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Winnipeg Children Perform With National Arts Centre Orchestra

Music Connections blends First Nations art and western music

WINNIPEG, MB – The University of Winnipeg’s Wii Chiiwaakanak Learning Centre is pleased to participate in a unique program that will see 90 inner-city students perform with Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra on Wednesday, November 12 at Westminster United Church. The children from Mulvey and Dufferin schools are completing a 10-week program that allowed them to create and decorate their own Native American flutes and learn to play Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, blending First Nations art and western music traditions.

The University of Winnipeg’s Wii Chiiwaakanak Learning Centre is partnering with the NAC for “Music Connections-Winnipeg” together with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, the Winnipeg School Division and Learning Through the Arts of The Royal Conservatory (Toronto).

The children’s culminating performance with eight brass musicians from NAC takes place on November 12 at Westminster United Church from 1:00 to 2:00 pm. Up to 800 people are expected to attend and seating is on a first-come basis.

The Wii Chiiwaakanak Learning Centre, which opened its doors to the community in November 2005, provides programming and services that support the inner-city community and partners with First Nations and Métis organizations in building healthy communities.

Wii Chiiwaakanak was developed in collaboration with the University of Winnipeg Foundation, Southeast Resource Development Council, The Government of Canada’s Urban Aboriginal Strategy, RBC Financial, the North West Company, and a growing number of First Nations, Métis, Inuit, and inner-city organizations. The Wii Chiiwaakanak Learning Centre is providing ongoing research and administrative support for the “Music Connections – Winnipeg” project.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Leah Gazan, Faculty/Coordinator, The Wii Chiiwaakanak Learning Centre,The University of Winnipeg
P: 204.789.1431, E: l.gazan@uwinnipeg.ca