TD Pop-up Performances 2023
Date:
2023
Price: Free with Museum Admission
The Aga Khan Museum provides a platform for emerging and established award-winning artists to showcase their craft, initiate cross-cultural dialogue, and engage new audiences.
Throughout the season, experience poetry, music and dance that reflects the rich tapestry of diverse world regions, from the Balkans to the Nordic countries, from the Middle East to Asia. Enjoy informal performances presented by TD Bank Group – of jazz, Latin, Persian, traditional Asian music, and more – by a range of captivating artists in the Museum’s public spaces and galleries.
Join us every week for a new Pop-Up experience
Wednesdays at 5 pm, 6 pm, and 7 pm.
Saturdays and Sundays at 12 pm, 1 pm, and 3 pm.
September Performances
Karla García
September 6–10
Originally from Castro, a town on the Chilean island of Chiloé, Karla García is Toronto-based classically trained guitarist and teacher. As a performer, García has played a wide variety of music, including contemporary, folk, fado, rock, classical, Celtic, Latin American, and has participated in many guitar festivals and concerts across North and South America. In 2010 she was named Best Performer at the César Cortinas Guitar Contest (Atlántida, Uruguay), and one of the most important Chilean flamenco guitarists, Carlos Ledermann, dedicated a composition, “Suite Emocional,” to her.
García has also taught master classes at Festival Entrecuerdas, one of the largest guitar festivals in South America, and has shared the stage with prestigious guitarists from Norway, Italy, Portugal, and Canada.
Follow Karla García on Facebook and Instagram
Learn more about Karla García
Ferhan Dogmusoz
September 13–17
Ferhan Dogmusoz is a multi-instrumentalist (oud and jumbush) and composer originally from Türkiye who was born into a musical family. Dogmusoz has appeared in some of the most popular radio programs and television shows as an oud player along with various well-known musicians. He has released several studio albums and performed with many ensembles and musicians from all over the world. His style combines older traditions with many new innovations and a touch of improvisation.
Follow Ferhan Dogmusoz on Instagram
Listen to Ferhan Dogmusoz on YouTube
Toronto Klezmer Society
September 13–17
The Toronto Klezmer Society (TKS) was founded in November 2017 with the intention to grow the Klezmer music scene in Toronto and beyond, push the boundaries of the genre while upholding its history and origins, and introduce the music to a new audience. Its core band regularly runs monthly jams and workshops, and hosts an online platform for the exchange of material.
TKS is a lively, family-friendly experience, adding to the cultural mosaic of Toronto.
Follow The Toronto Klezmer Society on Instagram
Learn more about the Toronto Klezmer Society
George Crotty
September 27–October 1
George Crotty has forged his own exciting vocabulary on the cello, pushing its boundaries as a jazz instrument. Following his graduation from the Berklee College of Music, Crotty immersed himself in New York’s jazz and world music scenes, playing with several ensembles, such as the Brooklyn Raga Massive and the Detroit-based National Arab Orchestra. Additionally, he has enjoyed fruitful collaborations with Simon Shaheen, Paquito D’Rivera, Anat Cohen, and Darol Anger.
The George Crotty Trio’s Chronotope (2022) showcases the Canadian cellist’s expressive fluidity and modal orientation. Their cross-cultural interplay draws on diverse influences within jazz and global music traditions including post-bop, modal jazz, Indian Raga, and Arabic Maqam.
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Learn more about George Crotty
Past Performers
January
Kyler Mackenzie
January 4–8
Fusing Spanish, Celtic, and Slavic music on classical guitar, Kyler Mackenzie's musical journey began in Toronto and has since taken him worldwide. He has performed his take on Modern Folk Fusion in Eastern Europe, France, and Portugal.
Roshane Wright
January 11–15
A drummer and percussionist hailing from Portmore, Jamaica, Roshane Wright started playing percussion instruments at the age of six and has gone on to win numerous awards in his divisions. Wright fuses his musical Caribbean roots with jazz to create his own authentic sound. Roshane has been a freelance artist as well as a music educator, composer, arranger and band leader.
