It’s a disease that’s touched so many of us. One that’s often hard to put into words but composer Vincent Ho has given the experience of living with it a musical voice. In 2011, Ho got the call from his friend, painter Luc Leestemaker, with the news he had cancer.

“He shared everything with me all the way through. What it felt like to realize something was wrong, getting the diagnosis, coping with the treatments, and then finding acceptance,” says Ho. “He would paint capturing his journey throughout that year. He felt it was an extraordinary journey that warranted artistic representation, a symphonic work.”

It opened my eyes to the journey of it all on a scientific, emotional, and experiential level

Ho wanted to learn all he could about the journey of cancer. He interviewed a number of people living with the disease, talking with them about their personal experience.

“For me the research is essential. It’s important to be respectful of those sharing their stories to represent it in musical form,” explains Ho. “It opened my eyes to the journey of it all on a scientific, emotional, and experiential level.”

She opens my eyes to new ideas

Ho knew the piece, From Darkness to Light: A Spiritual Journey, needed a powerful performer and so he turned to multi-Grammy award winning, Scottish percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie.

“Working with her is brilliant, life changing. I’ve written a number of works for her now,” says Ho. “With each collaboration, she opens my eyes to new ideas and we find new ways of connecting with audiences. Her work A Little Prayer is the perfect way to finish the piece, just her reflecting the calm dignity that one wants in the end.”

She doesn’t come to Canada often, so it’s a big deal to get her here

From Darkness to Light, is the featured work on the program for the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra’s performance The Space Between. A night of mystical storytelling. Glennie will join the orchestra led by conductor Karl Hirzer to perform Ho’s piece.

“Glennie is the absolute best at what she does and performs globally,” says SSO Director of Marketing Megan Grier. “Her trailblazing path is the reason it’s possible to make a career as a solo percussionist. She doesn’t come to Canada often, so it’s a big deal to get her here.”

When you can’t put an experience into words you can express it with music

For Ho, this performance is how he continues to pay tribute to Leestemaker, who died in 2012.

“It’s raw, dark and angry at times but it’s honest. I wanted to honour him as a person and how his journey impacted me,” says Ho. “This was a way to connect with those living with cancer and the people who love them. When you can’t put an experience into words you can express it with music.”

 

The Space Between

Saturday Oct. 25, 2025

7:30p.m.

TCU Place

Tickets $55 – $122

This performance will also be available digitally via ConcertStream.tv

For more information and to purchase tickets follow this link.