Do you have your costume ready for next week? Perhaps you'll be dressed as the Scottish poet Robbie Burns? Or a witch straight out of the 1700's? If so, you'll be right on theme with our opening number, 'Tam o'Shanter'! Tam O'Shanter (not to be confused here with the Scottish woolen cap) is the title and hero of a 1790 poem by the Scottish poet, Robert Burns (1759-1796). He is a drunken farmer who, while riding home late from Ayr, in a stormy night, disturbed a witch's party in the haunted church of Alloway. The hags pursued him to the keystone of the bridge over the Rriver Doon, but had to stop there as they could not cross running water. One witch, however, plucked the tail from his mare, Maggie. The poem concludes with the following admonition: Now, wha' this tale o' truth shall read, Ilk man and mother's son, take heed: Whene'er to drink you are inclin'd, Or cutty-sarks run in your mind, Think, ye may buy the joys o'er dear. Remember Tam o'Shanter's mare. Catch Malcolm Arnold's incredible musical telling of 'Tam o'Shanter' arranged by Paynter at our concert next week! 🗓️ Wednesday, October 30th 🕢 7:30 PM 📍 Theatre Auditorium, Wilfrid Laurier Music 🎟️ https://wellingtonwindsymphony.ca/events/ Free for students and kids! See you (or whoever you're dressed up as) there!

Let's talk about our horn soloist, Emily Whittaker! Canadian French horn player Emily Whittaker is an active soloist, freelance musician, and educator currently residing in Chicago, Illinois. She has performed with many orchestras and ensembles, including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Music of the Baroque, Omaha Symphony, Victoria Symphony Orchestra, San Antonio Opera, Windsor Symphony, and the Pacific Opera Victoria. Performing as a soloist both with ensembles and as a recitalist, this year's highlights include solo performances with the Joliet Symphony Orchestra, Kankakee Valley Symphony Orchestra, and Summer Music Festival Winds in Port Elgin. As an educator, Emily serves on the faculty as the Horn Instructor at Elgin Community College and is a guest lecturer for colleges and universities across the country presenting her research and benefits for Audition Data Tracking and leading masterclasses. She maintains a private studio and can be seen as a guest clinician and judicator for high school and middle school competitions and festivals in the Chicago metropolitan area. In 2021, Emily was the founding director of Sunshine Horn Camp, an annual summer horn camp dedicated to young horn players to instill knowledge and confidence in playing the horn. Emily holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Toronto with a minor in Indigenous Studies, and a Master of Music from DePaul University. ______ We are so excited to welcome Emily to our stage Oct 30th! Come catch her with us in concert!

Wishing all of our Canadian friends and supporters a lovely long weekend to be thankful for!

A little more from rehearsal last week. Catch us with guest horn soloist @emily_.whittaker October 30th!

Excerpt from rehearsal of Dana Wilson's Concerto for Horn and Wind Ensemble.

It's the last weekend of September!! That means our first concert is quickly approaching. Get your favourite costume dusted off, and come join us for some great music and early trick-or-treating! 🗓️ Wednesday, October 30th 🕢 7:30 PM 📍 Theatre Auditorium, Wilfrid Laurier Music 🎟️ https://wellingtonwindsymphony.ca/events/ Free for students and kids! See you (or whoever you're dressed up as) there!