Days to the Festival
Bringing music to your community year round.

Winter Wassail

Thank you to our guests, sponsors and donors for your support of the 2011 Winter Wassail.  With your help we raised more than $45,000 for our education and outreach programs.

Oscar Brand, receives the 2011 Artistic Achievement Award, with (L-R) Chris Frayer, Winnipeg Folk Festival Artistic Director, James Culleton, artist, and Gerry Couture, Chair of the board. Photo:Dave McKnight

 

The 2011 Winter Wassail was an enchanted evening, hosted by Fred Penner with a luscious medieval feast, a large and eclectic silent auction, and a performance by Winnipeg-born folk legend, Oscar Brand – winner of the 2011 Artistic Achievement Award. It was the perfect evening to reunite with festival friends!

Oscar Brand: 2011 Artistic Achievement Award Recipient

Born in Winnipeg in 1920, Oscar Brand is a living legend – a composer, author, and host of the longest-running radio show in history, Folksong Festival, now in its 66th year. “I am exceedingly grateful for this award,” said 91 year-old Brand. “I am proud of the fields where I was born and which I will always share with you. Thank you for bringing me home.” Read more.

Your Support of the Winter Wassail Can Do So Much

Thanks to generous guests, auction donors, and sponsors the 2011 Winter Wassail raised more than $45,000 for programs that bring the joy of the festival to thousands including:

  • Connecting over 100 high school age youth with Musical Mentors in a year-round program designed to bring music instruction to inner city and stigmatized youth;
  • Providing over 1,000 free festival tickets to local community organizations;
  • Offering advance training for over 200 youth and new Canadians as they discover the spirit of volunteering through the Apprentice and Community Folk Programs at the festival;
  • Investing in the training and development of 67 young performers and visual artists;
  • Providing an opportunity for 16 emerging artists to perform for an audience in an intimate and welcoming venue;
  • Presenting the Millennium Library free concert series which attract over 1,400 children and adults throughout the year;
  • Teaching thousands of children the value of music and artistic expression at the festival’s family area.