A little girl with soft dark brown curls stands in front an antique mirror. She is holding a hairbrush, pretending it’s a microphone, and she’s singing.  

Singing her heart out.  

What was she singing? I can’t remember. But I remember the look and feel of the room in that humble little house on Red Pheasant First Nation.  

This was my earliest memory of music – and every time I take to the stage, I still feel like that little girl.  

My mother tells me I came into this world a songbird – that singing was a gift meant to be shared with others. Music has always been a part of me and always will be. 

But I believe it’s a part of us all. 

For all people, whether you can sing or not, play an instrument or not, we are naturally inclined to music. 

Music gives life meaning, and all people should have access to music in community. Through schools, or organisations like churches or clubs, or around the campfire… life without music wouldn’t be life at all, so I think it’s our right to experience music.

And in Saskatoon, one of the best ways to experience music is with the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra. 

As an audience member, you can expect to be blown away by the calibre and excellence of the musicians. It’s a gift to be part of that collective experience – everyone on that stage is taking their lifetime of knowledge and dedication into this shared space to create music together. It’s an incredible thing to witness. 

As a performer, stepping onto the stage for the first time with a full orchestra was unlike anything I had ever experienced. It was like I was that little girl again – a little nervous and trying to muster the courage to open my voice. And then suddenly, this wall of sound washes over me, and I’m transported to some transcendent place. 

And as a human, what sticks with me is the love and dedication of this broader musical family. It’s the kindness and fierceness of the musicians, and the support and love of the community itself, the community of Saskatoon.

A night with the SSO will nourish your soul – it’s like stepping into a different world. 

It’s like heaven on earth.