Canadian premiere

One of Handel’s lesser known and seldom performed works, Arminio will be gracing the Canadian stage for the first time in the UM’s very own Desautels Concert Hall. This new venue, praised for its excellent acoustics, is the perfect location for Canada’s first look at this opera. This intimate hall lends itself beautifully to the minute emotions and musical nuances brought by both singers and chamber orchestra.

Audiences will also have a chance to experience the Concert Hall’s state of the art projection equipment as projected imagery and artwork play an important role throughout the production.

A timely story

Arminio’s plot centers around the Roman Empire’s attempted annexation of Germanic states in 9CE, a narrative that feels all too familiar in today’s day and age. Director Katherine Twaddle highlights the parallels between this tale and current world events through the use of modern costumes and an updated setting. Set in a time of war, this tragic story revolves around familial ties and betrayal.

A cast of promising young artists

Handel’s music, with its vibrant arias, is a wonderful vessel to showcase the Desautels Faculty of Music’s flourishing voice area. The cast, mainly comprised of Master’s in Vocal Performance students and accompanied by a chamber orchestra of Desautels Faculty of Music instrumental students, look forward to showcasing their skills and bringing Handel’s story to life for audiences this weekend.

Performances

Friday, November 21, 2025
7:30 p.m. | Desautels Concert Hall

Purchase tickets

Saturday, November 22, 2025
2:30 p.m. | Desautels Concert Hall

Purchase tickets

Tickets are $25 general attendees and $12 for students and can be purchased online or at the door.

“I started taking piano lessons very young, then began studying the violin and the cello and then I became interested in chamber music,” says Greer. “By the time I finished high school me and a classmate had even written a musical version of Hamlet. It was just sort of obvious when I graduated that I would go into music.” 

When he arrived at the University of Manitoba, those sparks found structure. As a collaborative piano major, he found the technical and creative grounding that launched him into a life in music: vocal coaching, conducting, arranging, composing and performing.  

“All of those disciplines were sparked while I was a student at UM, and I treasure the friendships formed there that I’ve maintained to this day,” he says. “I credit my education at the University of Manitoba for preparing me so well not only for my graduate studies at the University of Southern California but also for my career in music, which turned out to be the perfect fit for me.” 

Now in his 70s, Greer is starting to think about giving back. He says it wasn’t until about a year ago that he realized he did not have an up to date will. As he began thinking about how to shape his legacy, he considered where his estate could make the most meaningful difference. He decided to channel his legacy toward the studies and disciplines that had given him purpose.  

“To encourage creative musicians is maybe the best thing that I could possibly do,” he says. “I hope that one day my gift might fund an education for a young, talented composer who has all the musical skills but who can’t afford it on their own. My gift may also serve to attract top students from across the the country or even the continent and perhaps raise the profile of the department as well.” 

Today Greer describes himself as semi-retired. He still teaches graduate singers at the Glen Gould Professional School, composes and arranges, and spends summers teaching abroad. His planned gift is an extension of a life-long belief in music’s power to transform: an education he once received, now a future he helps make possible for others. 

“Setting this framework was about more than finances,” he says. “It was about ensuring the priorities that matter to me endure, and that the next generation of creative musicians have a chance to begin where I began.” 

What does a future fueled by generosity look like? It’s in the faces of new graduates with big ideas, in bold research solutions for Manitoba and the world, and in community initiatives coming to life in collaborative ways. Here, a legacy of philanthropy is shaping the leaders, innovators and change-makers of tomorrow. Learn how you can get involved.

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

Listen and watch more at Classic 107.com

Music Courses available to all UM students

At the Desautels Faculty of Music, we have a selection of courses that are available to all students at the UM, regardless of your major. From history, production, and business, you do not need to be musically inclined to be captivated by the many areas that make up the study of music.

Some courses require an override to enter the course. Where it says “Instructor Approval Required” please email the instructor of record. 

Want to get a brief introduction to your instructors? Be sure to check out the Desautels Faculty of Music Instagram, for a collection of reels straight from our faculty members about our new courses!

