WSO Impact Report 2021-2022

Soundwaves 2021–2022 Impact Report

Connecting People Through Music. Our Home or Yours

The WSO’s attitude of the show must go on was at the forefront in our 2021-2022 season. Our challenge was to find ways to connect people through music during a period of great uncertainty and changing public health guidelines. The solution: Our Home or Yours which provided audiences with the option of live performance and streaming concerts.

Along with concerts before a live audience at the Capitol Theatre, the WSO created digital concert series for both Tepperman Masterworks and Toldo Pops concerts for our patrons to view at home. The Masterworks series included Music of Italy, World Folk Music, Music Inspired by Shakespeare and A Hero’s Symphony. Normally a 5-concert series, the final Masterworks Elgar’s Enigma Variations was cancelled weeks before due to a resurgence in COVID-19. Our Pops Series included First Ladies of Soul with Shakura S’Aida, Halloween on Broadway, our annual Holiday tradition, Holiday Pops: Back Home at the Capitol, Colleen Williams – The Great American Songbook Reimagined and A John Williams Celebration. Our long-standing commitment to our county patrons brought us out to Uni-Fab, in Leamington, a fabricating plant turned concert hall for a third performance of A John Williams Celebration.

We also created an exciting new digital concert series The Music. The Story. The Food.

The WSO’s Family Concerts, Walk on the Wild Side, The Snowman, and The Pirate Queen, showcased music and children’s literature. Our Education and Outreach team brought schools into the Capitol Theatre from near and far, including the Toledo Ohio School for the Arts. Students visited and participated in a workshop with Associate Conductor Daniel Wiley and School of Creative Arts chorus director, Dr. Bruce Kotowich. Both the Windsor Symphony Youth Orchestra and Community Orchestra were able to rehearse for the entire season. Each orchestra had high enrollment numbers and performed two fabulous concerts.

In this report, we share a snapshot of the past year: the season highlights, exciting developments in Education and Community Outreach, a glimpse of our commitment to performing in the county and the new innovative way the WSO brought music into homes and connected patrons with local restaurants during the challenges created by the pandemic.

The “show did go on” thanks to the resolve and support of our Windsor Essex community. We are extremely appreciative of your participation and your generosity. Thank you to the patrons who came out to live concerts, to those that remained at home and supported the WSO through the digital concert series, to those that found extra funds to contribute, and to sponsors who value the role of arts in creating a healthy and vibrant community. This year and every year, the WSO is truly your symphony orchestra.

Our hearts are full hearts as we reflect on the past season and move forward, continuing to grow the artistry and connections of the WSO.

Thank you for your support.

Robert Franz Music Director

Sheila Wisdom Executive Director

Deb Severs Chair, Board of Directors

34 Mainstage concert performances.

7,256 Patrons at the Capitol Theatre.

232 Schools across Canada registered for the WSO’s Digital Education Series.

15 Digital concerts produced.

100% Of Windsor Essex long term care home residents received access to the WSO’s digital performance series.

Season Highlights

The WSO returns for live performances – with a digital option.

• In September of 2021 the orchestra returned to the stage for in-person concerts. Offering a live-stream option as well, patrons could choose to watch the concert at the theatre, or from the comfort of their own home.

Guest Artist Line-Up Filled with Female Voices.

• Brooklyn-born, Swiss-raised, and Canadian-based Shakura S’Aida wowed audiences with her soulful performance of music from the “First Ladies of Soul” Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, and Tina Turner.

• Mezzo-Soprano Sophie Roland gave an operatic performance of Manuel de Falla’s El Amor Brujo Suite.

• Colleen Williams captivated audiences with hits from the “Great American Songbook.”

Maestro Franz Beats Cancer.

• Diagnosed in October 2021, Maestro Franz carried on conducting while receiving treatment for NonHodgkin lymphoma. Franz turned to his true love of music, and continued to lead the orchestra with strength and resilience, never losing his bright and positive energy.

New Digital Series Inspires all the Senses.

• “The Music. The Story. The Food.” was the creation of Maestro Robert Franz and Dr. Rob Nelson, Historian (UWindsor) and chef. Together they explored the story behind the music, and the trials and triumphs that influenced composers. Viewers received recipes to create delectable dishes at home to enjoy while watching the WSO perform! Every recipe connected with the music in each concert.

$69,200 OTF Grant Helps WSO Prepare for Change and Build Resiliency.

• The WSO received grant funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation to aid in rebuilding and recovering from the impacts of COVID-19. This grant allowed the WSO to develop new fundraising strategies and equip board members and employees with supports to implement new approaches, prepare for change, and build resiliency.

The WSO Finds Intriguing Performance Space at a Steel Fabrication Plant –and Sells Out.

• The WSO took a short road trip out to Uni-Fab, a steel fabrication plant in Leamington, and performed to a sold-out audience. This unique space went from an industrial workshop to a performance hall overnight and offered amazing acoustics.

Education & Community Outreach

232 schools across Canada registered for the WSO’s Digital Education Series.

106,000 students across north America accessed the WSO’s Digital Education content.

48 classroom visits by the WSO, featuring Q&A’s with Maestro Robert Franz, Associate Conductor Daniel Wiley and many WSO musicians.

100% of Windsor Essex long term care home residents received access to the digital performance series free of charge.

10-day

tour

of Greater Essex County District School Board Summer Learning Program, WSYO musicians performed for and answered questions for over 5,000 students. This resulted in more than 3,000 views, 24 tweets and 40 re-tweets from the GECDSB teachers.

Elementary students participate in the WSO’s Digital Education Series. All schools in the GECDSB and the WECDSB received free access to the series.

Members of the WSYO attend a rehearsal with the professional musicians. Afterwards, Maestro Franz spoke with them about preparing for a performance.

I think of this as Music Therapy. No matter what stresses I may encounter, I am always able to improve my mental health by playing an instrument.

— WSO Musician

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WSO In Your Community

The WSO hosted students from the Toledo School for the Arts. 58 music students collaborated with the WSYO and took in the highlights of Windsor — including the Canadian specialty: Tim Hortons Timbits!

Windsor Symphony Youth Orchestra musicians participated in YourTV’s “Youth and the Arts” event.

Maestro Franz presented a conducting workshop to 50 students of the GECDSB, sharing his experience on building relationships, developing good listening skills, and the importance of being resilient.

Windsor Symphony Community Orchestra participated in the United Way iMove for Mental Health Challenge. They “moved” by doing their favourite thing: playing music together!

WSO Youth musicians performed 18 times during the Summer Project Series throughout Windsor and Essex County.