Sault Symphony Orchestra looks forward to upcoming season
After a challenging year brought on by the pandemic, the Sault Symphony Orchestra is coming back with a series of concerts. The symphony is also working to alleviate some of the isolation seniors living in long-term care may be experiencing.
Still unable to hold live performances, the SSO began seeking donations just to pay its bills. Board chair Louis St. Pierre said things are looking up: donors have come forward to save the symphony.
"The fact that they are willing to put money forward despite the fact that we haven't been able to have a regular concert series...wow," said St. Pierre. "It's just so inspiring and it inspires us to continue to do our hard work."
Sara McCleary, the SSO's director of advancement, said the first concert of the season is in October.
"We're going to have a virtual one," said McCleary. "That's our Fall Colours concert on Oct. 16 that will have livestreaming on Facebook and YouTube."
McCleary said the SSO has also launched its Seniors Connect program, where long-term care residents connect with musicians over Zoom.
"The musician will answer any questions the seniors have, play a little bit of their instrument, and they'll just kind of talk and quite often the seniors will bring up their own kind of memories of music from their childhood or how music was important to them," she said.
"And it's been really well received by the seniors that have taken part so far -- and by the musicians, as well. Everybody really enjoys it."
St. Pierre said the SSO is grateful for the support that has kept the orchestra going.
"Thank you so much -- you're keeping us going in more ways than one," he said. "It really shows that people want live music in the city."
St. Pierre said a Christmas concert is in the works, and he's hoping that performance will be held in front of a live audience. He said it all depends on what pandemic restrictions will look like at that time.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
BREAKING McGill University seeks emergency injunction to remove pro-Palestinian encampment from campus
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Friday that Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
Rare severe solar storm Friday could bring spectacular aurora light show across Canada
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
More than half the Canadians once detained in Syrian camps for suspected ISIS family members have returned home
A total of 29 Canadians have been freed from detention camps in northeast Syria and brought back to Canada since human rights advocates began lobbying for their release years ago.
Canada abstains from Palestinian UN membership vote but supports two-state solution
Canada was one of 25 countries that abstained from a United Nations vote on Palestinian membership that passed with overwhelming support on Friday.