FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Sarah Slean and Mike Janzen Reimagine Broadway with the WSO Nov 7-9 Winnipeg, MB - October 29, 2014 – Manitoba-born jazz composer Mike Janzen (called “a rare and infectious gift” by JUNO-winner Steve Bell) and Canadian chanteuse Sarah Slean (described as “a Canadian national treasure” by Exclaim.ca) have teamed up with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra (WSO) to give the world premiere of a new show titled Reimagining Broadway in the WSO Air Canada Pops Series, November 7-9 at Centennial Concert Hall. The show features Mike Janzen on piano and joining Sarah Slean in vocals. Slean is no stranger to the Canadian music scene. With 3 JUNO nominations and endless accolades as “one of the most compelling acts Canada has to offer” (TIME magazine / Canada), Sarah has left audiences spellbound with her captivating, sultry voice and beautifully arresting presence on stage. Mike Janzen and his trio, one of Canada’s most entertaining jazz outfits, will add their hypnotic grooves and surging imagination to the show. Janzen and Slean selected popular songs from Broadway’s biggest shows, including Mary Poppins, Annie and Les Misérables, to create a program stamped with Janzen’s signature upbeat jazz style. His eclectic mix of orchestral arrangements includes African folk, swing tunes and some more classically developed styles. As for working with the WSO, Janzen said “The WSO has given me so many opportunities to arrange for orchestra and to learn and to grow. I love working with them. They have a great adventurous spirit and a nice big sound.” The project first came about when Janzen began thinking about what songs he wanted to play for his children, which lead to his first re-imagined Broadway song Chim Chim Cheree from Mary Poppins. This song landed on Janzen’s 2010 CD Try to Remember, which was played on CBC and lead to multiple collaborations with the WSO. Janzen was then given the opportunity from JUNO-winner Steve Bell, whom he has worked with on many occasions, to debut his version of Chim Chim Cheree at Massey Hall with the Toronto Symphony. After the success of this concert, Janzen decided he would love to do it as a whole show! Janzen’s goal was to arrange music that would offer a fresh experience for fans of Broadway music. He hopes that these exciting new versions will allow the audience to see themselves in the stories and resonate with the music. Janzen plans to take the show around Canada after the Winnipeg premiere. “It’s strong and it’s a lot of fun. The sky is the limit!” Air Canada Pops Reimagining Broadway Friday, November 7 - 8:00 PM Saturday, November 8 - 8:00 PM Sunday, November 9 - 2:00 PM Centennial Concert Hall Julian Pellicano, conductor; Sarah Slean, vocals; Mike Janzen, vocals, piano, arranger; George Koller, bass; Davide Di Renzo, drums Musicians In The Making Pre-concert performance on the Piano Nobile begins 45 minutes prior to the concerts. Friday, November 7 - St. Germain Music Studio Saturday, November 8 - Desautels Faculty of Music Division of Preparatory Studies Sunday, November 9 - Suzuki Music Winnipeg Pops Series Sponsor: Presenting Media Sponsor: Tickets start at $32.00 and 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. -30- MEDIA CALL: Friday, November 7 11:00 am – 11:30 am Centennial Concert Hall; Media to arrive at back stage entrance Lily Street MEDIA: For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact: Sarah Panas, Marketing & CommuniCations Coordinator p. (204) 949-3970 f. (204) 956-4271 e: [email protected] SUPPORT MATERIALS - Biographies 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, John Barbirolli 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. Sarah Slean, vocals Described as “one of the most compelling acts Canada has to offer,” (TIME Magazine) and nominated three times for her country’s top music prize (the JUNO Awards), multi-faceted Canadian singer/songwriter/pianist Sarah Slean seems to be hitting her stride. With her latest release, the ambitious double album Land & Sea, Sarah has created what The Montreal Gazette calls “a masterpiece.” Over her 14 year career, with nine recordings released in over ten countries worldwide, Sarah’s music has borrowed aspects of cabaret, rock, pop, and orchestral: all knit together by the startling poetry of her lyrics, virtuosic piano-playing, and that voice: “a 19th century Kate Bush” (Mersereau - CBC). In addition to headlining theatres across Canada, Sarah has also toured France, Germany, the US and Sweden and opened internationally for such artists as Ron Sexmsith, Feist, Alanis Morissette, Buck 65, Sarah Harmer, Andrew Bird, Chris Isaac, and Bryan Ferry. Mike Janzen, vocals, piano and arranger With forays into jazz, classical and pop music, Mike Janzen has established himself as a unique talent in Canada. His piano playing has been called, “a rare and infectious gift” (Steve Bell) and his jazz trio has been a regular feature on CBC radio and at festivals across the country. In 2012, Mike made his Massey Hall debut with the Toronto Symphony and his latest album, Try to Remember, received a glowing review from Christopher Loudon (The Jazz Times). His orchestral works have been performed across North America and his latest piece, How Can I keep from singing?, was debuted by the WSO and MFC in 2012. Last year, Mike released a solo piano record entitled Carols and is currently working on a new jazz project called Nudging Forever. .