University of Manitoba researchers and the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra have teamed up for the first time to bring a night of new music and new science to the stage.

In July of 2007 Professor David Barber, Canada Research Chair in Arctic System Science, began the Circumpolar Flaw Lead System (CFL) study. Involving 300 researchers from around the world it is one of the largest Arctic climate change studies ever undertaken.

During the CFL study composer-in-residence Vincent Ho from the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra went aboard the research icebreaker CCGS Amundsen to find inspiration for his “Arctic Symphony” that will premiere at the New Music Festival, which begins on February 6 at the Centennial Concert Hall.

“The once-in-a-lifetime trip was a wonderful opportunity for me to develop my own personal relationship with the Arctic environment and the culture that exists there. As an artist, it was an extraordinary journey to take those experiences and externalize them in musical form,” says Ho.

On opening night, before the symphony begins, Barber will share the preliminary findings from the largest Arctic climate change study in Canadian history with the symphony-goers.

“Hundreds of years ago expeditions to the Arctic always had artists onboard. We took this concept and reenacted it during our International Polar Year (IPY) expedition.  Our purpose was similar to those adventurers of many centuries ago – we wanted to use art as a way of communicating our scientific findings to the public,” says David Barber, Professor of Environment and Geography.

“The University is proud of the CFL project and the achievements of its researchers, and it is honoured to have helped an artist find musical inspiration in the Arctic,” says David Barnard, University of Manitoba President and Vice-Chancellor. “Alone, great science and great music inspire us and enrich our lives, so I look forward to hearing the result of the two disciplines coming together in harmony.”

For more information contact Sean Moore, public affairs, University of Manitoba, at 204-474-7963 (sean_moore@umanitoba.ca).

Or

Lisa Abram, Director of Marketing and Communications, Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, at 204-949-3981 (labram@wso.mb.ca).