MUSC 1010 – Music Matters: Excursions in Western Musical Culture

3 credits

Winter 2026 (CRN 61208)

Tuesday/Thursday 2:30-3:45 p.m.

Instructor: TBA

This course introduces and explores selected western musical phenomena from aesthetic, social, and historical perspectives. Topics will include art and vernacular musics; style and genre; social function and context; the nature and varieties of musical experience. May not be held with MUSC 1050. This course may not be used for credit towards the Bachelor of Music or the Bachelor of Jazz Studies degree.

Open to all UM students.

MUSC 1020 – Introduction to Popular Music

3 credits

Winter 2025 (CRN 61961) 

Tuesday/Thursday 11:30 a.m. -12:45 p.m.

Instructor: Dr. Andrew Deruchie

This course begins with a brief examination of the origins of the popular music industry in the late 19th and early 20th centuries through the development of rock’ n ‘roll in the 1950s and then surveys the subsequent proliferation of different types of popular music into the 21st century. The course will address representative genres, artists, and record labels in their cultural, political, historical, and technological contexts.

Open to all UM students – no restrictions.

MUSC 1030 – History of Musical Theatre

3 credits

Fall 2025 (CRN 21561)

Monday/Wednesday/Friday 10:30-11:20 p.m.

Instructor: Donna Fletcher

A broad survey of the development and history of musical theatre from the early days of Vaudeville and Burlesque through its evolution to the grand scale Broadway productions of today. This course is designed to reveal the origins and development of modern musical theatre through the study of influential artists, societal influences, shifting music & compositional trends, political movements, and major historical figures. This course may include a field trip component.

Open to all UM students – no restrictions.

MUSC 1040 – Discovering Jazz

3 credits

Fall 2025 (CRN 25005)

Tuesday/Thursday 1-2:15 p.m.

Instructor: Jonathan Challoner

This course is a comprehensive guide for listening to and understanding the genre of jazz. Students will examine how the musical elements of jazz such as improvisation and swing rhythm have evolved and developed from the 1800s to today. This course will also profile some of the genre’s most impactful artists and examine various approaches to jazz journalism and criticism.

 Open to all UM students – no restrictions.

MUSC 1930 – Rudiments of Music

3 credits

Fall 2025 (CRN 20084)

Tuesday/Thursday 8:30-9:45 a.m.

Instructor: TBA

An introduction to fundamental aspects of music such as sound generation, notation, melodic and harmonic construction, with emphasis on an aural approach.  This course may be used for credit as a Music elective by B. Mus or B. Jazz Studies students if taken before MUSC 1110 – Theory 1. Not available for credit for B. Mus or B. Jazz Studies students taking MUSC 1930 concurrently with MUSC 1110 or already holding a grade of “C” or better in MUSC 1110.

Open to all UM students.

MUSC 3040 – Perspectives on Indigenous Music

3 credits

Fall 2025 (CRN 25007)

Tuesday/Thursday 10-11:15 a.m.

Instructor: Melody McKiver

The goal of this course is to provide a functional understanding of how Indigenous communities create music while being impacted by settler colonialism. Students will learn to situate themselves within the land they reside upon and will discuss Indigenous histories of what is presently called the Winnipeg region. Students will survey the major Indigenous groups in Canada and will be introduced to Anishinaabeg worldviews and philosophies. Students will learn about different genres of music practiced by Indigenous artists and interrogate notions of appropriation and collaboration. May not be held with MUSC 3820 when titled Perspectives on Indigenous Music. 

Open to all UM students – no restrictions.

MUSC x190 (T25) – Wednesday Night Jazz Big Band

2 credits

Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 terms spanned 

Wednesday 5:30-7 p.m.

Instructor: Jonathon Challoner and Richard Gillis

The Wednesday Night Jazz Big Band, led by Richard Gillis and Jonathan Challoner, is a jazz big band open to all UofM students. This group will cover a variety of composers and musical styles and focus on the fundamentals of playing in a large jazz ensemble. The Wednesday Night Jazz Big Band will rehearse once per week and will be featured in at least one public performance per semester. 

