Open Dress Rehearsals | Winspear Centre

Presented By Del Dilkie

For Grades 7 - 12 | Now On Sale!

Catch a sneak peek of the ESO at work in our Open Dress Rehearsals! Students gain an inside view of the rehearsal process through a live blog feed broadcast in the hall and through a Q&A with composers, conductors, or other special guests. Students will be engaged in directed listening and gain an introduction to the historical context of great contemporary and classical symphonic works. This is the ultimate experience for both orchestral newbies and die-hard musicians!

Program length: 1.5 – 2.5 hours

Tickets: $11.50 / student

Includes one free supervisor ticket for every 10 student tickets purchased. Some subsidies are available for qualifying schools attending Education Concerts and Open Dress Rehearsals. See here for details.

LOVE LETTERS TO ALBERTA

Friday February 20, 2025 • 10:00 AM

SOLD OUT

Composers sure do love our province! Music director, Jean-Marie Zeitouni, carries us through the generations of composers who call Alberta home. Many of these pieces are being performed for the first time ever; including the world premiere of Annika Schoenhardt’s piece, For the Star Chasers (Young Composers Project).

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SAINT-Saens Cello Concerto

Friday, March 20 • 10:00 AM

How often do you get to experience a cello soloist? This dramatic Saint-Saens Cello Concerto is not to be missed! Also on this program is Vivian Fung’s Parade, a celebration of community and joy following the struggles of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Beethoven’s beloved “Pastoral” Symphony.

Concerto for two pianos

Friday, April 10 • 10:00 AM

Two pianos are even better than one! Celebrated ESO collaborator Sara Davis Buechner returns for this exciting program with Edmonton-born Jessica Yuma to perform Poulenc’s Concerto for Two Pianos, a work full of vigor and breathtaking moments. Also on the program are two British composers leading listeners on journeys through rich harmony, heart-wrenching climaxes, and ultimate triumph.

The Forest Reclaims The Land

Friday April 24, 2026 • 10:00 AM

Close your eyes and let your imagination pull you into a world where nature takes over. The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra will wow you with a beautiful exploration of our natural world, featuring concertmaster, Robert Uchida, and conductor, Dinuk Wijeratne.

HOLLYwood rocks!

Friday, May 29 • 10:00 AM

SOLD OUT

Lights … camera … rock! From the 1950s to recent hit films like Bohemian Rhapsody and A Star is Born, rock music has found a permanent place on the silver screen. Singers Julie Reiber (star of Broadway’s Jagged Little Pill) and Bryce Ryness (star of Broadway’s revival of Hair) rock on with the orchestra as we roll out a collection of classics that have powered big-screen soundtracks for decades. From the orchestra’s thrilling sonority to timeless power ballads, expect to hear favorites from films like Rocketman, Top Gun Maverick, Grease, Tommy, Back to the Future, Rock of Ages, Elvis, Yesterday, and more.

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Rachmaninoff's rhapsody

Thursday, June 11 • 10:00 AM

Virtuosity all around! In her ESO debut, Harmony Zhu performs Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, a set of 24 variations that is bursting with energy and passion from the first note. Strauss’s Don Juan is well known to professional musicians as a the ultimate challenge, a piece frequently featured in orchestral auditions as a test of technical skill. The lesser-known Symphony No. 2 by Kurt Weill concludes this riveting and innovative program.

Payment Policy

If payment is not received by the payment deadline (one month prior to the concert date), your booking will be cancelled.

Cancellation / Alteration Policy

You are required to provide written notice of cancellation or alteration of your booking via email to edbookings@winspearcentre.com. For cancellation, a fee of 50% of the cost of the original booking will be charged. If less than one week’s notice is given, the full cost of the booking will be charged.

No-Show Policy

Refunds will not be granted for groups who do not attend the field trip. If possible, arrangements will be made for the group to attend at a later date. In extreme circumstances, partial refunds may be granted at the discretion of the ESO/FWCM.