The Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra welcomes and shares its performance and creation of music - a universal language to all people irrespective of culture, race, sexuality, ability, language and gender.
The Nutcracker, Ellington & Elf, Oh My!
special guests comedian Quinn Greene and dancer Calantha Jensen
Thursday, December 19th, 2024 | 1:00 pm (no intermission) | 7:30 pm
West End Cultural Centre (WECC)
The WJO brings you the classic Ellington version of the Nutcracker Suite! If Sugar Rum Cherries, a Peanut Brittle Brigade and Danse of the Floreadores weren't enough, our second act features Buddy the Elf as he journeys from the North Pole to New York City to a very swinging' soundtrack! Featuring special guests comedian Quinn Greene and dancer Calantha Jensen, this eclectic concert will be sure to send your Christmas spirit soaring!
special guests comedian Quinn Greene and dancer Calantha Jensen
Thursday, December 19th, 2024 | 1:00 pm (no intermission) | 7:30 pm
West End Cultural Centre (WECC)
The WJO brings you the classic Ellington version of the Nutcracker Suite! If Sugar Rum Cherries, a Peanut Brittle Brigade and Danse of the Floreadores weren't enough, our second act features Buddy the Elf as he journeys from the North Pole to New York City to a very swinging' soundtrack! Featuring special guests comedian Quinn Greene and dancer Calantha Jensen, this eclectic concert will be sure to send your Christmas spirit soaring!
WJO 2024-2025 Season
From Saturday, October 19, 2024 featuring Tomson Highway to Sunday, May 11, 2025 featuring the music of Aretha Franklin - the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra offers exciting, eclectic and meaningful music.
Check out the rest of our season!
- Music from the African diaspora with Kelly Bado,
- Singalong to famous Winnipeg songs,
- See Ellington's Nutcracker and Elf! come to life with actor Quinn Greene,
- soulful jazz standards from the Filipina vocalist, Charito,
- Our fourth annual Women's Day Concert and Symposium, and
- The music of Sinatra and artists who straddled the jazz and Pride communities.
Check out the rest of our season!
- Music from the African diaspora with Kelly Bado,
- Singalong to famous Winnipeg songs,
- See Ellington's Nutcracker and Elf! come to life with actor Quinn Greene,
- soulful jazz standards from the Filipina vocalist, Charito,
- Our fourth annual Women's Day Concert and Symposium, and
- The music of Sinatra and artists who straddled the jazz and Pride communities.
So you missed Giving Tuesday? Don't worry! Give Now!
Please donate to the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra so we can continue to provide you with the best in big band jazz.
We annually hire over 65 musicians, intentionally choosing professional musicians from varied backgrounds. Every year, we present a concert with all female performers and conductor to tie in with the International Women's Day. We also coordinate the timing of our Women in Jazz Symposium with this concert. School groups, students and the public are all welcome to attend!
We hold composers workshops, mentor emerging composers for big band (whose pieces you will hear at our concerts!), commission compositions from established Canadian composers and are working on our eighth (and ninth!) CDs.
Some of our dreams (the Canadian Jazz Composers Workshop and the Women in Jazz Symposium) are now established and building larger audiences every year. We appreciate all of you who have donated toward our events and education initiatives. If you haven't yet and would like to donate, please use the button below or go to our donation page here. We have more ideas to explore and new experiences to bring to you!
We annually hire over 65 musicians, intentionally choosing professional musicians from varied backgrounds. Every year, we present a concert with all female performers and conductor to tie in with the International Women's Day. We also coordinate the timing of our Women in Jazz Symposium with this concert. School groups, students and the public are all welcome to attend!
We hold composers workshops, mentor emerging composers for big band (whose pieces you will hear at our concerts!), commission compositions from established Canadian composers and are working on our eighth (and ninth!) CDs.
