FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Ace Burpee hosts WSO Christmas show with host of talent, Dec. 14

Winnipeg, MB — December 8, 2014 — Wildly funny radio host Ace Burpee will host A Prairie Christmas Celebration: an annual Christmas variety show with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra (WSO), December 14. The matinee Christmas concert will feature sensational Manitoba talent, including comedy, visual arts, magic, music, storytelling, and a sing-along!

The WSO is excited to break out the Christmas cheer with this traditional jamboree of local talent. Conductor Julian Pellicano will bestow Christmas spirit on audiences as he guides the music; and local celebrity Obby Khan will bring smiles to people’s faces as he narrates ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.

The exciting list of performers includes JUNO-nominated vocalist Don Amero, emerging classical artist Justin Odwak, who will sing God Bless Us Everyone, aerial artists Momentum Aerial, Sistema Winnipeg Orchestra, Odette Heyn-Projects dancers, and WSO mascot Manny Tuba.

A Prairie Christmas Celebration Sunday, December 14 - 2:00 PM Centennial Concert Hall Julian Pellicano, conductor; Ace Burpee, host; Justin Odwak, tenor; Kris Kornelsen, baritone; Pembina Trails Voices: Cantemus, David Sawatzky, conductor; Chorale, Monika Lukomska, conductor; Men, Philip Lapatha, conductor; Boys: Alisa Wiebe, conductor; Obby Khan, narrator; Don Amero, vocals; Momentum Aerial, aerialists; W. Darling, vocals; Odette Heyn-Projects; Sistema Winnipeg Orchestra; Manny Tuba, mascot

MUSICIANS IN THE MAKING Pre-concert performance on the Piano Nobile Sunday, 1:15 PM - Sistema Winnipeg Orchestra

Tickets from $32.45 and Children 12 and Under from $17.75. Tickets are available through the WSO Box Office: 204.949.3999 or wso.ca or Ticketmaster: 1.855.985.ARTS and Ticketmaster.ca

The WSO is integral to Winnipeg's rich cultural life, delighting more than 100,000 audience members each year with innovative programming and musical excellence. The WSO presents educational programs for more than 40,000 students annually and tours to communities across Manitoba.

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MEDIA: For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact: Sarah Panas, Marketing & Communications Coordinator p. (204) 949-3970 | e: [email protected]

SUPPORT MATERIALS - Biographies

Ace Burpee, host

Ace Burpee has worked in radio for over a decade in almost every capacity, but is mostly well known for the hundreds of charitable events and causes that he donates his time to every year. He is currently the host of The Ace Burpee Show on 103.1 Virgin Radio, a columnist with Metro Winnipeg and the host of The Great Tastes of Manitoba on CTV. Ace is a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for his service to our community, he is the recipient of a Hero of Mental Health Award from the Canadian Mental Health Association and this year, was recognized as a Manitoba Hero. He is proudly from Cooks Creek, Manitoba.

Kris Kornelsen, baritone

Baritone Kris Kornelsen is no stranger to the music scene in Winnipeg. He has sung as both a soloist and chorister with The Winnipeg Singers and Canzona and has enjoyed guest appearances with The Manitoba Chamber Orchestra, The Mennonite Oratorio Choir and the Winnipeg Philharmonic Choir. Kris has performed as soloist in performances of Handel’s Messiah, Haydn’s Creation, and Bach’s St. John and St. Matthew’s Passions. He is known for his musicianship and ability to actively communicate with his audiences. He brings a refreshingly bright yet warm vocal quality marked by sensitive phrasing to his performances. Kris is also very active singing various styles of music, from classical to jazz, gospel and pop with the mixed vocal quartet, Encore.

Pembina Trails Voices:

Cantemus: David Sawatzky, conductor Chorale: Monika Lukomska, conductor Men: Philip Lapatha, conductor Boys: Alisa Wiebe, conductor Leanne Regehr Lee and Amanda Hahn-Tomchuk, accompanists

Pembina Trails Voices (PTV) has been thrilling audiences for thirty-three years! PTV is comprised of choristers from Kindergarten through Grade 12 in eight choirs reflecting their various stages of vocal and musical development. PTV choirs are consistent winners in festivals and competitions, locally, provincially, nationally as well as internationally, demonstrating the choir’s ambition for exceptional choral performances. PTV tours have taken choristers from locations in Manitoba and the US to festivals and competitions across , Europe and Latin America. PTV is looking forward to their upcoming tour to China in July, 2015. Locally, the choirs are in demand as guest artists with the WSO, MCO, Winnipeg Philharmonic Choir and The Winnipeg Singers. The choirs are thrilled to be in concert with the WSO and look forward to performing Britten’s War Requiem with the WSO in March 2015. Obby Khan, narrator Ibrahim "Obby" Khan was born in where he attended Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School and played football and rugby. He was former Center for the , and Ottawa Renegades. He is now owner and operator of Shawarma Khan, and is co-owner of Green Carrot Juice Co.

Don Amero, vocals

You can call Don Amero one of the hardest working independent musicians in showbiz today. Since leaving his job as a hardwood flooring installer seven years ago to pursue music fulltime, the Winnipeg singer/songwriter has toured coast-to-coast, appeared on national television, presented at festivals, performed with the symphony, showcased in , been nominated for Canada’s most prestigious music awards, and played W. Brett Wilson’s The Garden Party (twice!).

Don’s four albums have generated nine national/international awards, and more than two- dozen nominations, including the 2013 JUNO Awards. He captivates audiences of all ages with powerful and expressive vocals, percussion-style guitar play, and engaging storytelling. He is often called upon as a keynote speaker, and to deliver workshops for youth. Don Amero’s story inspires, and his message is one of encouragement, positivity and beauty. He continues to impress wherever he goes.

