Classical music prodigy coming to Winnipeg to wow audiences, work with underprivileged kids

A Canadian music prodigy knownforpleasingcrowds withclassical piano tunesis moving toWinnipeg this fallto make her mark on the local orchestral scene.

Naomi Woo is a pianist and conductor who will be taking her musical talentsto the city in September to work on three key projects with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, the University of Manitoba Symphony Orchestra and Sistema Winnipeg.

Her brain is geared to turn everything she sees and hearsfrom mundane to surreal into music. The 29-year-old was inducted to CBC Music's 2019 classical "30 under 30" list, which celebratesthe accomplishments of Canada's up-and-comingyoung concert musicians.

In addition to her bignew rolewith the WSO, Woo will be working with theUniversityof Manitoba Symphony OrchestraandwithSistemaWinnipeg part ofa global music program that aims to introduce underprivileged kidsto music.

"It's such a special job that I'm about to start," she said.

Through the WSO, Sistema Winnipeg engages with two local school districtsSeven Oaks School Division and Winnipeg School Division to deliver music training to children after school for three hours per day, five days a week. As the program's artistic director, Woo will be conducting the young kids who are being provided music education once a week.

"It's really involved in the community but it'salso very unique to have a professional orchestra running this kind of program," Woo said.

Performing since youth

Born in St. John's, N.L.,Woo moved with her family to NorthVancouver at age six.

"That's where Igrew up," she said. It's also where Woofirst tried her hand at playing piano when she wasfive years old.

"I discovered gradually that music was something Iwanted to do, but Idefinitely remember the moment when Ifirst saw myself as a conductor or first imagined that I might like to be a conductor."

When she was about 12 or 13 years old, Woo said she was thrilled to perform with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra alongsideassistant conductor Tania Miller.

"Seeing a woman on the podium conducting while Iwas playing the piano, Ijust thought, 'Oh, maybe that's something Icould do.'"

It was a turning point for her.

"That's when the spark hit," Woo said, although it wasn't until years later thatshe began officiallytraining for the position.

Breaking classical boundaries

Woo studied in the U.S. andat Universit deMontral prior to going overseas to complete her PhDin music at the University of Cambridge inEngland.

She takesher study of music beyond the traditional performance context.

As part of her graduate studies, Woo wrote about a Canadian composer who explores combining classical live piano with sonic electronics and film, such as Alfred Hitchcock classics. Nicole Lize'sHitchcock tudes is well-known to Manitoba audiences, as her music has beenbrought alive by Megumi Masaki, a pianist at Brandon University.

Now Woo hopes to make her pitch tothe Prairie province.

"I look forward to getting to know many sides of this vibrant city," she said.

Woo seems ready to embrace all aspects of the city, from collaborating with the local music scene to strapping on ice skates when the cold spell hits.

"I'm especially thrilled to be able to work with the musicians in the WSO it is such a warm community, and an absolutely stellar orchestra."