New concert series kicking off in Desautels Concert Hall

The Desautels Faculty of Music’s (DFOM) new Desautels Concert Series opened on Sept. 28 with Stumble On, a new take on Franz Schubert’s beloved song cycle Winterreise.

The Desautels Concert Series

Comprised of six performances, the new concert series is set to showcase a wide range of music featuring faculty and guests of the DFOM and highlighting the stunning acoustics of the Desautels Concert Hall.

Associate Dean and pianist Laura Loewen believes the concert hall is the perfect venue for this new series: “I love the acoustics and the intimacy of the hall […] it feels like a place where you can take musical risks.”

She believes the concert series will be a wonderful addition to Winnipeg’s vibrant musical life, and is set to showcase many of the incredible faculty at the DFOM alongside the great variety and richness of the music that is created at the Faculty of Music.

This year, the DFOM is offering half and full subscription packages for its concert series alongside single ticket sales. See ticket information below for details or visit the Desautels Concert Series web page.

Stumble On

The concert series’ opening concert, Stumble On, spins Schubert and Müller’s story of a 19th century wanderer on its head. Starting at the end of the cycle, they work their way backwards, intermixing the songs with contemporary poetry and rock music to tell a story of isolation, loss, obsession, and addiction.

Stumble On features DFOM faculty members baritone Mel Braun, known for his work in oratorio, opera, recital, and choral conducting, and pianist Laura Loewen, known for her work as a collaborative pianist with many of Canada’s leading singers. They are joined by Hannah Green, a Winnipeg-based poet who is a poetry editor at CV, and VVONDER, one of Winnipeg’s most prominent rock bands whose members include Micah Braun, Nate Sheridan, and Joey Penner.

Green will be performing excerpts from her Governor General Literary Award-winning book of poetry Xanax Cowboy, while VVONDER will highlight music from their recently released second album Stumble On.

Professor Mel Braun explains how this project and unlikely collaboration came about and why it is so poignant today: “What has always struck me about Schubert’s setting of this poetry by Wilhelm Müller is its timelessness. The same kind of suffering found in these powerful songs is found all around us today […] Hannah Green’s poems, taken from her award-winning collection Xanax Cowboy trace the tortured world of addiction, an apt counterpoint to the kaleidoscopic emotional journey of our young wanderer. And the recent album by Winnipeg rock band VVONDER, Stumble On, covers many of the same messy feelings found in Winterreise. […] Schubert was desperately ill at the end of his life, but he kept stumbling on.”

Braun goes on to explain that they hope this collaboration will give listeners the space to reflect on their own journeys and find the strength to persevere among the harsh realities of today’s world. The performers also ask that the audience considers making a donation to St. Boniface Street Links.

Single Tickets

General $25 | Seniors $20 | Students $15 | Free for DFOM students (valid student ID required at purchase)

*Plus applicable fees.
*Single tickets can be purchased on the Desautels Concert Series page.

Season Ticket Packages
Half Season (3 Concerts)
General $70 | Seniors $55
Full Season (6 Concerts)
General $125 | Seniors $100

*To reserve please call Shannon at 431-293-5436.
An email address will be required to receive your tickets.

Desautels Concert Series schedule

All concerts take place in the Desautels Concert Hall (150 Dafoe Rd)

September 28, 2025 | 2:00 p.m.
Stumble On (Schubert’s Winter Journey Re-Imagined)
Baritone Mel Braun, pianist Laura Loewen, poet Hannah Green, and VVONDER

October 19, 2025 | 2:00 p.m.
Beyond Ideas
An afternoon of original arrangements and compositions performed by DFOM Jazz faculty

January 4, 2026 | 2:00 p.m.
Melody McKiver and Guests in Concert
Anishinaabe violist and composer Melody McKiver joined by Beverley McKiver, Daniel Roy, and Polaris Prize-winner Jeremy Dutcher

January 18, 2026 | 7:30 p.m.
Venus Unhinged
Music for winds and voice with the Winnipeg Chamber Winds Collective, conducted by Jacquie Dawson

February 6, 2025 | 2:00 p.m.
Piano Masterworks
Works for solo piano performed by Edmund Dawe, Dean Emeritus of the DFOM

March 29, 2026 | 2:00 p.m.
Winnipeg Baroque Brass Choir
Music for brass from the Winnipeg Baroque Brass Choir, co-directed by Andrew Balfour and Richard Gillis