
The Honorable Errick F. Willis donated the Lieutenant Governor's Trophy to the Winnipeg Music Festival in 1963. At times referred to in the past as the Errick F. Willis trophy, the Lieutenant Governor's trophy is awarded annually for the most outstanding solo or group performance during the Festival.
Errick French Willis was born in Boissevain, Manitoba in 1896. He was educated at the Universities of Toronto, Manitoba and Alberta. He sat for twenty-four years in the Manitoba Legislature as leader of the Progressive Conservative Party and as a cabinet minister in both the coalition governments of John Bracken and Premier Duff Roblin's administration. In 1948 he became Deputy Provincial Premier and remained in that office until 1950. He was appointed Lieutenant Governor on January 15, 1959. Both Mr. Willis and his wife, Louise, will long be remembered for their interest in and ardent support of youth and cultural activities. They were frequent visitors to the Winnipeg Music Festival, both in an official and unofficial capacity.
| Year |
Winner |
| Year | Winner | Year | Winner |
| 1963
|
Daniel
McIntyre Collegiate
|
1988
|
Winnipeg
Youth String Orchestra
|
| 1964
|
St.
George's Anglican Church Choir
|
1989
|
Michael
Oike
|
| 1965
|
Mennonite
Brethren Bible College
|
1990
|
Helmut
Penner
|
| 1966
|
Arne
Wagner
|
1991
|
Ryan
McClelland
|
| 1967
|
Greater
Winnipeg School Symphony Orchestra
|
1992
|
Mariko
Boorberg
|
| 1968
|
Greater
Winnipeg School Symphony Orchestra
|
1993
|
Kelvin
Girls' Chamber Orchestra
|
| 1969
|
Mennonite
Children's Choir
|
1994
|
Kelvin
Girls' Chamber Ensemble
|
| 1970
|
Brock-Corydon
School
|
1995
|
Laura
MacDougall
|
| 1971
|
Kelvin
High School
|
1996
|
Marni
Enns
|
| 1972
|
Victor
Schultz
|
1997
|
Avant
- Garde Trio
|
| 1973
|
Douglas
Finch
|
1998
|
Scott
Meek
|
| 1974
|
Kelvin
High School
|
1999
|
Michael
Nicolas
|
| 1975
|
David
Moroz
|
2000
|
Michael
Nicolas & Scott Meek (tie)
|
| 1976
|
Winnipeg
Girls Senior Choir
|
2001
|
Rebecca
Simpson
|
| 1977
|
Michael
Dolovich
|
2002
|
Haley
Rempel
|
| 1978
|
Dietmar
Schmuecker
|
2003
|
Garrett
Hudson
|
| 1979
|
Irena
Welhasch
|
2004
|
J.H.
Bruns Senior Guitar Orchestra
|
| 1980
|
Bruce
Fehr
|
2005
|
Katherine
Yeo
|
| 1981
|
Martha
Graham
|
2006 | Colin Redekop |
| 1982
|
Carlisle
Wilson
|
2007 | Keith Dyrda |
| 1983
|
Michael
Oike
|
2008 | Mary Ellen Packer, Keegan Dill, Alena Arnason & Andrea Wills |
| 1984
|
Tracy
Dahl
|
2009 | Tony Zhou |
| 1985
|
Thomas
Wiebe
|
2010 | Rosanna Murphy |
| 1986
|
Shelley
Peattie
|
2011 | DMCI Chamber Choir |
| 1987
|
Valdine
Anderson
|