Follow Roshane Wright on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook
Ross Morgan
January 18–22
Ross Morgan is a Toronto-based guitarist, composer, and arranger. Originally from Richmond, Ontario, Morgan began his musical journey studying 70’s folk and soul. He discovered a passion for jazz at the age of 18 after hearing Ed Bickert's "At The Garden Party" for the first time. Since graduating from Humber College, he has performed locally with groups like Tideways Collective, TJ and the Crew, and the Tomoko Abe Trio and released his debut EP Migration — an exploration of Canadian journeys and a tribute to his favourite musicians.
Listen to Ross Morgan's EP, Migration
Follow Ross Morgan on Instagram
Ross Morgan will be accompanied by:
Nathan Hiltz and Hiro Suzuki on Guitar (January 18th)
Tyler Campbell on Saxophone (January 21st)
Andrew Kay
January 25–29
Andrew Kay is an acclaimed musician and composer from Toronto, Canada. Kay writes and performs music ranging from Indo-Jazz, World Music, and Indian Classical Raga Music to Contemporary Jazz and contemporary Improvisations. He is among one of the first musicians in the world to perform Indian Classical music on the Alto Saxophone after spending more than a decade living and studying in the traditional Guru-Shishya parampara system with his Guru in Kolkata, India. He has also pioneered a unique set of tuned Himalayan Singing Bowls that he performs with, as well as using tuning forks, various woodwinds, and hand percussion. He is a seasoned performer with dozens of feature concerts around the globe with world-renowned maestros and is the co-leader of many creative musical projects.
Learn more about Andrew Kay
Follow Andrew Kay on Instagram
Watch Andrew Kay on YouTube
February
Behzad Danesh
February 1–5
Jerusa Leão
February 8–12
Roshane Wright
February 22–26
March
Aimal Khan Khattak
March 1–5
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Aimal Khan Khattak is a musician, Rubab player, art & culture preservationist, philanthropist, and entrepreneur from Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He aims to promote Pashtun culture through his music and gained recognition for his song ‘Meena Oor De Zargiya,' on which he gained more than 4 Million views across different digital platforms. Khattak is a founding member of Islamabad-based instrumental band, Pro-Zac and collaborates with organizations and international music bands to promote Pashtun music and culture.
Follow Aimal Khan Khattak on Instagram
Watch Aimal Khan Khattak on YouTube
Sridaya Srivatsan
March 8–12
Kousha Nakhaei
March 15–19
Kousha Nakhaei is a musician and co-director of Sarv Music Academy, with expertise in Western classical and Iranian traditional music. He performs with various artists and has toured extensively with Sarv Ensemble. Nakhaei also teaches violin and kamanche, leads Sarv String Orchestra and Sarv Choir, and has guest-taught Iranian music at several institutions.
Learn more about Kousha Nakhaei
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Kazdoura
March 22–26
Toronto-based band Kazdoura fuzes nostalgia and reinvention in their modern interpretation of Arabic music. Their style is a cross-cultural blend of Eastern and Western music that combines old-world Arabic classics with jazz, funk, electro-pop, and disco. This project was founded in the summer of 2020, quickly finding success online, where their videos have collected more than 3 million views on Tik Tok. In June 2022, Kazdoura released their debut EP "Wain," which received support from the Ontario Arts Council, CBC, Danny Hajjar’s popular Sa'alouni El Nas Substack, and featured on Habibi Funk’s popular Spotify playlist.
Learn more about Kazdoura
Follow Kazdoura on Instagram
Marta Solek
March 29–April 2
Marta Solek is a multi-instrumentalist from Poland. She graduated from the Krakow Academy of Music, specializing in cello and Polish/World knee fiddles. She is the first musician in the world to hold a master's degree in suka from bilgoray and plock fiddle-unique traditional instruments from the XVII Century. She has performed worldwide with classical orchestras, jazz, pop, rock, and world music bands, recorded 14 CDs, and composed music for music for TV shows, games and theatre.
Follow Marta Solek on Instagram
João Leão
April 5–9
Musician and producer João Leão brings the creative energy of Brazil's independent music scene through his interpretations of Bossa Nova and contemporary Brazillian Music. Having recorded more than 30 albums and toured extensively with prominent Brazilian indie artists like two-time Latin Grammy Award winner Céu, Leão is highly sought after in the local Brazilian and Latin music scenes.
