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The Desautels Concert Series

Comprised of six performances, the new concert series is set to showcase a wide range of music featuring faculty and guests of the DFOM and highlighting the stunning acoustics of the Desautels Concert Hall.

Associate Dean and pianist Laura Loewen believes the concert hall is the perfect venue for this new series: “I love the acoustics and the intimacy of the hall […] it feels like a place where you can take musical risks.”

She believes the concert series will be a wonderful addition to Winnipeg’s vibrant musical life, and is set to showcase many of the incredible faculty at the DFOM alongside the great variety and richness of the music that is created at the Faculty of Music.

This year, the DFOM is offering half and full subscription packages for its concert series alongside single ticket sales. See ticket information below for details or visit the Desautels Concert Series web page.

Stumble On

The concert series’ opening concert, Stumble On, spins Schubert and Müller’s story of a 19th century wanderer on its head. Starting at the end of the cycle, they work their way backwards, intermixing the songs with contemporary poetry and rock music to tell a story of isolation, loss, obsession, and addiction.

Stumble On features DFOM faculty members baritone Mel Braun, known for his work in oratorio, opera, recital, and choral conducting, and pianist Laura Loewen, known for her work as a collaborative pianist with many of Canada’s leading singers. They are joined by Hannah Green, a Winnipeg-based poet who is a poetry editor at CV, and VVONDER, one of Winnipeg’s most prominent rock bands whose members include Micah Braun, Nate Sheridan, and Joey Penner.

Green will be performing excerpts from her Governor General Literary Award-winning book of poetry Xanax Cowboy, while VVONDER will highlight music from their recently released second album Stumble On.

Professor Mel Braun explains how this project and unlikely collaboration came about and why it is so poignant today: “What has always struck me about Schubert’s setting of this poetry by Wilhelm Müller is its timelessness. The same kind of suffering found in these powerful songs is found all around us today […] Hannah Green’s poems, taken from her award-winning collection Xanax Cowboy trace the tortured world of addiction, an apt counterpoint to the kaleidoscopic emotional journey of our young wanderer. And the recent album by Winnipeg rock band VVONDER, Stumble On, covers many of the same messy feelings found in Winterreise. […] Schubert was desperately ill at the end of his life, but he kept stumbling on.”

Braun goes on to explain that they hope this collaboration will give listeners the space to reflect on their own journeys and find the strength to persevere among the harsh realities of today’s world. The performers also ask that the audience considers making a donation to St. Boniface Street Links.

Single Tickets

General $25 | Seniors $20 | Students $15 | Free for DFOM students (valid student ID required at purchase)

*Plus applicable fees.
*Single tickets can be purchased on the Desautels Concert Series page.

Season Ticket Packages
Half Season (3 Concerts)
General $70 | Seniors $55
Full Season (6 Concerts)
General $125 | Seniors $100

*To reserve please call Shannon at 431-293-5436.
An email address will be required to receive your tickets.

Desautels Concert Series schedule

All concerts take place in the Desautels Concert Hall (150 Dafoe Rd)

September 28, 2025 | 2:00 p.m.
Stumble On (Schubert’s Winter Journey Re-Imagined)
Baritone Mel Braun, pianist Laura Loewen, poet Hannah Green, and VVONDER

October 19, 2025 | 2:00 p.m.
Beyond Ideas
An afternoon of original arrangements and compositions performed by DFOM Jazz faculty

January 4, 2026 | 2:00 p.m.
Melody McKiver and Guests in Concert
Anishinaabe violist and composer Melody McKiver joined by Beverley McKiver, Daniel Roy, and Polaris Prize-winner Jeremy Dutcher

January 18, 2026 | 7:30 p.m.
Venus Unhinged
Music for winds and voice with the Winnipeg Chamber Winds Collective, conducted by Jacquie Dawson

February 6, 2025 | 2:00 p.m.
Piano Masterworks
Works for solo piano performed by Edmund Dawe, Dean Emeritus of the DFOM

March 29, 2026 | 2:00 p.m.
Winnipeg Baroque Brass Choir
Music for brass from the Winnipeg Baroque Brass Choir, co-directed by Andrew Balfour and Richard Gillis

Every Freeze Is Different will provide an opportunity to experience music in new ways, incorporating multimedia, narration, visual art, and singing, outside the norms of traditional classical performance. This music will not only bring people together, but will stimulate the senses and the imagination. It is a highly collaborative event, with participation of the Winnipeg Chamber Winds Collective, directed by Jacquie Dawson, including local musicians, students, and faculty from both the Desautels Faculty of Music and the School Art.

