When Meagan Milatz is asked about her Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra debut the award-winning pianist dives back into her past. She first met SSO CEO and Creative Producer Mark Turner in the early 2000s competing at music festivals. Guest conductor Karl Hirzer was a classmate when she studied at McGill University. While Milatz primarily studied under Weyburn pianist Cherith Alexander, she took a few lessons from Saskatoon’s Bonnie Nicholson when she was in the city. There’s no denying her connection to this province.

“I love coming home and connecting with my people.”

Meagan Milatz makes her SSO debut performing work by Saskatchewan composer David L. McIntyre. (Steve Gerrard)

“Performing in Saskatchewan is the best because I get to see people that have influenced me so much,” says Milatz. “I didn’t realize how strong our musical community was growing up but every time I come back I see how incredible it is. I love coming home and connecting with my people.”

It’s been a big year for Milatz in February she won the Mécénat Musica Prix Goyer, one of the world’s largest cash prizes for collaborative emerging artists. It’s a big deal for a farm kid who grew up in a small community near Weyburn. For this concert Milatz will take to the stage with the SSO to perform Concerto for Piano and Orchestra by Saskatchewan composer David L. McIntyre, one of her favourites.

“It’s David’s 75th birthday this year and it’s wonderful to perform in his honour,” says Milatz. “This piece is so lively and playful and in the slower movements warm and very personal. He’s planning on coming to the performance so it’s going to be really special.”

“I know the orchestra will be inspired by what she brings to the table.”

Hirzer and Milatz critiqued each other’s performances as classmates at McGill University. (Jared Sych)

The concert will be a reunion for Milatz with conductor Karl Hirzer. The pair were a couple years apart studying at McGill and shared a class where they gave each other notes about their performances.

“I’m really excited to reunite with Meagan. She was always operating on another level and really blew me away,” says Hirzer. “I know the orchestra will be inspired by what she brings to the table. We’re going to create beautiful music together.”

That evening, Hirzer will also lead the SSO in a performance of Modest Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition arranged by Maurice Ravel. This concert will be filled with powerful music and raw emotion and Milatz hopes that aspiring musicians in the audience take one thing away.

“I want to remind them to dream big and take risks,” says Milatz. “My career and so many others is a testament to the strength of the musical community and teachers we have right here in Saskatchewan.”