Some of our dreams (the Canadian Jazz Composers Workshop and the Women in Jazz Symposium) are now established and building larger audiences every year. We appreciate all of you who have donated toward our events and education initiatives. If you haven't yet and would like to donate, please use the button below or go to our donation page here. We have more ideas to explore and new experiences to bring to you!
Thank you for keeping Big Band Jazz alive
The Winnipeg Foundation logo - For Good. Forever.
Introducing the WJO Endowment Fund!
We are overjoyed to let you know that an anonymous donor has made a significant donation to The Winnipeg Foundation to start a
Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra Endowment Fund!
Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra Endowment Fund!
With matching funds from The Winnipeg Foundation and the Canada Cultural Investment Fund, this fund will make a meaningful impact on our annual budgets for years to come. The annual revenue we receive from the interest from this fund will contribute to the WJO’s stability and sustainability. We know many of you plan to make a donation before year-end. If you are able to add a little extra for the endowment fund, we would be eternally grateful - because the support from this fund will continue to support the WJO forever!
You can make your donation on The Winnipeg Foundation website by clicking on the GIVE icon and choosing the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra. This endowment, along with your regular donations and the support of funding bodies, will ensure continued music-making by the WJO.
Thank you to The Winnipeg Foundation and the Canadian Endowment Incentives fund for their support.
You can make your donation on The Winnipeg Foundation website by clicking on the GIVE icon and choosing the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra. This endowment, along with your regular donations and the support of funding bodies, will ensure continued music-making by the WJO.
Thank you to The Winnipeg Foundation and the Canadian Endowment Incentives fund for their support.
Tidal Currents: East Meets West has been nominated for a
Western Canadian Music Award!
(Our next CD Release is scheduled for January 26!)
The Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra’s seventh release features a commission between two of Canada’s most compelling writers for Big Band Jazz:
Jill Townsend and Christine Jensen.
The music born of this meeting reflects on the places that meant the most to them, especially the bodies of water that surrounded them both in their youth up until the present.
The album was released on February 2nd, 2024 through Chronograph Records.
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"This is a stellar release by a superb ensemble, with thought-provoking compositions from the featured guests.
Multiple listening sessions will reveal new layers each time." David Reed – Belleville Intelligencer, 2024 |
"For its seventh album, the venerable and always excellent Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra commissioned a suite from two of
Canada's most compelling writers for big band: Jill Townsend and Christine Jensen… Impeccable recorded sound does the whole project justice." Robert Rowat – CBC Music |
The Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra has been nominated for
a Western Canadian Music Award - Jazz Artist of the Year
four times: in 2019, 2022, 2023 and 2024!
Education events
Resources for Students and Teachers:
School subscriptions are available for the 2023-2024 season!
Contact [email protected] for more information.
If you would like your band to beta-test our upcoming play-along app, please contact [email protected]. Expected dates: fall 2023 or winter 2024.
Play-along charts for students are available HERE.
Jazz Skills videos are available HERE. - More videos coming!
School subscriptions are available for the 2023-2024 season!
Contact [email protected] for more information.
If you would like your band to beta-test our upcoming play-along app, please contact [email protected]. Expected dates: fall 2023 or winter 2024.
Play-along charts for students are available HERE.
Jazz Skills videos are available HERE. - More videos coming!
Thank you to the Manitoba government for a grant to increase our inclusivity and diversity
and a grant to assist our move to electronic, paper-less music.
- Any event may be altered or cancelled without notice.
- Pictures and videos may be taken at any event. By attending you give permission for your image to be used in marketing or promotional materials.
- Masks are welcomed at events, but not required. We thank everyone for being considerate of their neighbour and not attending if they are not feeling well. Our primary concern is your safety and the safety of our musicians, volunteers and staff.
- Pictures and videos may be taken at any event. By attending you give permission for your image to be used in marketing or promotional materials.
- Masks are welcomed at events, but not required. We thank everyone for being considerate of their neighbour and not attending if they are not feeling well. Our primary concern is your safety and the safety of our musicians, volunteers and staff.
