Alexandru Sura is an internationally recognized virtuoso of the cimbalom, an instrument that bridges Eastern European tradition and contemporary classical performance. Originally from Moldova and now based in Canada, Sura has captivated audiences with his unique artistry and his ability to integrate the cimbalom into symphonic and chamber music contexts.

He has performed with major ensembles including the Orchestre symphonique de l’Estuaire, Orchestre symphonique de Drummondville, I Musici de Montréal, the Canadian Opera Company, and the Orchestre Philharmonique de Gorzów in Poland. His collaborations have brought him to prestigious festivals and venues such as the Festival de Lanaudière, the Toronto Summer Music Festival, and the Virée Classique under the direction of Kent Nagano. In addition to live performances, Sura has recorded for film soundtracks, including Amsterdam and Un Nuage Dans Un Verre d’Eau, and released Paganini Cymbalumesque in 2022 with Orchestre Nouvelle Génération. With a career spanning North America and Europe, Alexandru Sura continues to redefine the role of the cimbalom in today’s musical landscape.

Vinay Desai is a disciple of the renowned santoor maestro Padma Vibhushan Pandit Shivkumar Sharma. After completing studies in pre-pharmaceutical science and pre-law in Delaware, he pursued advanced training in India, first under senior disciples and later directly with Pandit Shivkumar Sharma. Vinay has performed widely across the United States, Canada, Argentina, Australia, The Bahamas, and India, appearing at major festivals and venues including the Adelaide Fringe Festival, Mona Foma in Tasmania, Lollapalooza Argentina, the Jaipur Literature Festival, and SwarZankar in Pune. 

While grounded in Indian classical music, his work spans multiple genres, including Bollywood, theatre, jazz, and Western classical music. He is known for his meditative and dynamic phrasing, as well as his deep commitment to the stylistic legacy of his guru. Vinay has collaborated with leading artists such as Ustad Tari Khan, Pandit Anindo Chatterjee, and Ustad Sukhvinder Singh Pinky. He continues to share this tradition through performance, teaching, and lecture demonstrations.

Shawn Mativetsky is considered one of Canada’s leading ambassadors of the tabla, and is a pioneer in bridging the worlds of Western and Indian classical music. Acclaimed as an exceptional soloist and a leading disciple of the renowned Pandit Sharda Sahai, Shawn Mativetsky is highly sought-after as both performer and educator, and is active in the promotion of the tabla and North Indian classical music through lectures, workshops, and performances across Canada and internationally. Based in Montreal, Shawn teaches tabla and percussion at McGill University.