The title of the inaugural concert, Every Freeze Is Different (2017) is from a composition on the program by Yellowknife-based composer, Carmen Braden. Braden was inspired to write the work as she watched snow falling and noticed ice forming on lakes, while some leaves fell from trees and others remained clinging, still green, to their branches. She realized how the repeating cycles and seasons of all parts of life have infinite variations to be explored and celebrated. Also on the program is Stone’s Throw (2018), by Manitoba-born Jocelyn Morlock, who was one of Canada’s leading composers. This piece was inspired by Ann Southam’s music, much of which refers to the repetitive nature of so-called women’s work—such as weaving and washing dishes—with a joyful, sunny nature. The Great Flood (2024) references the Cree Creation story and is part of a body of oral literary stories of the Northern Cree, shared with Metis writer and Indigenous Culture Carrier Joyce Clouston by Elder Stanley McKay. Clouston’s text was set to music by Manitoba-born composer Karen Sunabacka. This work was commissioned for the opening of the Desautels Concert Hall and is the most recent of a series of works created by the mother-daughter team of Clouston and Sunabacka. The concert will open with American composer Paul Lansky’s Threads (2005), featuring DFOM students in the UofM Percussion Ensemble, directed by Victoria Sparks, along with the UofM eXperimental Improv Ensemble (XIE), directed by Gordon Fitzell.

The Desautels Faculty of Music is deeply committed to community engagement and sharing stories and musical experiences. The Sharing Our Voices series will welcome the local community into DFOM’s state-of-the-art facilities at the UofM campus and will also bring music to more remote communities. Upcoming programs in the Sharing Our Voices series include Tales from the North, student outreach concerts that explore stories from Korea to Canada and Turtle Island. These performances will take place on campus on January 29, in St. Laurent on February 3, and in Selkirk on February 10, 2025.

Every Freeze Is Different, created as part of the ReSound Community Concerts in partnership with Winnipeg’s New Music Festival, starts at 7:30pm and will be held at Desautels Concert Hall at 150 Dafoe Road. A reception will follow. The event is free of charge but your seat must be reserved. For more information, see: https://eventscalendar.umanitoba.ca/site/music/event/re-sound–every-freeze-is-different/.

The new venue is being christened with this seven-concert series showcasing diverse musical styles that highlight the versatility of the acoustically designed space.

The concert series

After the success of the Grand Opening Concert on Sept. 5 and the Homecoming Concert on Sept. 18 (both sold out), look for the season opener of the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra on Sept. 25, taking place in the new venue. Entitled Lament, the program features renowned and visionary Cree-Metis baritone Jonathan Adams, singing baroque and urgent new musical lamentations, joined by Cree flutist-composer Jessica Sparvier-Wells and Cree filmmaker Tyson Houseman. Past, present and future are woven together in a call to reflect on the responsibilities of living on and from Indigenous land. Houseman’s extraordinary projections will fill the newly opened Desautels Concert Hall as we witness a moving Cree takeover of the historical Lam ent form through story, song, light and shadow. Guiding you through stirring discoveries, disruptions, and landscapes, this concert will leave you changed. 

The Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra plays the new hall on Oct. 19, featuring iconic Cree playwright and musician Tomson Highway, who brings his talent, wit, charm and boundless enthusiasm back home to Winnipeg as the WJO, with acclaimed Cree vocalist Patricia Cano, reimagines music from his award-winning plays “The Post Mistress,” “Cree County,” “The Rez Sisters,” and others. 

