Folk, Indigenous drumming and lively Latin American music all under one roof

After starting its last season with European Tour, the Sault Symphony Orchestra will launch its 2024-25 season with music from closer to home.

The orchestra will perform Music of the Americas beginning at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 27 at The Machine Shop.

“We’ve come home to North America and South America. We have nine pieces on the program as well as O Canada and The Star-Spangled Banner. The program is a nice thumbnail sketch of the music of this part of the world,” said Stephen Mallinger, SSO artistic director and conductor in an interview with SooToday.

“We’ve got some really nice stuff on the program and the second half is primarily Latin American dance rhythms. It's very lively and upbeat.”

The program also includes Is this Love by Bob Marley, arranged by Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser.

“Everybody knows Bob Marley. He was one of a kind and this piece is an orchestral study in reggae. The arranger Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser works for the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and takes a modern approach to music for new audiences. He’s a fantastic musician. We kind of took a chance on this piece and it’s a lot fun to play. It sounds great,” Mallinger said.

“We have pieces from Astor Piazzolla of Argentina. He did some incredible music over the years with regard to the tango. We have two tangos, one slow and one fast. It’s such a distinctive sound and style. And we have work from two other composers, José Moncayo and Arturo Marquez from Mexico. When you hear this music you cannot just sit there. It immediately kicks your whole body into life,” Mallinger said.

The program includes Indigenous music from the Giigidoo Nimkii Rolling Thunder Drum Group.

Giigidoo Nimkii is a drum group consisting of young Ojibway men ranging in age from 11 to 15 including Kyman Perreault, Rashean Glave, Emmet Pine, Russell Pine, Austin Hickey, Spencer Gooden and Ethan Audit. They come from various First Nations communities in the region including Michipicoten, Garden River, Mississagi, and Wikwemikong.

They have been drumming together for a little over a year and are already being recognized for their dedication from Grammy Nominated Drum Groups, First Nations Elders and communities. They have travelled and sang all along the North Shore and have been requested to sing at various gatherings, conferences and graduations.

The orchestra will also present Three Newfoundland Folk Songs arranged by Mallinger.

“I’ve been to Newfoundland a couple of times. I did a concert tour there as a child and my wife and I visited there a number of years ago. It’s a very powerful musical culture in Newfoundland and these three folk songs on the program are really well known and very beautiful. I wanted to arrange them for an orchestra, so there’s three of them for the audience to enjoy.”

Four Poems, arranged by Christine Donkin, is another Canadian piece that will be included in Sunday’s SSO performance. The piece is based on four poems written by Charles G.D. Roberts of New Brunswick and will be preceded by narration by the Sault’s James McShane.

Saturday’s program will be approximately two hours in length.

“Last season was great. The orchestra’s in very good shape right now. We’re playing well together and we had a great response from the audience last season. It’s all really positive,” Mallinger said.

The Sault Symphony Orchestra’s 2024-25 season includes Music of the Americas, Sounds of The Season Dec. 15, Time Travels on March 2 and Magical Musical Mystery Tour on May 11.

All concerts will be at The Machine Shop.

The orchestra will present a free concert for children - Mini Maestros - beginning at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26 at Precious Blood Cathedral.

Donations to the SSO will be accepted at that event.

More information on the Sault Symphony Orchestra’s 2024-25 season and ticket purchasing for orchestra performances is available on the SSO’s website.

Tickets are also available at the Sault Community Theatre Box Office.