Conduct your ESO on the Winspear stage!

Bid to win at Flavours of Portugal,

the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra’Äôs annual Wine Tasting Fundraiser & Auction

Edmonton, AB ’Ķ The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra (ESO) will soon fill the Francis Winspear Centre for Music with Flavours of Portugal.  In what will be the second annual wine tasting fundraiser for the ESO, and one of the largest Portuguese wine tastings in Alberta, multiple wineries will be on hand showcasing a distinct collection of over 70 fine wines and ports on Wednesday, February 10^th, 2010.

Guests will be treated to delectable hors d’Äôoeuvres and magnificent music performed by select members of the ESO.  With both a live and silent auction providing unique items for everyone’Äôs taste and style, it will sure to be a lively and enjoyable night for all in attendance. 

One highly unique item up for bids at the event, is the rare opportunity to conduct your orchestra through a select piece of music that will be presented in an ESO concert, Parisian Charm, on May 30^th, 2010!  Prior to their conducting debut, the successful bidder will have a mentoring session with ESO Resident Conductor Lucas Waldin, as well as rehearse with the orchestra under the guidance of ESO Music Director Bill Eddins. 

Event tickets can be purchased through the Winspear Centre Box Office for $125.  Call (780) 428-1414, toll free 1-800-563-5081, or purchase online at www.edmontonsymphony.com.  A tax deductible receipt will be issued for a portion of the ticket cost.  All proceeds to support the ESO.

Guests may register for the auction beginning at 6:30 pm on February 10^th.  The wine and port tasting will begin at 7:00 pm and proceed until 10:00 pm.  A short live auction program will take place at approximately 8:15 pm.

This ESO special event is made possible by the generous support of Avenue Magazine, 96.3 Capital FM, California Closets, Edmonton Journal, deVine Wines & Spirits, and Francis Winspear Centre for Music.

For more information on Flavours of Portugal, please contact Lori Pratt, ESO Development Manager, Special Projects, at (780) 401-2567.

2nd annual wine tasting fundraiser explores the divine Flavours of Portugal - Feb. 10

Wednesday, February 10th, 2010

Edmonton, AB ’Ķ The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra (ESO) invites you to their 2nd annual wine tasting fundraiser, Flavours of Portugal. On February 10th, 2010, the ESO hosts an epic wine tasting event ’Äì the largest Portuguese wine tasting in the province of Alberta ’Äì with winery representatives on hand to showcase their finest wines and ports at the Francis Winspear Centre for Music.

Guests will be treated to delectable hors d’Äôoeuvres and magnificent music by special guests, and will have the opportunity to bid on wonderfully unique items in both a live and silent auction. All proceeds to support the ESO.

Guests may register for the auction beginning at 6:30 pm on February 10th. The wine and port tasting will begin at 7:00 pm and proceed until 10:00 pm. A short live auction program will take place at approximately 8:15 pm.

Only 400 tickets are available for this fundraising event and are on sale now! Event tickets can be purchased through the Winspear Centre Box Office for $125. Call (780) 428-1414, toll free 1-800-563-5081, or purchase online at www.edmontonsymphony.com. A tax deductible receipt will be issued for a portion of the ticket cost.

This ESO special event is made possible by the generous support of deVine Wines and Spirits, California Closets, 96.3 Capital FM, Avenue Edmonton, Edmonton Journal, and the Francis Winspear Centre for Music.

Disney's Sonnenschein Express brings Oktoberfest celebrations to the Winspear - Oct. 6

Symphony Special
A family evening of Gemˆºtlichkeit with Sonnenschein Express

Oktoberfest!
Tuesday, October 6th ’Äì 7:30 pm

Edmonton, AB ’Ķ The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra (ESO) is proud to present the Canadian debut of Sonnenschein Express. A mainstay at Disney’Äôs EPCOT Theme Park, this Alpine / Oktoberfest show band joins the orchestra and conductor Bob Bernhardt at the Francis Winspear Centre for Music for one entertaining evening of folk songs, polkas, yodeling, and Schuhplattler dancing!

Whoop and whistle with these six lederhosen-wearing happy wanderers and celebrate the lively tradition of Bavarian alpine music. With the sounds of the Steirische harmonica (button accordion), singing carpenter saws, 20-foot long alphorns and more, concertgoers will be taken on a delightful trip across Germany and through the Austrian and Swiss Alps. Fueled by audience participation, Sonnenschein Express will round out the Alpine folk fair with a yodeling tutorial, foot stomping quicksteps, and clap dancing polkas that will get families singing and dancing out of their seats.

With a program that includes The Happy Wanderer, Hoi! Hoi! Hoi!, and the Ho La Di Medley, the band will also slip south of the Bavarian border by performing a selection of Viennese waltzes and marches.

Arrive early to meet Mr. Oktoberfest from the German Canadian Cultural Centre, and see a performance of The Bavarian Schuhplattlers of Edmonton in the lobby! Oom-pah your way down to the Winspear Centre Box Office for tickets. Ticket prices range from $20 ’Äì $69 (agency fees apply). All tickets for children 12 and under are $15. Purchase by phone at (780) 428-1414 or 1-800-563-5081, or online at www.edmontonsymphony.com.

The next ESO Special will take place on November 11th, 2009. Beloved Canadian singer John McDermott offers a heartfelt salute to those who have bravely served their country in Lest We Forget.

The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, marking its 58th season in 2009-2010, has taken its place as one of Canada's foremost orchestral ensemble. Its current roster includes 56 musicians from Canada and around the world, performing a wide-ranging repertoire from the great classical masterworks to pops and children's concerts. The presence of the orchestra and its enrichment of the community's quality of life are key elements in the stature and profile of Edmonton on the national and international scene.