On Oct. 20, the Dead of Winter choral ensemble presents Nestaweya, celebrating the award-winning poetry of Katherena Vermette. In choral settings by leading Indigenous composers, this Dead of Winter program is curated by Andrew Balfour and UM’s Mel Braun and is sponsored by City of Song.

Nestaweya means “three points” in Cree. Locally, it represents The Forks and the great rivers that brought the Cree, Ojibwe and Dakota peoples together. Dead of Winter celebrates water and the pre-settler roots of Winnipeg with a concert featuring the music of Indigenous composers Melody McKiver, Ian Cusson and Andrew Balfour set to the words of Metis poet/author Katharena Vermette, and will include Indigenous Songkeepers.

UM orchestra, opera and ensembles concerts

UM orchestra, opera and ensembles are featured as part of the Grand Opening Concert Series in late October and early November.

The UM Symphony Orchestra‘s opening concert of the year takes place in the new Desautels Concert Hall on Oct. 24. The program explores the rich tapestry of Northern and Central European string orchestra music, opening with Edvard Grieg’s “Holberg Suite,” a charming nod to Baroque dance forms infused with Norwegian elegance. Béla Bartók’s “Romanian Folk Dances” follows, capturing the lively and vibrant rhythms of Hungarian folk traditions. Einojuhani Rautavaara’s “Divertimento” offers a serene and modern reflection of Finnish musical beauty.

The second half features Antonín Dvořák’s “Serenade for Strings,” a masterpiece brimming with Czech folk-inspired melodies and warm, lyrical themes. Dvořák’s work encapsulates the spirit of the Czech Republic, offering a joyful and uplifting finale to our European exploration.

On Oct. 25, the UM Concert Band and Wind Ensemble present “Sea to Sky” in the new venue, featuring a collection of works inspired by nature, landscape and the elements. Music by Ralph Vaughan Williams, Cait Nishimura, Viet Cuong, Kevin Lau, and the Canadian premiere of “Rivers” by Isabella Morrill. 

Next to be presented are two performances by UM Opera Theatre, on Nov. 6 and 7, of Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute) — the first opera to grace the stage of the new Desautels Concert Hall. Sung by students from the Graduate and Undergraduate voice program and accompanied by UMSO under the direction of Monica Chen, this Singspiel is sure to thrill. A Singspiel combines singing and spoken dialogue, a bit like a musical. This production is staged by Tracy Dahl, and will be sung in German with English dialogue. Come celebrate the talent of our wonderful DFOM students as they bring this classic tale to life.

Learn more about ⁠⁠the Desautels Concert Hall and the Grand Opening Concert Series

WATCH: A new stage for creativity and UM students

WATCH: The magic of the first note (UM faculty)

WATCH: A symphony of support

Concert series schedule

All concerts take place in the new Desautels Concert Hall.

Information on parking and getting to the hall

Sept. 25, 7:30 PM: Manitoba Chamber Orchestra presents “Lament” with Cree-Metis baritone Jonathan Adams 

Oct. 19, 7:30 PM: Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra with Tomson Highway

Oct. 20, 3 PM: Dead of Winter choral ensemble presents Nestaweya

Oct. 24, 7:30 PM: UM Symphony Orchestra presents Northern and Central European string orchestra music

Oct. 25, 7:30 PM: UM Concert Band and Wind Ensemble presents “Sea to Sky”

Nov. 6, 7 PM: UM Opera Theatre presents Mozart’s “The Magic Flute”

Nov. 7, 7 PM: UM Opera Theatre presents Mozart’s “The Magic Flute”

A hub for artistic excellence 

The Desautels Concert Hall is a testament to the University of Manitoba’s commitment to the arts and its connection to the broader Winnipeg community. This intimate venue, designed with acoustic perfection in mind, is equipped with professional-grade sound recording equipment, an orchestra pit, staging areas for both orchestras and choirs, and ample facilities for performers of all kinds. The hall’s design and infrastructure ensure it will serve as a versatile space for a wide range of performances, from classical music to contemporary arts. 

