New Desautels hall widens Winnipeg’s musical range

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The University of Manitoba is marking a milestone with the grand opening of its new Desautels Concert Hall, a highlight of the decade-long Taché Arts Project aimed at enhancing the university’s arts facilities.

This state-of-the-art venue, designed by Winnipeg’s Cibinel Architecture in collaboration with Toronto’s Teeple Architects, is set to make its debut tonight, Thursday, Sept. 5, with a concert headlined by Juno Award-winning singer-songwriter William Prince.

“The opening of the Desautels Concert Hall is a significant development for both the university and Winnipeg’s cultural scene,” says Edward Jurkowski, dean of the Desautels faculty of music.

Jurkowski describes the concert hall as a game-changer, noting its acoustics and flexible design.

“The grandeur of the space is incredible. From the outside, it may seem unassuming, but once you step inside, the possibilities it offers are endless.”

The concert hall boasts a range of impressive features, including seating for 408, eight loge seats on either side and a stage capable of accommodating up to 80 musicians plus a choir.

“This space is not just for university events but also for Winnipeg’s artistic community. We’ve already received interest from organizations such as the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra, Winnipeg Symphony and Jazz Winnipeg, which are all scheduled to perform here this year,” Jurkowski says.

The venue also offers opportunities for students, such as Jayden Fraser and Anica Warkentine, to gain first-hand experience performing in a professional-level space.

For them, the experience was nothing short of magical.

“When I first walked onto the stage, I was blown away by the acoustics,” says Fraser, a fourth-year undergraduate student.

“The sound quality is phenomenal, and it’s amazing to think that we get to perform in a venue like this as students. It’s something I never imagined I’d have the chance to do during my time at university.”

Warkentine, a 24-year-old master’s student specializing in collaborative piano, echoes Fraser’s sentiments.

“The intimacy of the seating layout really connects you with the audience, and the sound is so clear. Every note feels like it’s reaching the very back of the room without any effort,” she says.

“It’s really exciting to finally have a space to call our own that’s just minutes away from the practice rooms and other classrooms here.”

The hall’s flexible design is another desirable feature.

It can be configured in three ways: a large stage for orchestral performances, a small stage for chamber groups and a proscenium stage with wings for theatre and dance.

“We’ve installed a cyclorama for digital projections, which opens up so many creative possibilities, especially for opera and musical theatre. The ability to project sets onto the back screen adds a whole new dimension to our productions,” Jurkowski says.

Beyond its technical capabilities, the Desautels Concert Hall features amenities such as catwalks for rigging, a green room, dressing rooms and ample storage.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming everyone to the grand opening. This space is for the whole community and will inspire and elevate the arts in Winnipeg,” says Jurkowski.

Tonight’s grand opening concert featuring Prince, Tracy Dahl, Andriana Chuchman, Laura Loewen, the Borealis Piano Trio and the Desautels Jazz Faculty Quintet is sold out.

thandi.vera@freepress.mb.ca

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