The Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra offers meaningful enrichment opportunities for students of all ages and abilities, with programming designed to immerse students in the amazing world of Jazz.
The WJO Big Band Workshops and Honour Jazz Bands provide learning environments that foster the growth of student musicians’ potential. These opportunities are designed to develop knowledge, skills, and values necessary for meaningful participation in music communities and a global society; focusing on engagement, inclusion, collaboration, and understanding.
WJO also offers students and their chaperones reduced-priced tickets to select matinees so that more young people can experience the thrill of live performance. There is a limited supply and requests will be honored in the order they are received.
The WJO Big Band Workshops and Honour Jazz Bands provide learning environments that foster the growth of student musicians’ potential. These opportunities are designed to develop knowledge, skills, and values necessary for meaningful participation in music communities and a global society; focusing on engagement, inclusion, collaboration, and understanding.
WJO also offers students and their chaperones reduced-priced tickets to select matinees so that more young people can experience the thrill of live performance. There is a limited supply and requests will be honored in the order they are received.
Jazz Band Workshops
Big Band Workshops take place every fall in host schools in south and north Winnipeg. They often sell out, so book your band in early! Contact [email protected], for information about future workshops.
Summer Jazz Camp for ages 12 - 18
AUGUST 17th - 22nd, 2025. Desaultes Faculty Of Music Building | University of Manitoba 150 Dafoe Road, R3T 2N2
The WJEC Summer Jazz Camp is a week-long intensive program for students ages 12 to 18, who are eager to learn about the jazz genre and refine their skills as young jazz improvisers. Never improvised before? Not a problem! Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, and Thelonious Monk all had to start somewhere! The program offers learning opportunities for all levels of improvisers, whether it is your first time or if you are a seasoned soloist. The program focuses on immersing students in the tradition of Black American improvised music, meeting mentors, and making lifelong music friends. It is a safe space to try new things, take chances, and ask questions. Find out more here.
The WJEC Summer Jazz Camp is a week-long intensive program for students ages 12 to 18, who are eager to learn about the jazz genre and refine their skills as young jazz improvisers. Never improvised before? Not a problem! Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, and Thelonious Monk all had to start somewhere! The program offers learning opportunities for all levels of improvisers, whether it is your first time or if you are a seasoned soloist. The program focuses on immersing students in the tradition of Black American improvised music, meeting mentors, and making lifelong music friends. It is a safe space to try new things, take chances, and ask questions. Find out more here.
Women-Led Jazz Symposium
The Winnipeg Women Jazz Orchestra presents a concert on Women's Day featuring all women musicians and all women composers or arrangers. The WJO has held three Women-Led Jazz Symposiums and many jazz performances with all female-identifying musicians.
The next symposium is planned for March 8, 2026 from 1:00 pm - 5:45 pm. The Young Women in Jazz concert starts at 7:10 and the Women's Day concert will be held at 7:30 pm.
Symposium: Adults $55, Students $40 (subsidized tickets available for students - see your band teacher for details closer to the event)
Concert: Adults $45, Students $22 (Discounted tickets to the symposium and evening concert are available.)
The next symposium is planned for March 8, 2026 from 1:00 pm - 5:45 pm. The Young Women in Jazz concert starts at 7:10 and the Women's Day concert will be held at 7:30 pm.
Symposium: Adults $55, Students $40 (subsidized tickets available for students - see your band teacher for details closer to the event)
Concert: Adults $45, Students $22 (Discounted tickets to the symposium and evening concert are available.)
Canadian Jazz Composers Workshop
The sixth Canadian Jazz Composers Workshop will be on August 10, 11 and 9 or 12, 2025 featuring David Braid and writing for strings.
July, 2024 featured in-person all-day sessions with David Braid.
September 16, 2023 Featuring David Braid "From Screenplay to Music: The Essentials of Writing for Film"
February 12, 2022 Sessions by Jeff Presslaff "Randomness is Your Friend: Rolling the Dice in Jazz Composition" and David Braid "Setting Limits to Enable Music Creativity and Originality".
September 18, 2021 Sessions by Paul Read: "THE PROCESS: Getting Started, Keeping it Going and Finishing” and Marianne Trudel: "Writing for large and small ensembles: creating the space for music to happen”
May 1, 2021 Featuring Christine Jensen, Fred Stride, Philippe Cote and John MacLeod
July, 2024 featured in-person all-day sessions with David Braid.
September 16, 2023 Featuring David Braid "From Screenplay to Music: The Essentials of Writing for Film"
February 12, 2022 Sessions by Jeff Presslaff "Randomness is Your Friend: Rolling the Dice in Jazz Composition" and David Braid "Setting Limits to Enable Music Creativity and Originality".
September 18, 2021 Sessions by Paul Read: "THE PROCESS: Getting Started, Keeping it Going and Finishing” and Marianne Trudel: "Writing for large and small ensembles: creating the space for music to happen”
May 1, 2021 Featuring Christine Jensen, Fred Stride, Philippe Cote and John MacLeod
Educational Video Projects - Jazz Skills
We have asked some of our experienced jazz instructors to produce short video introductions for anyone wanting to improve their skills or knowledge of jazz. Additional videos are posted periodically.
Play along charts
We are providing student-level charts for students to play along with. Most of these were new commissioned works by the WJO to provide more big band music aimed at specific skills. Watch for a new way to see and listen to these - coming in spring 2023!
Education project support by:
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