The CBC Winnipeg Orchestra (CBCWO) was a

radio orchestra A radio orchestra (or broadcast orchestra) is an orchestra employed by a radio network (and sometimes television networks) in order to provide programming as well as sometimes perform incidental or theme music for various shows on the network. In ...

based in

Winnipeg Winnipeg () is the capital and largest city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Manitoba. It is centred on the confluence of the Red River of the North, Red and Assiniboine River, Assiniboine rivers. , Winnipeg h ...

Manitoba Manitoba is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada at the Centre of Canada, longitudinal centre of the country. It is Canada's Population of Canada by province and territory, fifth-most populous province, with a population ...

, Canada. It was operated by the

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (), branded as CBC/Radio-Canada, is the Canadian Public broadcasting, public broadcaster for both radio and television. It is a Crown corporation that serves as the national public broadcaster, with its E ...

for 37 years. The orchestra mainly performed on

CBC Radio CBC Radio is the English-language radio operations of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The CBC operates a number of radio networks serving different audiences and programming niches, all of which (regardless of language) are outlined below ...

, but also occasionally performed live concerts in Winnipeg, including the CBC Winnipeg Festival. Many of its members also played in the

Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra (WSO) is a Canadian orchestra based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Founded in 1947, the orchestra plays most of its concerts at the Centennial Concert Hall. Including travelling performances, the WSO presents an average of ...

History

The CBCWO was established in 1947 under the leadership of conductor Eric Wild. Wild remained principal conductor for 27 years. During his tenure he conducted the premieres of several works by Canadian composers. He notably recorded

Calixa Lavallée Calixa Lavallée (; December 28, 1842 – January 21, 1891) was a Canadians, Canadian musician and Union Army band musician during the American Civil War. He was born in the Province of Canada. He is best known for composing the music for "O Can ...

's comic opera ''The Widow'' with the CBCWO in 1967. Upon Wild's retirement in 1974, the CBCWO's

concertmaster The concertmaster (from the German language, German ''Konzertmeister''), first chair (U.S.) or leader (UK) is the principal first violin player in an orchestra (clarinet or oboe in a concert band). After the Conducting, conductor, the concertma ...

Arthur Polson served as interim director. In April 1975

Boris Brott Boris Brott, (March 14, 1944 – April 5, 2022) was a Canadian conductor and motivational speaker. He was one of the most internationally recognized Canadian conductors, having conducted on stages around the world, including Carnegie Hall, La S ...

was appointed conductor of the orchestra. He remained in that post until the orchestra was disbanded in 1984."WSO's Quality Touted"
''Winnipeg Free Press'', via Newspaper Archives. March 12, 1983 - Page 27

References

Disbanded orchestras Musical groups established in 1947 Musical groups disestablished in 1984 1947 establishments in Manitoba 1984 disestablishments in Manitoba Orchestras in Winnipeg {{orchestra-stub