Momentum Aerial, aerial artistry

Momentum is Winnipeg's premiere aerial dance company dedicated to creating exciting performances combining the worlds of dance with aerial circus acrobatics. Established in 2004 by co- directors & choreographers Monica Goermann & Liz Cooper, Momentum's artists perform on silks, hoop, trapeze, rope, slings, and harness for gala events and full- length original productions, both locally and internationally. Momentum's home training facility, Monica's Danz Gym, offers training in aerial arts for all ages & levels from beginner to professional, encouraging creativity and artistry using innovative circus equipment.

W. Darling, vocals

Hayley Gene Heyn-Penner, who goes by her stage name, W Darling is a Winnipeg born singer- songwriter. After moving to Toronto, she was discovered by Nael Atweh, up- and-coming manager and brother to the Grammy Award-winning songwriter and lead singer of MAGIC!, Nasri. The power brother duo promptly signed her to Nasri’s production team, The Messengers and BMG Chrysalis in Los Angeles. Hayley most recently performed her song You & Me at Madison Square Garden with sonic innovator, Bassnectar and will be releasing her debut record titled, Lost Girls with Universal in early 2015. Hayley is thrilled to be back in her hometown working with her dear friend and gifted composer, Dan Wiebe as well as her mother Odette Heyn, legacy choreographer and long-time collaborator with the WSO.

Odette Heyn Projects Odette Heyn, as Co-Founder and Co-Director of the Professional Program of The School of Contemporary Dancers, has choreographed works, both nationally and internationally, for various performances including The Festival of Canadian Modern Dance, the Olympics Danscene (Calgary 1988) the Kuan Du Arts Festival in Taipei, the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and the CalgaryPhilharmonicOrchestra. In2006,Odettewas nominated for the “Woman of the Year” award for Arts and Culture through the YWCA. In the past four years Odette created two full-length works, which were hailed with glowing reviews, for the WSO’s La Noche de los Mayas and the Rite of Spring. She also choreographed for WSO’s Adventures in Music and SoundBytes. In 2012, Odette choreographed for the off-Broadway production Requiem for a Lost Girl and, in 2013, Mata Hari, in New York City and in December 2013 for the WSO. Odette performed in WCD’s Rachel Browne Tribute Tour in January 2013. In June 2013 Odette was the recipient of the Winnipeg Arts Council’s “Investors Group Making a Difference Award – for extraordinary contribution to the arts.” She is delighted to be returning to choreograph for this project and is thrilled to be working with dancers Carol-Ann Bohrn, Brett Owen, Aaron Paul and Robyn Thomson Kacki.

Sistema Winnipeg Orchestra Sistema Winnipeg is an innovative program that seeks to effect social change through the pursuit of musical excellence. Sistema Winnipeg is an inclusive after-school orchestra program that focuses on children with the fewest resources and greatest need, and is delivered at no cost to participants. This program uses the power of ensemble music to dramatically change the life trajectory of these children's lives, using philosophies of inclusion, teamwork, artistic excellence, intensity, mentorship, and community focus.

The WSO is partnering with the Seven Oaks School Division (SOSD) and the Winnipeg School Division (WSD) to offer this program to students in Winnipeg that will benefit the most. Currently, the program takes place at Elwick Commnuity School (in SOSD) and King Edward Community School (in WSD). The program includes 100 students in Grades 1-5 who meet every day after school from 3:30 pm – 6:30 pm to actively participate in music classes that include instrument sectionals (violin, viola, and bass), small ensemble, orchestra rehearsal, choir class, theory, and general music.

Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra

The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra has the good fortune to be located in a culturally vibrant city with a history of supporting cultural and community activities with enthusiasm and discernment. The WSO has been a vital component of the community since its incorporation on February 13, 1947. The debut concert was held on December 16, 1948 in the Civic Auditorium to an audience of 3,000 with Walter Kaufmann conducting. Subscription prices for the first season of five concerts ranged from $3 to $8 with single tickets starting at $0.75.

Walter Kaufmann was the orchestra’s first music director and following him came Victor Feldbrill, George Cleve, Piero Gamba, Kazuhiro Koizumi, Bramwell Tovey, Andrey Boreyko, and since 2005, Alexander Mickelthwate. Under their guidance, the orchestra has both earned a place among the ranks of major Canadian symphony orchestras and has come to be regarded as among Canada’s most innovative. Some of the eminent soloists who have appeared with the WSO include conductors Pierre Monteux, and Arthur Fiedler; violinists David Oistrakh and Itzhak Perlman; pianists Glenn Gould, Byron Janis, Gary Graffman, Leon Fleisher; singers Marilyn Horne and Maureen Forrester; cellists Zara Nelsova and Jacqueline du Pré and many others.

The WSO has toured throughout Canada, and made a first appearance at Carnegie Hall in 1979. The orchestra has worked very closely with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation since 1954 when the CBC began broadcasting portions of WSO concerts. The orchestra has released numerous recordings on the CBC label and has given thousands of national radio broadcasts since its inception. In addition to its own extensive season of concerts and educational activities, the WSO functions as the official orchestra of Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet and Manitoba Opera Association.

The WSO has developed an international reputation for its annual New Music Festival. Founded in January 1992 by Music Director Bramwell Tovey and the WSO’s first composer-in-residence, Glenn Buhr, the New Music Festival has provided an environment rich in exploration and discovery of new works by composers from Canada and around the world. It was in the New Music Festival that programming proposed for the Spring for Music Festival was first programmed and performed for the loyal New Music Festival audiences in Winnipeg. This appearance at Carnegie Hall on May 8, 2014 was a success for the WSO artistically, financially and on a community level. Hundreds of Manitobans travelled to New York to attend the concert and the celebratory after party at The Russian Tea Room that was attended by 720 people.