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 Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra has been nominated for Jazz Artist of the Year
- for a Western Canadian Music Award in 2023!
"A world-spanning treasury, superbly performed, Voices: A Musical Heritage is a "must-have" for adventurous jazz connoisseurs” The Midwest Book Review, The Library CD Shelf, MBR: Library Bookwatch, January 2023
"This is essential listening. “ The Belleville Intelligencer, Published Jan 12, 2023
"In featuring material by First Nations, Metis, Ukrainian, Jewish, Chilean, Brazilian, Nigerian, and Icelandic composers, the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra's sixth album is both a celebration of global diversity and by implication Canadian values of openness and inclusivity…. Voices – A Musical Heritage is also, full stop, another terrific musical statement from a Manitoba-based outfit that's dazzled listeners with concerts and recordings since Richard Gillis and Sasha Boychouk co-founded it in 1997.” Ron Schepper, Textura, January 2023
Have you heard Voices yet? Find it on all streaming platforms, Bandcamp, or buy it from our website here. |
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.
- Events may be altered or cancelled at any time.
- 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 indoor 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 indoor 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.
The Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra was
nominated for Jazz Artist of the Year
- for Western Canadian Music Awards in 2019, 2022 and 2023!

Voices is #1 in the Top 30 list of CJSF Radio (Vancouver)
CHARTS, Connor Ashton, Music Director, CJSF Radio 90.1 FM, Dec 14, 2022 at 6:10 PM
"Crossing the line to our top spot is the fantastic Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra with their latest stellar release "Voices - A Musical Heritage". Featuring a delicately eclectic mix of language, composition, and a breadth of expression across winds, percussion and rhythm, "Voices" reflects Manitoba's diverse heritage, with samplings at the table from the Ukrainian, Métis, Jewish, First Nations, Chilean, Brazilian, Nigerian, and Icelandic cultures. The whole album is worth a spin, and highly recommended. "
CHARTS, Connor Ashton, Music Director, CJSF Radio 90.1 FM, Dec 14, 2022 at 6:10 PM
"Crossing the line to our top spot is the fantastic Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra with their latest stellar release "Voices - A Musical Heritage". Featuring a delicately eclectic mix of language, composition, and a breadth of expression across winds, percussion and rhythm, "Voices" reflects Manitoba's diverse heritage, with samplings at the table from the Ukrainian, Métis, Jewish, First Nations, Chilean, Brazilian, Nigerian, and Icelandic cultures. The whole album is worth a spin, and highly recommended. "
Education events
Women in Jazz Symposium 2024:
Our third Women in Jazz Symposium will be held on Thursday, March 7, 2024 combined with an evening of women-led big band music.
Our third Women in Jazz Symposium will be held on Thursday, March 7, 2024 combined with an evening of women-led big band music.
Resources for Students and Teachers:
School subscriptions are available for the 2023-2024 season! Contact manager@winnipegjazzorchestra.com for more information.
If you would like your band to beta-test our upcoming play-along app, please contact manager@winnipegjazzorchestra.com. 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 manager@winnipegjazzorchestra.com for more information.
If you would like your band to beta-test our upcoming play-along app, please contact manager@winnipegjazzorchestra.com. 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 for keeping Big Band Jazz alive
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.
Last season we held three composers workshops, mentored emerging composers for big band (whose pieces you will hear at our concerts!), commissioned more compositions to reflect the different cultures in our great country and released our sixth CD. We presented a concert with all female performers and conductor to tie in with the International Women's Day and are held our Second Annual Women in Jazz Symposium.
Some of our dreams (the Canadian Jazz Composers Workshop and the Women in Jazz Symposium) were much better than we imagined, with people zooming in from all over North America.
Please donate to the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra so we can continue to provide you with the best in big band jazz. We have more ideas to explore and new experiences to bring to you!
Last season we held three composers workshops, mentored emerging composers for big band (whose pieces you will hear at our concerts!), commissioned more compositions to reflect the different cultures in our great country and released our sixth CD. We presented a concert with all female performers and conductor to tie in with the International Women's Day and are held our Second Annual Women in Jazz Symposium.
Some of our dreams (the Canadian Jazz Composers Workshop and the Women in Jazz Symposium) were much better than we imagined, with people zooming in from all over North America.
Please donate to the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra so we can continue to provide you with the best in big band jazz. We have more ideas to explore and new experiences to bring to you!