Telling the story of wildfires at the Calgary Philharmonic

Mixing Western and Indigenous musical culture together, Indigenous Cellist Cris Derksen will be taking audiences on a journey of understanding of traditional practices.

The theme of Controlled Burn is showing how Indigenous people in Canada have used fire as a tool to manage the threat of wildfires.

Because of fire is used to bring destruction while also bringing new life to forests, the Philharmonic will be preforming a classical piece by Josef Suk titled Asrael which explores over coming the lose of a loved one.

Nefew Keith spoke with Derksen about her piece Controlled Burn and how the collaboration with the Philharmonic came together.