Noteworthy

A highway isn’t likely the first thing that comes to mind when you hear “Toronto Symphony Orchestra”, but there’s one significant thing they have in common: They make community connections possible. And soon they’ll be building those connections together—as the TSO recently announced a landmark, multi-year collaboration with 407 ETR as the inaugural Presenting Partner of its Symphony Where You Are initiative.

The Vehicle

This community program is designed to develop meaningful and lasting relationships with people across the GTA, bringing the TSO and its musicians to where they are, through performances and other musical experiences where they already connect, gather, and celebrate.

“An orchestra should belong to the people it serves,” said TSO Beck Family CEO Mark Williams, “and Symphony Where You Are reflects our commitment to creating more opportunities for people to experience the orchestra in their own communities—and to feel that this orchestra belongs to them.”

The Engine

Born out of a shared drive to expand access to orchestral music and strengthen community connection through long-term investment, the $2.2-million partnership is the largest corporate investment in community programming the 104-year-old TSO has ever received. 

“At 407 ETR, our purpose is to move and connect communities. Every day, the highway helps more people reach key destinations in the GTA, and through Symphony Where You Are, we’re extending that commitment by helping make world-class experiences more accessible,” said Jose Espinosa, President & CEO, 407 ETR.

And additional partners are joining the convoy—with TD Bank Group coming aboard as a Program Supporter with a complementary $520,000 investment. 

Acknowledging both investments, Williams said, “We’re incredibly grateful to 407 ETR for its visionary leadership as inaugural Presenting Partner, and to TD Bank Group for its commitment as Program Supporter. Together, these partnerships demonstrate the impact that’s possible when businesses and arts organizations work together to strengthen the communities they serve.”

The Destinations

The first stop for Symphony Where You Are was Brampton, Toronto’s northwestern neighbour. For the past three years, the TSO has been collaborating with Brampton’s The Rose theatre, bringing all-ages performances of programs celebrating the music and cultural traditions that resonate with the city’s diverse communities. Concerts there have included Reggae Roots, Bhangra & Beyond, Hot! Hot! Hot! (a Caribbean-inspired program), and Fiesta Sinfónica (a tribute to Latin music), and, for many attendees, they represented an engaging introduction to orchestral music.

These performances have helped to inform a successful framework for community engagement that will be expanded over the next five years to Markham and Scarborough. In all three locations, the TSO will continue to work alongside local partners to craft and deliver experiences that reflect the identities and interests of the people who call these places home. And this is only the beginning, as more Symphony Where You Are events and partnerships are to be announced in the years to come.

The Ignition

The partnership’s official kickoff will take place at the TSO’s annual Open House & Free Community Concert on September 26, 2026, powered by 407 ETR. As the organization’s largest free public event, the Open House welcomes more than 4,000 people each fall for performances, family programming, and opportunities to experience the orchestra in an inclusive and accessible environment.

And if you aren’t able to make it, just wait: It’s only a matter of time before you’ll be able to Symphony Where You Are—taking an express route to meaningful connection.

To learn more about the Symphony Where You Are program, including upcoming events, visit TSO.CA/SymphonyWhereYouAre.