakis’ Symphony No. 3 and welcomes distinguished guest composer Greek-American Christopher Theofanidis.

Audiences will also enjoy virtuosic performances by percussion soloist Lisa Pegher, acclaimed clarinetist Stephen Williamson, and the award-winning, guitar-based CC Duo (Adam Cicchilitti and Steven Cowan).