Anishinaabe musicians featured with the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra
By Rick Garrick
THUNDER BAY — Anishinaabe musicians Natasha Fisher and Sara Kae were featured during the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra’s (TBSO) Natasha Fisher concert on March 28 at the DaVinci Centre in Thunder Bay.
“It was really a beautiful collaboration with the Thunder Bay Symphony and two beautiful young First Nation women,” says Fort William Chief Michele Solomon. “It was really nice that they did sing a couple [of songs] together, but they’re both amazing vocalists and it was really a wonderful opportunity that Thunder Bay got to take part in this. The collaboration with the Symphony Orchestra is always spectacular — I love it. I wish more people would come out and take this in because it’s really wonderful.”
Fisher, a Long Lake #58 citizen, says she invited Kae, a family friend, to perform with her during the concert.
“It was a really good experience — I feel honoured to sing with such talented musicians and just be a part of this ensemble that created this event,” Fisher says. “Thank you to the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra, it was amazing to be able to bring a friend, too, that I know from childhood. We’ve been making music together and singing songs together for so long. I live in Toronto and she lives in Thunder Bay, so it was nice to meet up again on stage and have a moment together on stage again.”
Fisher used to travel with Kae and her father Ron Kanutski, both Red Rock Indian Band citizens, to perform in First Nations when she was young.
Now as a rock musician, Fisher says she usually rehearses and does 10 p.m. sets, so it was different to be rehearsing with the TBSO at 10 a.m.
“Everything is really structured and professional, it was such a different change from what I was used to,” Fisher says. “But it was amazing so see how the inner workings of a symphony orchestra actually is.”
Kae, who recently wrote and performed with musician Fae Alexander in TBSO’s Trading Places production on March 22 at Magnus Theatre, says the opportunity to perform with Fisher was unexpected.
“It was a little bit of a challenge getting some of these songs under my belt, but it was fun,” Kae says, adding that it was a great experience to perform with the TBSO. “They’re always so fun and professional so it’s like walking in and then just doing our songs and we’re good to go. We did Free Fallin’ by Tom Petty together — it’s just a fun classic and it’s just fun to be able to sing with her like we used to when we were kids.”
Anita Fisher, Natasha’s mother, says she was excited to see her daughter performing with the TBSO.
“It was always our dream as parents that she would sing with the Symphony one day and today it’s happening,” Anita says. “She’s been doing music for about 10 years now on a professional basis and we are just thrilled. We’ve supported her along the way, we believe in her gift. She’s a gifted song writer and singer and this is her passion.”
Kanutski says it was exciting to see Kae and Fisher grow as musicians over the years.
“Having the opportunity to play with the Symphony Orchestra was amazing,” Kanutski says. “Sara’s been with them (TBSO) several times now at this point and it’s always exciting to see them with that wall of sound. She worked at the (Thunder Bay Community) Auditorium and with the Symphony, so it’s been a great opportunity to go from working with them to performing with them.”
Ryleigh Dupuis, executive director and general manager at the TBSO and Fort William citizen, says this was the first time that Fisher performed with the TBSO.
“She’s very talented and I think we’re really lucky to have her, and she’s invited Sara Kae to come as a surprise guest, so we get two of them tonight,” Dupuis says. “For us, working with Indigenous performers really says it matters, what we’re doing matters because everybody has a voice in this arena.”