Michael Nesbitt [BA/57, BComm/56, LLD/15], a key supporter of the concert hall, underscores its significance. “Great universities deserve great artistic venues,” he said. “It seemed to me the logical thing to do would be to try and support the university in getting a concert hall that’s worthy of its name.”  

A beacon for the arts community 

The opening of the Desautels Concert Hall comes at a crucial time for Winnipeg’s arts scene and is set to fill a significant gap in the city’s cultural landscape. It is the only venue of its size in the south end of the city, making it a vital addition not just for the university but for the entire province.  

“Spaces like this demonstrate who we are as a civilization and what’s important to us, and I’m excited to see how the wider community will make use of the hall,” said Louise May [BES/86].  

May is the daughter of Shirley and William [CA/54] Loewen, who made a financial donation so the Desautels Faculty of Music could purchase a grand piano for the hall. The concert grand piano is among the best in the world – offering uncommon clarity, richness and nuance that will captivate audiences. It will serve as a wonderful complement to this new space.  

The power of generosity 

The Desautels Concert Hall is also a testament to the power of philanthropy in shaping educational and cultural institutions. 

“My mother had all of us in lessons to a greater or lesser degree,” said May. “I played the piano quite a lot growing up and I know she always loved it when the piano was being played. I would imagine she had this in mind when she decided to make this gift. My dad and I were invited to the hall to see the piano in place, and I played a song on it that my mom always loved. I was very thankful to be able to honour my mom’s gift that way. What a beautiful piano indeed!” 

This instrument is not only a valuable addition to the hall but also a crucial tool for teaching and learning, embodying the family’s deep commitment to music education. Their generosity ensures that students in the Desautels Faculty of Music will have access to the best possible resources to hone their craft. 

The new hall would not have been possible without the support of the late Dr. Marcel Desautels [BA (LatPh)/55, LLB/59, LLM/65, LLD (Hons)/99], benefactor and namesake for the faculty, who made a generous $20 million gift to the faculty, designating $10 million specifically for a new concert hall. Other generous donors followed his lead, such as Gail Asper [BA/81, LLB/84, LLD/08] who has been a staunch supporter of the arts at UM over the years. 

In addition to Nesbitt’s generous financial donation, he has loaned two significant art pieces – a Sol LeWitt wall drawing in the foyer and the iconic “Forever Bicycles” sculpture by Ai Weiwei at the entrance to the building – demonstrating his belief in the importance of integrating visual arts into the fabric of the university’s cultural offerings. 

As the curtain rises on the Desautels Concert Hall, it stands as a beacon of what can be achieved when a community comes together in support of the arts. This venue, with its perfect blend of acoustic brilliance, artistic integration, and community support, is poised to become a cornerstone of Manitoba’s cultural life for generations to come. 

“Music is universal, so there’s no question in my mind that the hall will be a real interest to not only local artists but also performers from around the world,” said Nesbitt. 

Experience the new hall for yourself by attending the Grand Opening Concert Series. More info and tickets available on the website. 

The new hall will be christened with a Grand Opening concert in just a few days, on Sept. 5. The magnificent, state-of-the art performance venue boasts an impressive entrance and lobby area, beautiful auditorium architecture and superb acoustics, and a configurable stage for a variety of performances.

As one of several key supporters of the project, Nesbitt’s motivation stemmed from the idea that “great universities deserve great artistic venues.”

He also wanted to share his deep appreciation of opera and musical performance. The world-class facility would give others “the opportunity to enjoy what I have enjoyed,” he says — to enhance the lives of other Manitobans as he feels his own life has been enhanced by the arts.

Beyond his generous financial donation, Nesbitt, who is an avid visual art lover, has loaned two important pieces of art that will elevate the venue. A gleaming silver sculpture “Forever Bicycles” by renowned artist Ai Weiwei marks the entrance, while a striking Sol LeWitt wall-drawing graces the building’s foyer.

