Earlier this week, the Winnipeg Symphony launched this year’s high school concert series under the direction of music director Alexander Mickelthwate. The concerts put the orchestra into seven different Winnipeg-area schools, reaching five public school divisions and one private school.

The program, sponsored by the Richardson Foundation, introduces students in grades 9-12 to orchestral music in a unique, up close and personal way and also features the winner of the WSO’s annual Student Soloist Competition. This year, violinist Heather Stewart will join the orchestra in the third movement of Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto. The orchestra is also proud to bring the concert to Brandon on May 5, 2011, which will be the second time the Up Close & Orchestral program will reach beyond the city limits.

Voluntary students will have the opportunity to make their “WSO debut” as either the guest conductor during Bizet’s Toreador March from Carmen or as the “champagne-popping” guest artist during Strauss’s Champagne Polka.

Participating students will also enjoy – free of charge – the WSO’s premiere Soundbytes concert on November 4, Music, Movies & Maddin. Winnipeg filmmaker Guy Maddin hosts the concert that takes patrons on a journey of music and movies while exploring just how much classical music is used in Hollywood’s famous films.

For more information, please visit wso.ca.