Babies, children 10 and under welcome to attend free Sault Symphony Orchestra concert Saturday

Excited to be holding live performances again after COVID lockdowns, the Sault Symphony Orchestra will be hosting a BYO-BABY Kids Concert from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 14 at Precious Blood Cathedral’s church hall. 

Admission is free, but Anya Mallinger, SSO concert master, told SooToday “we will accept donations if people are inspired to do so, but we don't want anyone to feel like they have to pay because we are doing this for the children.”

Children and youth of any age are welcome to attend, but children as young as babies up to 10 years of age are especially encouraged to attend with their parents, Mallinger said.

“I know of an eight month old that’s coming for sure and I hope other babies will be coming too.”

“It’s the first Sault Symphony Orchestra concert of this type. We have done in previous years concerts geared towards children but they were in the concert environment, in concert halls with everyone in their seats but we want this to be so that a child can come, and in an environment in which they are comfortable. They won’t be required to be in their seats. We will provide seats, we will provide cushions on the floor, we will provide an area for them to move around if they want to get up and move around and won’t be required to be silent through the whole thing if they have questions of their parents. We want it to be as welcoming to children as possible.”

There will be a question and answer period after the concert for children wanting to learn more about musical instruments.

“I’m hoping to bring a few instruments. If little children want to try some of the instruments, I’ve got child size violins from my own children when they were small. If they want to ask questions of the instrumentalists, they can,” Mallinger said.

Mallinger estimated there will be room for 50 attendees at Saturday’s concert at Precious Blood Cathedral.

“The concert was an idea of mine and I feel it’s really important to expose children to music right from the beginning, but the live experience and an ensemble as large as the symphony, that’s going to be a really memorable occasion for kids. I want them to feel comfortable in that environment.”

“I want them to be music lovers and it would be a cherry on the top if they became SSO members one day. ”

The full complement of approximately 35 SSO musicians will be playing at Saturday’s concert, the orchestra playing much of the same music that will be included in its performance at the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre at 7 p.m. on Sunday, May 15. 

300 tickets have been printed for that concert and there are still some for sale, Mallinger said. 

“There will be a full string section, all the wind instruments, brass instruments, percussion, so the children will be exposed to all the instruments in the orchestra at Saturday's concert at Precious Blood Cathedral. That should be a lot of fun for them.”

“It feels terrific to be holding concerts again. Music is such a huge part of my life. I’ve been exposed to music since day one because my father, William Aide, is a retired but very well known concert pianist and has played with the Sault Symphony Orchestra. Music is a huge part of what I am. I think that everybody should be able to experience music. It’s just so rewarding to listen to music that inspires you,” said Mallinger, who plays violin and viola.

“I know that kids feel that too. When they jump up when they’ve heard music, that’s an inspiration for me, and a live performance is so much more immediate.” 

“I know it’s going to be a really great program on Saturday.”