To provide the best experience possible in this ensemble, we are asking that students send a brief statement of intent (150 words or less) to Jon Challoner or Richard Gillis (Jonathan.Challoner@umanitoba.ca OR Richard.Gillis@umanitoba.ca) before registering. Applicants should have at least two years of experience on their instrument and be able to read music notation.

Please provide a bit of information about what instrument you play and your background learning/performing music. Do you have experience improvising and/or learning music by ear? Please include your full name, student number, and home faculty with your statement of intent.

MUSC 3820 (T39) History of Gospel Music

3 credits

Winter 2026 (CRN 65865)

Tuesday/Thursday 8:30-9:45 a.m.

Instructor: Dr. Anna Nekola

Gospel music is the music of community, an embodied expression of hope and resilience in the face of injustice and oppression. Although gospel music continues to be tied to faith practices, the sounds of Black gospel are also deeply embedded in the sounds of secular popular music, from Ray Charles and Mahalia Jackson, to Beyonce, Stormzy, and Canadian artist William Prince. The course investigates how musicians make and think about gospel music, and how critics and audiences listen to and think about it, investigating the historical, religious, political, cultural, and social contexts of this music around the world. 

Open to Music students or with instructor approval for students in other faculties.

3 credits

Winter 2026 (CRN 65880)

Tuesday/Thursday 1-2:15 p.m.

Instructor: Melody McKiver

This lecture course is an introduction to the academic area of Hip Hop studies as an African diasporic and global phenomenon, with an emphasis on MCing and DJing as the musical elements of HipHop culture. Themes will range from history and origins of Hip Hop culture, uses of sampling, Black feminist scholarship and Hip Hop feminists, and the widespread global adoption of Hip Hop as a cultural movement with a special resonance to dispossessed and disenfranchised peoples from occupied Turtle Island to Palestine.

Open to all UM students – no restrictions.

3 credits

Winter 2026 (CRN 62804)

Tuesday/Thursday 10-11:15 a.m.

Instructor: Melody McKiver

Students will study form and compositional approaches to a variety of musical styles, which may include pop, rock, Hip Hop, and EDM. The course will provide an introduction to the creative use of music technology, including DAW usage and home recording. Assignments will include the development of a musical portfolio, and written reflections and analysis. Students of diverse musical experiences are encouraged to enroll.  

 Instructor approval required.

3 credits

Winter 2026 (CRN 65881)

Tuesday/Thursday 10-11:15 a.m.

Instructor: Fabio Ragnelli and Victoria Sparks

This introductory course explores the rich diversity of global drumming traditions through hands-on experience. Designed to be taught without using traditional western music notation, the course focuses on fundamental rhythm concepts, basic drumming techniques, and group performance practices using percussion instruments from Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and Asia. Students will develop listening skills and rhythmic coordination. The course will help students to develop an understanding of the social and cultural roles of drumming in various world traditions. No previous music experience is necessary.

Open to all UM students – no restrictions.

MUSC 3830 (T41) –  Composition for Film and Media

3 credits

Fall 2025 (CRN 26355)

Tuesday/Thursday 1-2:15 p.m.

Instructor: Melody McKiver

Students will learn the use of Digital Audio Workstations (DAW) and sample libraries suitable for composition for digital media. Software includes Logic Pro, Ableton Live, and Spitfire LABS. Compositional tools will include MIDI orchestration, sound design, and audio recording. Students will study film history and the use of music as a compliment to storytelling within film, television, and video games. Other topics will include delivery standards and professional practices.

Instructor approval required.

MUSC 3830 (T42) – Business of Music

3 credits

Fall 2025 (CRN 26476) 

Thursday 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Instructors: TBA

Discover the business side of music. This course will provide a survey of music business topics including artist management, music marketing, rights and royalties, concert promotion, contracts, grants and funding, and financial planning. Students in all genres, including classical, jazz, pop, folk, and more, will learn from experienced industry professionals, gain insight into industry roles, and acquire skills required to succeed in the music business. Prepare for a professional future in music with tools to navigate the sector as a songwriter/composer, performer, arts worker, or industry professional. 

Open to all UM students – no restrictions.