Follow João Leão on Instagram
Watch João Leão on YouTube
Shanaya Patel
April 12–16
Rising singer-songwriter Shanaya Patel, from Mississauga, Ontario is on a passionate path of bringing her music to a worldwide audience. With lush, deep vocals filled with grit and nuance, Patel's vocals and writing style draw inspiration from artists like Ariana Grande, H.E.R., and Julia Michaels.
Learn more about Shanaya Patel
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Dwit Hathi
April 12–16
Toronto-based musician and guitarist Dwit Hathi is currently pursuing higher music studies at Humber College. Originally from Ahmedabad, India, Hathi has been a student of the North Indian classical tradition, and his musical style involves a lot of influences, from his South Asian roots to contemporary jazz, fusion, rock, and pop music through which he showcases a deep sense of musicality when it comes to composing and arranging music. Hathi also leads a contemporary jazz quintet in Toronto and regularly performs at various festivals and local venues across the city.
Follow Dwit Hathi on Instagram and Facebook
Watch Dwit Hathi on YouTube
Dhaivat Jani and Paula Sofia
April 19–23
Paula Sofía is a Guatemalan singer-songwriter based in Toronto. With a repertoire of predominately Spanish music, Sofía forms playful connections with her audience through her dynamic storytelling, imagery, and quirky songwriting.
Dhaivat Jani is a Toronto-based award-winning drummer, tabla player and composer. A recent graduate with a Bachelor of Music at Humber College, Jani leads two of his own bands — Dhaivat Jani PLUS and Electrio. He is also an Artistic Associate at Spectrum Music, Canada. Originally from Ahmedabad, India, Jani also performs with multiple artists across various genres.
Follow Paula Sofía on Instagram
Learn more about Dhaivat Jani
Follow Dhaivat Jani on Instagram
Roa Lee
April 26–30
Roa (HyunYoung) Lee is a Gayageum musician from Korea. She began playing when she was seven years old and received formal training at a high school and university for traditional performing arts. Interested in collaboration and incorporating the Gayageum with various music genres, Lee's music blends traditional Korean with different elements from a diverse selection of other genres.
Follow Roa Lee on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter
Kyler Mackenzie
May 3–7
Sarah Abusarar
May 10-14
Using stories as a therapeutic tool in her work with both adults and children, Sarah Abusarar comes from a long line of storytellers. She tells stories from all over the world, with a focus on Palestinian and Croatian stories where her roots lie. She is a member of the Musical Story Studio, a collective that combines stories and music in performances and workshops. Abusarar has travelled the world telling her stories at festivals in Canada, the United Arab Emirates, Bosnia, and Croatia.
Follow Sarah Abusarar on Instagram
Watch Sarah Abusarar on YouTube
Amin Reihani
May 17–21
Traditional Iranian santoor player Amin Reihani started his musical journey when he was only 10 years old. Since mastering his skills at the University of Tehran, Reihani has participated in numerous festivals and performances and performed with acclaimed musicians including Daryoush Talaiei and Majid Kiani.
June Performances
Roshane Wright
May 31–June 4
Follow Roshane Wright on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook
Fethi Nadjem
June 7–11
Born in Algeria to a family of musicians, Fethi Nadjem started playing the guitar and oud at the age of 13. During his studies at the Fine Arts Association in Algiers, he learned how to play Andalusian music as well as the violin and mandolin. Nadjem co-founded Djmawi Africa, a fusion band, and since moving to Toronto, has performed with various bands and musicians including Jesse Cook and Moneka Arabic Jazz.
Learn more about Fethi Nadjem
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Georgia Hathaway
June 14–18
Georgia brings a unique perspective to fiddling, having started with Canadian and Irish fiddle as a child and falling in love with Arabic, Turkish, and Balkan music as an adult. Growing up and living in the most multicultural city in the world, they have had the benefit of learning these styles from different teachers, and they believe music has the power to unite people no matter where one comes from. They begin with their roots and end with their current branches, from old-time Quebecois and Irish tunes as well as the melodies of Turkish, Balkan, and Arabic music.
Learn more about Georgia Hathaway
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Andrew Kay
June 21–25
Learn more about Andrew Kay
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Watch Andrew Kay on YouTube
July Performances
Diar دْيَار
July 5–9
Diar ( دْيَار ) is a Syrian band dedicated to reviving and preserving traditional Syrian and Arabic songs by infusing them with a flamenco touch. The term "Diar" ( دْيَار ) refers to the open space of a courtyard in Damascus' traditional houses, also known as "Ard Diar" ( أرض دْيَار ). This term evokes memories of their homeland in Syria and of their musical roots.
