FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra Power Smart Holiday Express Tour spreads holiday cheer in Manitoba

Winnipeg, MB – Dec 7, 2015 – Proudly presented by Manitoba Hydro and Manitoba Public Insurance, the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra (WSO) will deck the halls all over Manitoba with four stops on the Power Smart Holiday Tour this December! The WSO packs up their bags as they travel to Steinbach, Virden, Winkler and Portage la Prairie to present a program of holiday favourites that feature special guests, piano and violin duo Roy & Rosemary. The festive program features a variety of classic holiday hits and a sing-along of beloved hymns including O Come All Ye Faithful, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing andSilent Night. Soloists Roy & Rosemary will be accompanied by the orchestra and will also perform a few of their own seasonal selections as a duo. This annual tradition makes its first stop in Steinbach on December 8 at 7:30 pm at the Steinbach Mennonite Church located at 345 Loewen Blvd. The Steinbach concert is presented by the Steinbach Arts Council and will feature local guests including Accent Women's Ensemble directed by Sheila Ardies singing on their own, with the orchestra and with Roy & Rosemary. Also featured at this concert is Terry Goertzen, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Culture, Heritage, Sport and Consumer Protection as narrator for 'Twas the Night before Christmas and local "Who Wants to Conduct the Symphony" contest winner, Kara Wiebe guest-conducting Leroy Anderson's holiday classic, Sleigh Ride. The music of the season continues on December 9 at 7:00 pm when Virden's Arts Mosaic presents the next stop on the Power Smart Holiday Tour! Enjoy the show at the Virden Aud Theatre at 228 Wellington St. West. The WSO continues to spread some musical cheer in Winkler at Winkler Mennonite Church on Monday, December 14 at 7:30 pm, presented by Southern Manitoba Concerts. The Portage and District Arts Council presents the last stop on this Power Smart Holiday Tour at the William Glesby Centre at 11-2nd Street North East in Portage la Prairie on December 15 at 7:30 pm.

Sponsored by:

Funded by:

Steinbach Mennonite Church December 8, 2015 - 7:30 pm Adults: $26 Senior 60+: 2 for $42 Students: $12 (Classroom special: 20 or more students for $5 each, teacher free) Music & Theatre Students: $5 Corporate Special: 5 or more tickets for only $15 each Phone: (204) 346-1077 or online at www.steinbachartscouncil.ca

Virden Aud Theatre December 9, 2015 - 7:00 pm Tickets: $45 Available at Arts Mosaic, 425 6th Avenue S. (204) 748-3014

Winkler Mennonite Church December 14, 2015 - 7:30 pm Tickets available at www.southernmanitobaconcerts.org

William Glesby Centre (Portage la Prairie) December 15, 2015 - 7:30 pm General Admission: $42 PDAC Member: $38 Students: $25 Tickets available at Portage and District Arts Centre 11-2nd Street NE, Portage la Prairie (204) 239-6029

About Roy & Rosemary:

Without question, these two Canadian artists are one of North America's best kept secrets, the next big thing. They have now joined forces to create one of the most exciting and dynamic musical duos in recent memory.

From the stages of Carnegie Hall to Walt Disney World Florida, these pop-instrumental recording artists have been capturing the hearts of audiences with their fresh musical arrangements, their technical virtuosity, their endearing on-stage presence, and their ability to invite their audience into the music-making process.

Please meet Roy & Rosemary, the modern take on the Piano/Violin duo.

Highly gifted and extensively trained, pianist Roy Tan, and violinist Rosemary Siemens, are musicians at the top of the improvisational craft. Their music features lush and captivating arrangements of familiar and contemporary numbers, with a highly cinematic and theatrical influence. Their diverse styles are an artful palate of sound, using elements of jazz, pop, and classical, expanding beyond the limits of any single genre. This results in a thrilling live experience where their shows have many instances of exciting audience participation, often including a request set as well as a fun and imaginative creation session, leaving things "unhinged" for both the audience and the artists on stage.

Not surprising, this duo has already performed in a diverse number of venues ranging from intimate house concerts, to a number of concerts at New York's famed Carnegie Hall, a performance as the first ever instrumentalist at St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican; at the Egyptian Consulate in Washington DC; at the Miss America pageant in Las Vegas, entertaining at numerous private events, including for Donald Trump at his Mar-A-Lago estate in Palm Beach; as well as performances at the 2008 Beijing and the 2010 Vancouver Olympics; and even opening Hockey Night in Canada.

Now based in Vancouver, BC, Roy & Rosemary are also sought after as arrangers, orchestrators (including full string productions) and artistic consultants, most recently arranging and recording a single with Mary Zilba (from "The Real Housewives of Vancouver") for a film written and produced by Frank Giustra (Lionsgate Entertainment). Most recently they worked with Grammy-winning producer Ian Prince, and five time Juno award-winning producer, Sam Reid from Glass Tiger.

This year, enjoy their debut album, Once Upon a Dream, available on iTunes and in stores across Canada. Why not let their music take you away and make you dream.

About WSO: The WSO is integral to Winnipeg's rich cultural life, delighting more than 100,000 audience members each year with innovative programming and musical excellence. The WSO presents educational programs for more than 40,000 students annually and tours to communities across Manitoba.

-30- MEDIA: For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact:

Sarah Panas, Marketing & Communications Coordinator p. (204) 949-3970 e: spanas@wso.mb.ca