Meet a Winnipeg music teacher who performed part of a Brahms symphony all by himself

With the ability to play almost 50 instruments, one Winnipeg musician has found a creative way to use some of his extra time during the coronavirus pandemic.

He's created a video where he performs a symphonic work all by himself.

Gage Salnikowski is a music teacher and the performer behind the one-man orchestra.

"I don't think one should feel forced into productivity especially in a pandemic situation, but for me it's something I enjoy doing," he said. "It's a silver lining."

Prior to the pandemic hitting Manitoba, Salnikowski had already been practising Johannes Brahms's Symphony No. 3. But with fewer students to teach because of the pandemic, he found himself with more free time than usual.

So he decided tomake music for himself and toshare his performance of the symphony's third movementonline.

Watch Gage Salnikowski perform and speak about his one-man orchestra:

Gage Salnikowski's one man orchestra

4 years ago

Duration 1:28

Gage Salnikowski can play almost 50 instruments. Here he performs the third movement of Johannes Brahms third symphony as a one man orchestra.

For the video, he recorded nearly 30 tracks, playingevery single instrument himself from violin to French horn to bassoon.

"Art can't exist can't without a sense of community. You should be creating art so that other people can experience it," he said.

Growing up,Salnikowski studied piano and guitar, before taking on the goal of learning as many instruments as possible.

He found cheapinstruments through sources like Kijiji, fixedthem up and learned how to play them.

"If I hear something I want to be able to do it by myself as an act of creation," he said.

In addition tohis classicalrepertoire,Salnikowski enjoys playingprogressive rock and heavy metal music.

He says playing music brings deep meaning and intrinsic value to his life.

"If you're pushing forward and not having fun doing it anymore, then it's coming from the wrong place," he said.

Recording an orchestral piece all on his own has been a long-term goal forSalnikowski. He hopes to tackle works by Vivaldi and Beethoven next.

Watch Gage Salnikowski's full performance: