BUNME takes on Winnipeg!

Last Thursday, January 30th, the Brandon University New Music Ensemble had the opportunity to travel to Winnipeg and perform in the Millennium Library Skywalk Concert series as part of the Winnipeg New Music Festival. It was a great day filled with learning and experiences that I wanted to share.

We first set up our stage in the Carol Shield auditorium in the Millennium Library. Thankfully, this library has a large underground parkade, because we all know how terrible it is to find street parking in downtown spaces! It made it much easier for us to unload all of our gear.

BUNME, after (finally) finishing set up

Immediately after finishing set up at the Millennium Library, we had to quickly get to the Centennial Concert Hall, a few blocks away, to watch the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra rehearse for their concert the following evening. They were preparing for their show called "Metropolis Symphony" which featured Michael Daugherty's work based on the world of Superhero comics. It featured a wide array of percussion instruments, including an old ship bell (played much like a cowbell... but bigger). The fifth and final movement, "Red Cape Tango" featured a great bassoon solo. Of course, this solo is played by the bassoon professor here at Brandon University, my teacher, so I may be biased. Daugherty has written other wonderful solo moments for bassoon (Alligator Alley) and I wasn't surprised to see him use the bassoon again as a solo instrument.

Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, with conductor Daniel Raiskin

After we watched the rehearsal, we again had to quickly make our way back to the Millennium Library to perform our own concert! We were performing several pieces by Indigenous composers, including Ian Cusson, Beverley McKiver, and Cris Derksen. Several of our group members also had their own compositions inspired by Indigenous culture and customs that they shared with the audience. Overall I felt pretty good about the concert. The audience seemed really engaged! As we were packing up, a woman came up to me to say hi - my friend's grandmother happened to be at the show! She recognized me from when her granddaughter and I were in band together in high school. Small world!

BUNME, post-performance

Then, after packing up the vehicles, we were off again, back to the Centennial Concert Hall to have a composition workshop with Harry Stafylakis, the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra's composer-in-residence, and Jared Miller, a JUNO-nominated composer who's piano concerto was featured in the New Music Festival. They worked with the students who had compositions and provided us with ideas to add to the compositions. We also discussed what it was like to be a composer and their composition inspirations.

BUNME in discussion with Jared Miller

Overall, it was a wonderful day filled with a ton of music making and learning. Seeing the Winnipeg Symphony rehearse is always a treat, and it was quite the opportunity to meet and work with Harry and Jared personally.

Now, for the most important part!

The Brandon University Indigenous New Music Festival is taking place February 10-12th in and around the Brandon University School of Music! The goal of the festival is to "building intercultural understanding, partnerships and mutual respect through concerts, workshops and presentations". All concerts and events are FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. If you are interested in learning more about Indigenous perspectives in music, or just listening to some great tunes, please check out the following events below!