Watch the video for glimpses of the new venue and to hear more about Nesbitt’s motivation as a donor.

>>Learn more about the ⁠⁠new Desautels Concert Hall and the concert series coming to the venue this fall.

A performance space and rental facility: The new Desautels Concert Hall provides UM musicians — students and instructors alike — with a state-of-the art venue for their performances and training. The concert hall is also connected to bright, new rehearsal spaces where performers can warm up and rehearse before and during events.

With its gorgeous architecture and acoustics, flexible stage design and intimate seating layout, the concert hall is an ideal venue for a variety of Winnipeg’s musical and artistic organizations, creating expanded performance opportunities in a beautiful setting.

It’s an emotional prospect; the new venue at the heart of Fort Garry campus has been long awaited.

The Desautels Concert Hall will be an incredible space for music education, says Sparks. “It’s really magical to get to perform right here on campus … and we’re excited that we get to share what we do here at our home in the Tache Arts Complex,” she adds.

The state-of-art venue will provide many benefits for teaching and performing at UM, as well as for the broader arts community in Winnipeg and beyond. The concert hall is connected to bright, new rehearsal spaces where performers can warm up and rehearse before and during events.

As Braun notes, ‘We have not had anything like this at the University — this is the piece that was missing.”

Seasoned performers themselves, Braun and Sparks also spoke about the magic of performing on a special stage in an auditorium like the new concert hall — the moment when the spotlight comes up and the first note sounds.

Watch the video to see their performances and hear that they said.

Featuring:

Mel Braun, Vocalist, Professor, Desautels Faculty of Music

Victoria Sparks, Percussionist, Instructor, Desautels Faculty of Music

*Sparks is playing an instrument called the marimba; the musical piece is “Disturdance” composed by Tetyana Haraschuk, an alum from the jazz program at the Desautels Faculty of Music.

>>Learn more about the ⁠⁠new Desautels Concert Hall and the concert series coming to the venue this fall.

An outstanding performance space and rental facility, the Desautels Concert Hall provides UM musicians — students and instructors alike — with a state-of-the art space for their performances and training. With its gorgeous architecture and acoustics, flexible stage design and intimate seating layout, the concert hall is also an ideal venue for a variety of Winnipeg’s musical and artistic organizations, creating expanded performance opportunities in a beautiful setting.

Next month, a brand new, state-of-the-art performance facility opens at the University of Manitoba – the grand finale in the ambitious multi-year Taché Arts Project.  

“The curtains are being installed as we speak,” says Mel Braun, Voice Area Head at the Desautels Faculty of Music. 

A project decades in the making – Braun first heard rumblings of a new concert hall being built when he joined the faculty in 1987 – the work began in earnest when faculty benefactor and namesake Dr. Marcel Desautels generously gifted $20 million to the university, with half that amount specifically allocated to a premier performance arts space. 

To read more on this story, please visit Classic 107. 

We asked one current music student and one incoming student what they’re most looking forward to about the new venue. Brady Barrientos and Sophie Caron also got to try out the stage in the (empty) auditorium!

From the gorgeous acoustics to the beauty of the venue, there was a sense of magic when the spotlight came up and the two performed on the stage for the very first time.

Watch the video to see their performances and hear that they said.

Featuring:

Brady Barrientos, vocalist, 5th year student, Bachelor of Music (Performance)

Sophie Caron, cello, incoming student, Bachelor of Music (Performance)

 

>>Learn more about the ⁠⁠new Desautels Concert Hall and the concert series coming to the venue this fall.

A performance space and rental facility: The Desautels Concert Hall provides UM musicians — students and instructors alike — with a state-of-the art venue for their performances. For students, the valuable performance experience the hall provides is critical to their training. The concert hall is also  connected to bright, new rehearsal spaces where performers can warm up and rehearse before and during events.

With its flexible stage design and intimate seating layout, the concert hall as a rental facility will be an ideal venue for a variety of Winnipeg’s musical and artistic organizations, creating expanded performance opportunities for them in a beautiful setting.