Music and science intertwine as the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra presents John Corigliano’s Symphony No. 1 – a piece inspired by the composer’s personal response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic during the 1980s.

This captivating performance will take place January 29, Opening Night of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra’s New Music Festival. It is in collaboration with the University of Manitoba’s International HIV Prevention Exchange symposium which takes place January 28-29, 2011, at the Fort Garry Hotel.

“Although HIV infects 30 million people globally, the impact often seems very distant,” says Keith Fowke, Professor of Medical Microbiology and co-chair, with  Marissa Becker, MD, and James Blanchard, MD of the International HIV Prevention Exchange.

“This event is a rare time when the message of HIV prevention can truly reach all of us, through a format that is reflective, hopeful, and can be appreciated by researches, musicians and the general public alike.”

The International HIV Prevention Exchange brings together more than 120 local and international experts for a two-day scientific symposium to discuss HIV prevention and care.

Scientific presentations range from working with highly vulnerable populations, to understanding the immune response to HIV infection and creating an HIV vaccine.

“The goal is to have an exchange of best practices from around the world and to establish new collaborations so we can learn from each other how best to limit the HIV pandemic devastating so many of our communities,” says Fowke.

In addition to the scientific presentations, round table discussions on HIV prevention are scheduled to take place. Discussions will centre on the common theme of community engagement through the arts — more specifically, using art as a means of communicating HIV prevention messages.

Round table discussions include presentations on Science and Art: Inspiration on an Ice Breaker by WSO Composer-in-Residence Vincent Ho, and Health and Art: Expressing the impact of disease by composer John Corigliano.

Recognized as a leader in international HIV research and prevention, the University of Manitoba has collaborations and partnership programs in Kenya, India, Columbia, Pakistan, China and Nigeria.

The University of Manitoba is also working with partners locally to address the growing HIV/AIDS epidemic in Canada that is disproportionately affecting highly vulnerable populations, including Aboriginal peoples.

For more information contact Connie Tamoto, Communications Officer/Web Coordinator, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba, at 204-272-3110 (tamoto@cc.umanitoba.ca), or

Keith Fowke, Professor, Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, at 204-789-3818 (fowkekr@cc.umanitoba.ca). 

Founded in 1883 as Western Canada’s first medical school, the University of Manitoba Faculty of Medicine has graduated more than 9,000 physicians who have become influential medical leaders, world renowned health researchers and dedicated doctors. As Manitoba’s only medical school, the U of M Faculty of Medicine has educated and trained the majority of our province’s physicians.