Gurprabh Sandhu
July 19–23
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Indian artist Gurprabh Sandhu is a vocalist and musician. She has a master's degree in Indian classical vocal music from the MS University of Performing Arts, Vadodara, Gujarat. Sandhu has dedicated her life to Sufi music performance and was influenced by Abida Parveen and the iconic Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. She has performed as a lead vocalist in numerous concerts and was a music lecturer in India. Currently a member of the band, Soul Feeders, she recently relocated to Canada to continue her studies in art and cultural management at Humber.
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Amrita
July 26–30
Anita Katakkar is a Toronto-based composer, performer, and recording artist with Indian-Scottish roots. With over 20 years of tabla study under acclaimed mentors, Katakkar's music is a fusion of her heritage and community. Her solo project, Rakkatak, showcases classical tabla compositions blending rhythm, melody, and ambient textures. An accomplished musician, Anita has collaborated with renowned artists and released multiple albums, including "Char Taal" and "Raga Rainbow."
Kayla Milmine explores uncharted sonic realms with the soprano saxophone. Her solo albums "Straight Horn Magick" and "Moods of Yellow" display captivating soprano saxophone improvisations and field recordings. Kayla performs regularly in various formations, including the trio with pianist Bill Gilliam and percussionist Ambrose Pottie, and the FASTER band with guitarist and composer Brian Abbott. With an impressive list of collaborations, including celebrated bassist William Parker, Kayla is currently composing for her new project, the Kayla Milmine Quartet. Additionally, she co-founded the Women From Space Festival in Toronto.
Follow Anita Katakkar on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
Listen to Anita Katakkar on YouTube and Bandcamp
Listen to Kayla Milmine on Bandcamp
August Performances
Agneya Chikte and Sèwà
August 2–6
Sèwà seamlessly blends West African sounds with contemporary elements while Agneya evocatively paints a vivid picture of the human experience through percussion. Together, they create a dynamic synergy that transcends borders, captivating audiences with their collective energy and infectious passion for music. Their collaboration is a testament to the transformative power of art, celebrating unity and encouraging self-discovery through the universal language of rhythm and melody.
Follow Agneya Chikte on Instagram
Learn more about Agneya Chikte
Follow Sèwà on Instagram
Behnoosh Behimanian
August 8–13
Behnoosh Behimanian is an accomplished musician from Tehran, Iran, with a BA and MA in Iranian Music Performance from Tehran University. She's a skilled violin and Kamancheh player, trained by esteemed maestros. With over 20 years of experience, Behnoosh has performed as a soloist and collaborated with masters of Iranian music worldwide. She founded the Eastern Sunrise Ensemble in Toronto, Canada, in 2022, aiming to showcase and promote Iranian traditional music globally. In 2007, she won the first-level prize in Kamancheh performance at the 6th Youth Music Festival in Tehran.
Follow Behnoosh Behimanian on Instagram
Listen to Anita Katakkar on YouTube
Marta Solek
August 16–20
Marta Solek is a multi-instrumentalist from Poland. She graduated from the Krakow Academy of Music, specializing in cello and Polish/World knee fiddles. She is the first musician in the world to hold a master's degree in suka from bilgoray and plock fiddle-unique traditional instruments from the XVII Century. She has performed worldwide with classical orchestras, jazz, pop, rock, and world music bands, recorded 14 CDs, and composed music for TV shows, games and theatre.
Follow Marta Solek on Instagram
Behzad Danesh
August 23–27
Behzad is an Iranian-Canadian Jazz fusion guitar player. Founder of Saffron Tea music, his sound is inspired by Iranian music repertoire and modern jazz.
Follow Behzad Danesh on Instagram
Majd Sekkar
August 30–September 3
Majd Sekkar (Majd Sukar) is a Syrian Canadian clarinetist renowned on the Toronto music scene for his fusion music and unique sound. His style blends Middle Eastern folk and classical music with jazz in unparalleled practice.
Follow Majd Sekkar on Instagram
Follow Diar دْيَار on Instagram and Facebook
Watch Diarدْيَار on YouTube
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