Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra wins sole Canadian spot in Carnegie Hall showcase

The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra has been chosen to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York City in 2014. It's part of Spring for Music, a North American showcase of orchestras.

The WSO was chosen from among more than 30 orchestras across the continent who applied. Selection was partly based on creative and innovative programming.  The public was able to vote on line for their favourite program and the WSO's program bested the others by more than 1000 votes. 

The WSO's program will include a work for percussionist Evelyn Glennie written by composer-in-residence Vincent Ho called The Shaman, a hit from 2010 featuring Inuit throat singer Tanya Tagaq and R. Murray Schafer's Symphony No.1. "The program is really our soul," says music director Alexander Mickelthwate. "It's us - Winnipeg."

The festival will feature 6 orchestras over 6 days from May 5 to May 10, 2014. The WSO is the only Canadian ensemble chosen. They will perform along with the New York Philharmonic, the Seattle Symphony and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.

The announcement was made as part of the launch of the 2012 New Music Festival.