In a press release, the Board of Directors of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra name Angela Birdsell as the organization’s next Executive Director.

[Full press release]

“It is with great pleasure that we welcome Angela to this leadership role at the WSO,” said Curt Vossen, Chair of the Board of Directors.

“Angela comes equipped with a unique combination of experiences, having both a sensitivity to our community – being born and raised in Winnipeg – and a valuable global perspective developed over the course of a successful career in international arts management. Artistic excellence has been a hallmark of the WSO throughout its 70 plus year history. Looking to the future, we are committed to remaining relevant to our audiences and a valued partner to the broader community. We are fully confident Angela’s leadership will guide us to success in this evolving journey.”

Angela’s career in arts leadership has focused on the development of strong and vibrant orchestras and opera companies, serving as Director of Orchestra and Opera at the Australia Council for the Arts, and Orchestra and Opera Program Manager at Canada Council for the Arts.

An accomplished arts management consultant since 2007, some of her clients have included Ottawa Live Arts Community, Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra, and the Saint John Theatre Company, where she was instrumental in planning their capital expansion plan to renovate an historic Courthouse into a state-of-the-art theatre venue. She has researched orchestras and the digital economy and advised governments on cultural policy specifically related to large arts institutions.

“I feel deeply privileged to be entrusted with this role,” said Birdsell.

“Thanks to the WSO community and Trudy Schroeder’s leadership, this orchestra entered the pandemic from a position of strength. While no one in the performing arts can predict what the new normal will look like, I am certain the WSO will continue to earn the support of the community through extraordinary experiences in music. To do so, we know we need to remain focused, patient and empathetic with each other, flexible and curious about new opportunities, and most of all, ambitious and optimistic about our future. I’m very excited to be part of the next phase of the WSO’s growth.”

Passionate about the role which arts institutions play in transforming young lives and building stronger communities, Angela’s career has also provided her the opportunity to work with and in First Nations communities in Saskatchewan, Atlantic Canada and northern Manitoba.

Angela has served on the Board of Orchestras Canada, assisted with the introduction of Canada’s first Sistema program in New Brunswick, and currently serves as a Board Trustee at the National Arts Centre, where she chairs their Governance committee.

Originally from Winnipeg and recently relocated back to the city, Angela has a graduate degree in Music (Voice – Université Laval) and an MBA from the University of Ottawa.


Angela starts in the role on July 5, 2021, succeeding outgoing Executive Director Trudy Schroeder after 13 seasons with the organization.