MUSC 3830 (T50) – Intro to Game Audio

3 credits

Fall 2025 (CRN 26536)

Thursday 5:30-8:30 p.m.

Instructor: TBA

This course introduces students to the foundational principles and practical techniques of game audio design and programming. Emphasis is placed on interactive audio systems using FMOD Studio, a leading middleware audio engine, integrated with Unity or Unreal Engine. Students will explore sound design, audio programming, music systems, and the technical and creative aspects of game audio integration. 

Open to all UM students – no restrictions. 

MUSC 3830 (T50) – Intro to Game Audio

3 credits

Winter 2026 (CRN 66030)

Thursday 5:30-8:30 p.m.

Instructor: TBA

This course introduces students to the foundational principles and practical techniques of game audio design and programming. Emphasis is placed on interactive audio systems using FMOD Studio, a leading middleware audio engine, integrated with Unity or Unreal Engine. Students will explore sound design, audio programming, music systems, and the technical and creative aspects of game audio integration.

Open to all UM students – no restrictions.

Students shared powerful reflections on the impact their chosen teachers had on their lives, highlighting the dedication, compassion, and humour these educators brought to the classroom. For some, the most influential teachers were also the toughest—those who held them to high standards because they genuinely believed in their ability to succeed.

“My mom went to a parent-teacher conference. I had an excellent report card—except for all the classes I had with one teacher, Ms. Margaret Wiens. My grades in her class were thirty percent lower than every other class,” shared Christine Hay, the outstanding student selected from the Faculty of Education. “The rural school I attended was a Grade 4 to 12 school, with no high school art programming at all. Margaret Wiens was a teacher who saw the value of art in education. So, when I decided in Grade 12, four years later, that I wanted to apply to the School of Art at UM with no arts training at all, it was Ms. Wiens who learned how to build an entrance portfolio and mentored me through the entire process—during her lunches, her preps, and after school. I did end up getting direct entry into the School of Art. It is with deep gratitude that I stand here today and thank you, 23 years later, for showing up every day with grit, for showing me grace, and for being an example of how I hope to show up for my future students.”

Left image from left to right, Yvonne Fenner, College of Rehabilitation Sciences, Occupational Therapy, outstanding student, Ms. Margaret Hart, College of Rehabilitation Sciences, Occupational Therapy, outstanding teacher. Right image from left to right, Mr.  Ron Constant, Joe A. Ross School, outstanding teacher, Yvonne Fenner, College of Rehabilitation Sciences, Occupational Therapy, outstanding student

This year’s Students’ Teacher Recognition Reception was held on May 5 bringing together students, their selected teachers, faculty representatives, and invited guests for an afternoon of meaningful celebration. The event was hosted by The Centre for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning and emceed by the Centre’s Director, Dr. Erica Jung.

Dr. Diane Hiebert-Murphy, Provost and Vice-President (Academic) brought greetings and shared her own reflections on the educators who made a lasting impact in her life. “I think back to my high school teachers’ who encouraged me to recognize potential that I didn’t fully see in myself, and some University Professors who helped shape the direction of my academic life, and ultimately my professional life. These individuals will never fully appreciate or know the impact that they had on me, but I certainly think about them every year when I come to this reception.”

Throughout the afternoon, students spoke not only about the academic guidance they received but also the personal support their teachers offered—support that extended beyond the classroom. Many shared stories of educators who cared deeply, often becoming mentors, role models, and even friends.

Yvonne Fenner, the outstanding student from the College of Rehabilitation Sciences, spoke with heartfelt appreciation about the many ways her selected teachers supported her. “It wasn’t only the educational part of this journey that she helped me with. Ms. Margaret Hart was there for me on a personal note, as I have called on her many times in the last two years.” Ms. Margaret Hart, a First Nations Indigenous educator in the health sciences, shared that the presence of Indigenous students carries deep personal significance. “I’m there to nurture the students’ learning, but also, I’m there to nurture their identities too”—a sentiment that reflects a commitment not only to academic growth but to personal and cultural growth as well.

Following the ceremony, attendees had a chance to mingle, take photos, and reflect on the meaningful connections that helped shape their journeys.

