Larrakia elder June Mills and the Darwin Symphony Orchestra create cross

The squawk of a cockatoo from a clarinet pierces through the tropical foliage framing June Mills as she takes to the stage to tell the story of Muk Muk the owl.

In a first-of-its-kind collaboration, a traditional oral story by the Larrakia elder and storyteller was being performed with puppets, songs and Larrakia language, backed by the classical tones of strings and woodwind instruments from an ensemble of musicians part of the Darwin Symphony Orchestra (DSO).

Ms Mills's Witladla tells a story of a group of animals — including a cockatoo, crocodile, barramundi and crab — working together to help their friend Muk Muk after he loses his treasured shell necklace.

Originally performed by Ms Mills alone, the addition of the DSO's classical music created a merging of art forms that captured the imaginations of local children who came to watch.

DSO concertmaster Tara Murphy said the collaboration had started from a chance meeting at the markets.

"I saw Aunty June at Palmerston Markets," she said.

"When I saw her I was like 'Aunty June Mills, I love Witladla, it's really stuck with me, and if there's any way that we can collaborate or bring some of our instruments to this story I would love to see if that was possible."

Ms Mills said she'd enjoyed developing her story into an orchestra-backed performance.

"Going from backyard sing-songs with a guitar, just on that basic level, and then [to] … an orchestra is going to be a part of my little story, it's just so beautiful," she said.

Watch the video above.