MEDIA RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Community supports WSO musicians's dreams toperform at Carnegie Hall Winnipeg, MB - April 16, 2014 - "Every musiciandreams of playing Carnegie Hall." That opening line launched the Adopt-A-Musiciancampaign a little over a year ago, a WinnipegSymphony Orchestra (WSO) fundraising initiativewhere each individual musician, composer, guestartist and the music director were up for "adoption" tofund the expenses of sending the WSO to New YorkCity. The WSO is thrilled to announce that all the WSOmusicians have been adopted due to the success ofthe Adopt-A-Musician campaign!

(left to right) Art Mauro, WSO flutist Martha Durkin, NaomiLevine and WSO Assistant Concertmaster and WSO

violinist Mary Lawton

MEDIA: For more information or toschedule an interview, pleasecontact: Sarah Panas,Marketing & CommunicationsCo-ordinator, WinnipegSymphony Orchestra, at204.949.3970 orspanas@wso.mb.ca. Download the 2014/2015season guide here. The WSO is integral toWinnipeg's rich cultural life,delighting more than 100,000audience members each yearwith innovative programmingand musical excellence. TheWSO presents educationalprograms for more than 25,000students annually and toursoutside the city reaching out tocommunities across Manitoba.

With generous support from the community at largeand local businesses, all 74 people have beenadopted so their dreams of performing on theprestigious Carnegie Hall stage will come true onMay 8th 2014 at the final year of the Spring for Musicfestival held May 5-10, 2014. Spring for Music is aNorth American showcase featuring six orchestras. The additional five orchestras who will also performat Spring for Music are the New York Philharmonic,the Seattle Symphony, the Rochester Philharmonic,the Cincinnati Symphony & May Festival Chorus andthe Pittsburgh Symphony.

"The support of the community through this projecthas made it an even more wonderful experience forall of us. Performing at Carnegie Hall is an excitingopportunity, but knowing that this is activelysupported by so many wonderful people has addedimmeasurably to the positive outcome," said TrudySchroeder, WSO executive director.

(left to right) Top Row: Chris Epp Vollrath, WSO violinistClaudine St-Arnauld, WSO violinist Karen Bauch, WSO violinist

Jun Shao, WSO violinst Takayo Noguchi and Lisa Shaw Bottom Row: John Zajic, Ron Mailhot and Gerry Bayer from

Telpay Incorporated

The WSO began the process to be part of the 2014Spring for Music festival in the fall of 2011, competing

against 33 North American orchestras. The WSOtopped the final online voting tally with 3059 votes,over 1000 more votes than the second-placeprogram. After Internet voting polls were closed to thepublic, the Spring For Music judging panel chose thesix orchestras based on artistic merit and creativity ofprogramming. The WSO's program for their Spring for Musicperformance includes R. Murray Schafer's SymphonyNo. 1, Derek Charke's 13 Inuit Throat Song Gamesfeaturing throat singer Tanya Tagaq and VincentHo's The Shaman: Concerto for Percussion andOrchestra featuring percussionist Dame EvelynGlennie. The Adopt-A-Musician campaign has not only giventhe WSO the opportunity to reach their fundraisinggoals, but also to form new connections in thecommunity and strengthen existing relationships.Behind every adoption, there is a story thatshowcases the generosity of WSO supporters.

(left to right) Cindy Newfield, WSO trombone Steven Dyer andBob Newfield

Photo credits: Keith Levit Photography

WSO violist Greg Hay's connection with DavidWilson, his former English and Drama teacher atVincent Massey High School in Brandon, Manitoba,

has helped him on his journey to one of the mostrenowned music venues in the world. Greg andDavid's shared interest in classical music has led tocollaborations on numerous musical productionswhile Greg was in high school and studied atBrandon University. "This was a wonderful chance to thank Greg for hisfriendship and his unfailing support. I feel it is veryimportant for ordinary citizens to support musicianswho are carrying the name of their home communityand province onto the world stage," said Wilson. In addition to the support the WSO has receivedthrough the Adopt-A-Musician campaign, over 500Manitobans will travel to New York City to cheer onthe orchestra! The WSO would like to recognize CAATravel as their Manitoba to Manhattan travel partner,and Air Canada as the official airline of the WSO. The WSO gratefully acknowledges the following fortheir generous support of their Carnegie Hallperformance: Canada Council for the Arts, Province of Manitoba,Winnipeg Arts Council, Manitoba Arts Council, TravelManitoba and Air Canada. For more information on the WSO's journey toCarnegie Hall visit www.wso.ca. Spring For Music firmly believes that great musicalideas and great concert programs are essential to thesuccess of orchestras. The WSO gratefully acknowledges the followingpatrons whose generous support will make the dreamof playing at Carnegie Hall come true. Alpha Masonry

Gail Asper & Michael PatersonSylvia L. BarrMarjorie & Morley BlanksteinMrs. Lucienne Blouw

Mr. & Mrs. John & Bonnie BuhlerTimothy & Barbara BurtCanadian Polish CongressCentennial Concert HallMs. Patricia ChaychukMark ChipmanElsie Chrunyk, Allison Ryback & RoxanneRybackCon- Pro Industries Canada LtdArt & Leona DeFehrMr. Marcel DesautelsBryce DouglasHilary DruxmanBill & Margaret FastArnold & Myra FriemanJames GibbsGolden West Broadcasting Ltd.Joanne Gudmundson & Brian OlesonHermanos Restaurant & Wine Bar, CarnavalBrazilian BBQ, Corrientes Argentine PizzeriaPeter & Dana JessimanKevin & Els KavanaghJack & Zina LazareckBill & Shirley LoewenGail LoewenAllan MacDonald & Arlene WilsonArt Mauro & Naomi LevineNational Leasing Group Inc.Michael NesbittRobert & Cindy NewfieldFrank & Jeanne PlettDr. Bill Pope & Dr. Elizabeth Tippett-PopeGeorge & Tannis RichardsonHartley & Heather RichardsonJames Richardson & Sons Ltd.Terry Sargeant & Margaret HaneyRod & Jeannie SenftCheryl & Lorne SharfeWinnifred SimMuriel SmithBob SparrowDr. Lea StogdaleTelpay IncorporatedArni Thorsteinson & Susan Glass

Curt, Catherine & Kelcey VossenWarren WhittakerDavid C. WilsonThe Winnipeg Foundation - Anonymous FundWinnipeg Symphony Orchestra SoundcheckProgramWomen's Committee of the WinnipegSymphony Orchestra

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