Faculty of Law student Alessandro Potenza put it best: “I know that we were not uniquely smart, but instead, that we had a uniquely exceptional teacher.” A sentiment echoed by many—while talent may open the door, it’s great educators who help students walk through it.

For a full list of award recipients, please visit our webpage.

Hosted by the Office of the Provost and Vice-President (Academic), the event honoured recipients of teaching awards, community engagement awards, Merit Awards, and those granted Tenure.

Dr. Michael Benarroch, President and Vice-Chancellor, and Dr. Diane Hiebert-Murphy, Provost and Vice-President (Academic), presented each award and expressed their gratitude to faculty members for their dedication, innovation, and meaningful contributions to the university.

Together, these faculty members are leading the change envisioned in our strategic plan – advancing knowledge, empowering learners, and strengthening connections with communities within and beyond the UM community.

Congratulations to all the honourees:

Olive Beatrice Stanton Award for Excellence in Teaching (2024)

• Sarah Cooper (Faculty of Architecture)

University of Manitoba Graduate Students’ Association (UMGSA) Teaching Award (2024)

• Nandika Bandara (Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences)

Dr. and Mrs. Ralph Campbell Outreach Award (2024)

• Deborah McPhail (Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences)

Community Engagement Fund Award (2024)

• Jacquie Dawson (Desautels Faculty of Music)
• Katrina Dunn (Faculty of Arts)
• Blair Fornwald (School of Art)
• David Herbert (Faculty of Science)
• Richard Milgrom (Faculty of Architecture)
• Victoria Sparks (Desautels Faculty of Music)
• Qiuyan Yuan (Price Faculty of Engineering)

Merit Award (2023)

Each year, Merit Awards are awarded to faculty members for their outstanding achievements in teaching, research, scholarly work and creative activities, and service in three different categories. View the 2023 recipient list here.

Tenure (2025)

• Karen Alley (Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth, and Resources)
• Mandy Archibald (College of Nursing, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences)
• Ahmed Ashraf (Price Faculty of Engineering)
• Shawn Bailey (Faculty of Architecture)
• Matthew Bakker (Faculty of Science)
• Katherine Boyer (School of Art)
• Kirstin Brink (Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth, and Resources)
• Jacob Burgess (Faculty of Science)
• Sean Carleton (Faculty of Arts)
• Jeremy Chopek (Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences)
• Sarah Cooper (Faculty of Architecture)
• Bruno De Oliveira Jayme (Faculty of Education)
• Lucy Delgado (Faculty of Education)
• Elsie Duff (College of Nursing, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences)
• Katrina Dunn (Faculty of Arts)
• Paul Durkin (Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth, and Resources
• Sherif Eltonsy (College of Pharmacy, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences)
• Amy Farrell (Faculty of Education)
• Moni Fricke (College of Rehabilitation Science, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences)
• Lauren Goegan (Faculty of Education)
• Gayle Halas (Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences)
• Sreemali Herath (Faculty of Education)
• Junyon Im (I. H. Asper School of Business)
• Meaghan Jones (Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences)
• Muhammad Kabir (I. H. Asper School of Business)
• Aaron Kim (Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences
• Karl Kohut (Desautels Faculty of Music)
• Kaarina Kowalec (College of Pharmacy, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences)
• Susan Logue (Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences)
• Shannon Moore (Faculty of Education)
• Vimi Mutalik (Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences)
• Shaylene Nancekivell (Faculty of Arts)
• Chris Pascoe (Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences)
• Kiran Pedada (I. H. Asper School of Business)
• Beryl Peters (Faculty of Education)
• Julie Pfeffer (Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences)
• Dake Qi (College of Pharmacy, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences)
• Fabio Ragnelli (Faculty of Music)
• Diana Sanchez-Ramirez (College of Rehabilitation Science, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences)
• Jill Stobart (College of Pharmacy, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences)
• Patricia Thille (College of Rehabilitation Science, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences)
• Brandon Trask (Faculty of Law)
• Dana Turcotte (College of Pharmacy, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences)
• Miguel Uyaguari (Faculty of Science)
• Shaowei Wang (Faculty of Science)
• Jennifer Watt (Faculty of Education)
• Ratchel Zeng (I. H. Asper School of Business)

The year associated with each award differs due to the timeframe of program. Learn more about the awards on the Faculty Awards webpage.

