From its founding, the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra has been a pillar in the Canadian music scene, commissioning and premiering hundreds of new works. The Canadian Music Centre recognized the WSO with its Award of Excellence for its work promoting the Canadian voice. This work has also been recognized by a 2017 JUNO win and 2018 nomination for best classical recording of the year.

In 2011, the WSO founded Sistema Winnipeg (based on the famous Venezuelan El Sistema), in partnership with two Winnipeg school divisions, to deliver daily, intensive music education that focuses on children with the fewest resources and greatest need in Winnipeg’s urban core.

Over 40,000 students attend orchestra concerts presented by the WSO each season. The WSO’s innovative pops and film programs introduce a rapidly growing audience to symphonic music.

The WSO’s activity regularly extends beyond its home stage at the Centennial Concert Hall in Winnipeg. It has produced concerts everywhere, from Olympic size diving boards to cottage country harbours.

Each year, the WSO’s much-lauded Winnipeg New Music Festival features four full orchestral programs plus numerous additional concerts, regularly drawing crowds in the thousands. The 2018 edition had over 11,000 attendees. Headliners of the Winnipeg New Music Festival have included Philip Glass, Meredith Monk, David Lang, Joan Tower, R. Murray Schafer, Arvo Pärt, Christos Hatzis, Samy Moussa, Kelly Marie Murphy, Stephen O’Malley and Caroline Shaw, just to name a few. WNMF has also helped support the careers of exciting Canadian composers like Vincent Ho, Jocelyn Morlock and Eliot Britton.

The orchestra has toured twice to Carnegie Hall and regularly performers across Manitoba and Canada.