February 1, 2023
Windsor, ON – The Windsor Symphony Orchestra celebrates Black History Month in and around Windsor Essex.
Maestro Robert Franz and the WSO perform music by Black composers Joseph Bologne, and exciting new composer Jessie Montgomery. Hear beautiful vocals from local rising star Florine Ndimubandi as she sings Amazing Grace and Oscar Peterson’s Hymn to Freedom.
Concerts take place at the Capitol Theatre, the Amherstburg Freedom Museum (AFM) and Sandwich First Baptist Church. Both the church at the AFM and Sandwich First Baptist Church were part of the underground railroad.
“This month we celebrate black voices at the WSO. Sharing these composer’s and artist’s unique perspectives allows us the opportunity to express their thoughts and lives through music. Our community is a historically rich part of the tapestry of the black experience, and we are thrilled to be a small part of it.” Maestro Robert Franz.
February 2 at 7:30pm
February 3 at 11:00am
The Capitol Theatre
The Chevalier de St. Georges
WSO Concertmaster, Lillian Scheirich, brings to life a violin concerto by the swashbuckling 18th century composer, Joseph Bologne, the Chevalier de St. Georges. Hear music composed by Jessie Montgomery, her composition Shift, Change, Turn provides a new twist on the four seasons.
February 3at 7:00pm – Amherstburg Freedom Museum
February 4at 2:00pm – Sandwich First Baptist Church
Celebrating Black Voices
WSO Concertmaster, Lillian Scheirich, brings to life a violin concerto by the swashbuckling 18th century composer, Joseph Bologne, the Chevalier de St. Georges. Also, hear music composed by Jessie Montgomery, her composition Shift, Change, Turn provides a new twist on the four seasons.
Plus, vocalist Florine Ndimubandi sings Amazing Grace and Oscar Peterson’s 1962 Hymn to Freedom.
Listen to the CBC interview with Flo Ndimubandi.
February 11 at 7:30pm
February 12 at 2:30pm
The Capitol Theatre
A Celebration of Oscar Peterson
Oscar Peterson, regarded as one the greatest jazz pianists of all time, is among Canada’s most honoured musicians. Peterson’s Canadiana Suite, originally written as a ballet, will be performed with jazz trio and orchestra, including pianist Thompson Egbo-Egbo. Hear Florence Price’s Symphony No. 1 – her first full-scale orchestral composition – was the first symphony by a Black woman to be performed by a major American orchestra.
February 11 beginning at 5pm Film and Concert Combo at the Capitol Theatre
The WSO has partnered with WIFF for a screening of thefilm Oscar Peterson: Black + White. Afterthe film enjoy A Celebration of Oscar Petersonconcert performed by the WSO!
February 11th beginning at 5pm at the Capitol Theatre, one night only, view both the film and live concert!