Woo named assistant conductor of prestigious orchestra

Naomi Woo is appointed assistant conductor of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra.

I am convinced that in her new position Naomi will passionately contribute to the variety of the WSO's activities and be able to further learn, develop and mature as a musician and conductor.

Daniel Raiskin

A Gates Cambridge Scholar has been appointed assistant conductor of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra.

Naomi Woo will begin her tenure with the WSO at the start of the 2019-2020 season. The WSO says her interdisciplinary approach to performance and scholarship "has captivated audiences in Canada, the United States, and Europe".

Naomi [2014] has performed as a pianist in venues including Carnegie Hall and the Orpheum Theatre. She has also conducted and performed at dozens of world premieres. She recently came second in the 2016 Eckhardt-Gramatté competition in Brandon for Canadian and contemporary music and was awarded the Prix Hélène-Roberge for the best performance of a Canadian work in 2015.

Naomi has a BA in Mathematics and Philosophy from Yale University and will soon complete her PhD in Musicology at the University of Cambridge. Her work has been supported by the Canada Council for the Arts, the BC Arts Council and Help Musicians UK.

Naomi will be responsible for conducting all WSO educational concerts including its Great West Life Kids Concert series. In addition, she will be the first Sistema Winnipeg music director and will be the new conductor of the University of Manitoba orchestra. She will also conduct the WSO's Holiday Tour. She says: "I am delighted to join the Winnipeg Symphony orchestra as assistant conductor in September and am looking forward to working with Maestro Daniel Raiskin and the WSO family. I am also thrilled to be able to pursue my passion for music education and community music-making with the University of Manitoba Symphony Orchestra and Sistema Winnipeg. I look forward to getting to know the vibrant arts community in Winnipeg."

The WSO says Naomi was a clear choice of both the search committee and the orchestra. "She is a talented artist, versatile musician and natural communicator," says WSO music director Daniel Raiskin. "I am convinced that in her new position Naomi will passionately contribute to the variety of the WSO's activities and be able to further learn, develop and mature as a musician and conductor. I look forward to working with Naomi and welcoming her to the wonderful WSO family!"

The WSO performs to more than 225,000 audience members every year with a focus on innovative programming and musical excellence. It also delivers educational programmes to more than 40,000 students annually and has toured across Canada, twice to New York's Carnegie Hall and regularly across Manitoba. It says it is committed to developing and enhancing the Canadian orchestral community of conductors, composers, soloists and orchestral players. The focus of Naomi's new position is to provide an opportunity for the musical development and career enhancement for female orchestral conductors.

*Picture courtesy of www.naomiwoo.com