Program

Experience the powerful resonance of tradition and transformation with Noondaagotoon, the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra’s annual celebration of musical collaboration. Inspired by the spirit of truth and reconciliation, this extraordinary concert blends the richness of Indigenous and Western musical traditions, creating a space for unity, healing, and cultural exchange.

This year’s program features a breathtaking orchestral adaptation of Sara Kae and Fae Alexander’s Trading Places, a poignant and humorous exploration of two women’s intertwined fates in fur trade-era Fort William. Memogway, an Ojibwe woman securing family ties within the North West Company, and Isobel, a Scottish runaway disguising herself as a man, navigate the complex realities of survival, identity, and privilege. As their paths converge, so too do their struggles and strengths, forming a fragile but vital bond.

With original folk melodies reimagined for symphony orchestra, Trading Places comes to life, bridging past and present through music that speaks across time. Join us for an unforgettable evening that honors Indigenous voices, deepens understanding, and celebrates the power of storytelling through song.

Noondaagotoon—where music becomes a meeting place.