The New Orchestra Workshop (NOW) Society challenges and inspires, with improvisatory and compositional creation that reflects our highest ideals, embodying trust, generosity and the human experience. 2018 will be a wonderful year - check out our prgramming here.

Tracing its roots for 40 years, the NOW Society has a rich and varied history of presenting stellar new works in engaging and unique concerts, offering inspiring and informative improvisation workshops, collaborating with world renowned artists, commissioning and premiering new compositions by Canadian and international composers, and releasing celebrated recordings. NOW presents improvising ensembles drawn from the city’s premiere artists with instrumentation specific to each project. Deriving from contemporary new music, big band jazz and musique actuelle, NOW ensembles create community by linking improvisers from different disciplines with the shared goal of presenting innovative music. The NOW ensembles have performed in a multitude of venues and formats, from formal concert halls to DIY stages, from showcases to concerts and installations.

Following the stellar NOW Society 40th Anniversary Celebration, November 15 - 18, 2017 at the Roundhouse Community Centre, the Society will highlight the significance of one of Canada's most important creative music collectives by overseeing the digitization of NOW Archives and will search for permanent public housing for the NOW Archives.