Tawhida Tanya Evanson is a Canadian poet, novelist, artist and Ashiq. Her work blends poetry, orality, music and multimedia around themes of African diasporic identity and Sufi spirituality in resistance to Western values. Born in Tiohtià:ke/Montréal she has roots in Antigua, West Indies.

Evanson’s novels include Livre des ailes (2023) and the award-winning Book of Wings (2021); she also has two poetry collections and an extensive history of international spoken word performance, audio recordings and films. Evanson’s recent work includes the multi-award-winning Afrofuturist concert film CYANO SUN SUITE (2024) and the upcoming poetry collection Annihilation Ghazals. She moonlights as a whirling dervish.

Tara Moneka is a Black Iraqi artist and singer whose music bridges cultures and traditions. Born in Baghdad and raised in a Sufi family, she was drawn to music from an early age, exploring the rich sounds of Afro-Sufi, Arabic, and Swahili influences. Her style blends Jazz, R&B, Soul, Funk, Blues, Maqam, and Afrobeat, creating a sound that feels both familiar and refreshingly new. Singing in multiple languages — including Arabic, English, Urdu, Spanish, Turkish, and Swahili — Tara embraces the diversity of music as a universal language. Her journey began at 13 when she first gained recognition on The Voice (Middle East) and collaborated with The Iraqi Children’s Culture House, experiences that shaped her path as an artist. As the lead of Dijlah, an all-women band named after the Tigris River, Tara uses her music to highlight women’s rights and empowerment. Over the years, she has had the privilege of working with respected institutions such as the Aga Khan Museum, Koerner Hall, Uma Nota Culture, and The Opera House. Tara’s music is more than sound — it’s an experience. A bridge between past and future, East and West, her performances are a journey of connection, transformation, and defiance against cultural boundaries. Wherever she sings, she ignites a revolution of rhythm and resilience.

is a Kamanche player and composer with a background in Classical Persian music. A graduate of Tehran University, he studied with renowned masters and gained experience in both instrumental and vocal repertoires.

He has composed works for Kamanche, Persian ensembles, and Western string quartets, and his performances blend traditional Persian elements with contemporary ideas. His career includes concerts across Canada, the Americas, Europe, East Asia, and the Middle East.

Kamjoo has collaborated with ensembles such as Constantinople, Regard Persan, Namâd and Dastân, and has frequently performed with Parisa, the grande dame of Persian classical music.

Dhaivat Jani is a Toronto-based drummer and tabla player and composer. A recent graduate from Humber College with a Bachelor of Music, Jani leads two of his own bands: Dhaivat Jani PLUS, a seven-piece contemporary jazz-fusion band, and Electrio, a three-piece experimental-electronic jazz trio. Jani also supports multiple artists and is an Artistic Associate at Spectrum Music, Canada. He has been awarded several scholarships and awards over the years, including the CCRT Scholarship from the Government of India, the International Student Award for Excellence, the Yamaha Music Canada Ltd. Award, and the Jazz.FM 91 Award.

Gandhaar Amin has been learning Indian classical music from his father since age 4. He has been performing at classical and fusion concerts for over 15 years and has also been producing music for film and TV for about a decade. Having been a part of the music scene in Mumbai since 2012, he has recently moved to Toronto. 

Bamdad Fotouhi is an Iranian-Canadian percussionist and educator, born in Paris, France, in 1978, with over 20 years of experience in tonbak and daf. Although trained in civil engineering, his passion has always been Iranian traditional music.

He has performed across Iran and Canada, collaborating with legendary masters such as Hossein Dehlavi, Hossein Alizadeh, Majid Derakhshani, Hossein Behroozinia, Saeed Farajpouri, Davoud Azad, and Keivan Saket. Since moving to Canada in 2013, Bamdad has become an active performer, educator, and cultural contributor.

As the percussionist of the Ân Trio Ensemble since 2018, he has played a key role in music and educational projects. His work has been recognized by prestigious organizations, including the Canada Council for the Arts (Explore and Create Award) and the Ontario Arts Council (Music Creation Grant).

He currently leads “Lessons for Tonbak,” an innovative project to modernize and preserve Iranian drumming traditions. Bamdad teaches in Toronto, where he continues to share the rhythms and soul of Persian music.