The latest offering from the University of Manitoba Symphony Orchestra is literally called Reflections, and it offers up very personal pieces that the students that comprise the orchestra cab relate to on a very intimate level.  

The concert’s centerpiece is “My Name is Amanda Todd” by the late Manitoban composer Jocelyn Morlock. It was inspired by the British Columbia teenager who took her own life back in 2012 after a campaign of online bullying and harassment against her.  

“I would say that it is definitely a struggle in terms of university programming to program things that are relevant to the now,” says Monica Chen, conductor of the University of Manitoba Symphony Orchestra, noting that there are certain pieces that the students have to play in order to gain the skills required by academia. 

To read the entire article, please follow the link to Classic 107.

Simpson-Litke’s current research explores rhythmic interactions between music and dance, focusing on the Latin social dances she has taught and performed for over 20 years. Her salsa research is published in Music Theory Spectrum, the Journal of Music Theory (for which she was awarded the 2020-21 David Kraehenbuehl Prize) and the forthcoming edited collection Making Music Together (Oxford University Press). She has also published on tango in The Cambridge Companion to Tango.

Simpson-Litke’s RITMO lecture is titled “Shifting Temporal Spaces: Exploring (Hyper)Metric Interactions Between Music and Dance in Salsa.” While salsa takes many forms within individual dancing communities, two fundamental styles have developed and spread worldwide—“On-1” and “On-2”—so-named after the metric location of changes in direction in the basic dance step. Practitioners note the differing movement qualities and debate the artistic merits of each style. Dr. Simpson-Litke’s lecture will address the question of why these styles produce such contrasting effects—a question that has not yet been sufficiently addressed.

The lecture will be streamed live, starting at 7:15am on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. See the following for more information: https://www.uio.no/ritmo/english/news-and-events/events/ritmo-seminar-series/2025/simpson-litke/

Singing Back the Buffalo is part of Tasha Hubbard’s academic work to support Indigenous narrative sovereignty in North America and Indigenous efforts to return buffalo to the lands. She is a founding director of the International Buffalo Relations Institute and has worked to support the Buffalo Treaty for the past ten years. Making the film was a long journey across the plains for Hubbard. She speaks of following the path of the buffalo with other Indigenous women and an especially moving experience visiting a herd in Banff National Park when the herd matriarchs responded to the women’s songs and stayed with them on their journey. The return of the buffalo to the heart of the North American plains, as Hubbard explains, signals a turning point for Indigenous nations, the ecosystem, and our collective survival in a time of global uncertainty and environmental degradation.

Melody McKiver’s compelling music brings the story of Singing Back the Buffalo to life. McKiver is a well-known violist and composer whose musical work integrates electronics with classical music. A proud member of Obishikokaang Lac Seul First Nation, McKiver is also a member of the Mizi’iwe Aana Kwat (LGBTQ2S+ Council) within the Anishinaabe Nation of Treaty #3. In 2020 they received the Canada Council’s Robert Fleming Prize for a promising emergent Canadian composer. Two of their pieces for solo viola were featured on Marina Thibeault’s 2022 Juno-winning album Viola Borealis featuring l’Orchestra de l’Agora. These two pieces, Ningodwaaswi and Niizh, are part of a larger work entitled Reckoning, dedicated to the memory of McKiver’s grandmother, a residential school survivor. At the Faculty of Music, McKiver teaches Perspectives on Indigenous Music and courses in songwriting, production, digital composition, and contemporary performance practice.

Event details: Wednesday, February 12, 2025

• 11:30am to 12:30pm in 307 Tier Building: Tasha Hubbard in Conversation with Melody McKiver
• 6:15pm at the Winnipeg Art Gallery: food catered by Feast Bistro, followed by free screening of Singing Back the Buffalo at 7:00pm (part of the Decolonizing Lens film series)