The Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra is Canada’s first city-based, non-profit professional jazz orchestra.
The WJO was founded in 1997, inspired by a vision of forming a professional big band made up of the best emerging and veteran musicians in Winnipeg. The vision of the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra is to be a leading performer, promoter and developer of big band music in Canada and beyond.
Presently in its 29th season, the WJO presents an annual concert series in Winnipeg that has featured some of the top jazz artists and composers in the world, including Bob Brookmeyer, Rufus Reid, Bert Joris, Dick Oatts, John Riley, Bobby Shew, Butch Miles, Curtis Fuller, Ken Peplowski, Christine Jensen, Tommy Banks, Phil Nimmons, David Braid and many others.
The WJO has received Western Canadian Music nominations in 2019 (Suite 150), 2022 (Twisting Ways), 2023 (Voices: A Musical Heritage), 2024 (Tidal Currents), and won “Jazz Artist of the Year” in 2025 (Connections).
Active in the creation of new works, the WJO has over 200 compositions and arrangements made for the ensemble to date.