The Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra is the only community-based professional jazz orchestra in Canada; its equal can be found in only a handful of major U.S. cities.

Dr. Richard Gillis and Sasha Boychouk founded the WJO in 1997, inspired by a vision of forming a professional big band with the best emerging and veteran musicians in Winnipeg. Commissioning new works and working with students and young musicians is an integral part of the WJO vision. Today, the orchestra roster boasts 18 to 25 musicians whose combined resumes touch every corner of performance jazz locally, nationally, and around the world.

Thanks, Winnipeg, for another great season of Big Band jazz!

Tickets for our 2009/10 season are on sale now. Join the WJO for an exciting concert season beginning with our season opening tribute to Count Basie - backed by Basie alumnus BUTCH MILES on drums. November's concert, titled Let's Dance, features Winnipeg favourite JANICE FINLAY alongside a trio of vocalists from the University of Manitoba. Verve recording artist DENZAL SINCLAIRE joins us for a tribute to the great Nat King Cole in December, and trombonist DAVE MCMURDO and the WJO rediscover some great music from the American Songbook in February. In March, with guest narrator and radio personality RON ROBINSON, the WJO presents a unique adaptation of West Side Story with a big band twist, and Belgian trumpeter BERT JORIS is our guest next May.

Don't miss a moment of the action - buy your tickets here.

AVAILABLE NOW!!

The WJO's brand new CD, Steppin' Out. Purchase your copy today.

Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra Corporate Sponsors