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 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 TD Pop-Up experience
Wednesdays | 5, 6, and 7 pm
Saturdays and Sundays | 12, 1, and 3 pm
Pop-up Performances at the Museum are sponsored by TD Bank Group.
Subhadra Vijaykumar is a Mississauga-based award-winning Carnatic (South Indian) classical violinist. Her mission is to earn recognition for the Carnatic style of playing the Western violin.
She has performed to a diverse audience across the GTA and abroad. She recently rendered the National Anthems of Canada and the USA at the Raptors game at the Scotiabank Arena. She is a faculty member at the Oscar Peterson School of Music of the Royal Conservatory of Music.
With over 30 years of experience under his fingers, Nicolas Hernandez’s style has evolved into a distinctive, modern “voice” in the flamenco genre. His debut CD “Buscando mi voz” won a Just Plain Folks Award for Best Flamenco Album in 2009 and his second CD “Rupakerias” was released in 2018. Nicolas was the musical director for the Esmeralda Enrique Spanish Dance Company for over 20 years and toured the world with the Jesse Cook band for 16 years. Nicolas is presently involved in various projects throughout the flamenco community in Toronto.
Amin, an Iranian traditional musician, began his music journey at age 10, captivated by the santoor. He honed his skills at the University of Tehran, studying under notable musicians and performing at various festivals. After earning his bachelor’s degree in 2000, he founded Aref Music School and taught for 20 years before moving to Canada.
In Toronto, he collaborated with musicians like Naser Masoudi and Sepideh Raissadate, performed with Sarv Ensemble, and founded Navak Ensemble in 2018 to showcase his compositions and traditional music. Amin remains a dedicated teacher of santoor and Iranian music.
Brian Katz (guitar) and Martin van de Ven (clarinets) draw their inspiration primarily from Klezmer, embracing tradition but emphasizing new approaches to this vibrant music!
The internationally acclaimed duo brings together a variety of musical traditions and influences informed by the diversity within the Klezmer world and by their own rich musical backgrounds. Jazz, Classical, New Music, Bulgarian, Middle Eastern and African influences are integrated in ways that extend tradition and generate new musical understandings that speak to our time. “The audience was spellbound… They ‘play’ the ‘stars’ down from heaven” Dagblad van het Noorden, Holland.
Gentle Weep was formed in Toronto by three Brazilian musicians who share a passion for “rodas de choro,” informal musical gatherings where musicians play a musical genre called “choro,” often around a table full of food and drinks. The name “choro”–which means weep in Portuguese–is attributed to the overly sentimental way popular musicians in 19th century Rio de Janeiro would interpret melodies brought from Europe, mixing them with indigenous and Afro-diasporic elements of their culture. In a “roda,” it’s expected that the musicians can accompany by ear whatever a singer or soloist throws at them, involving a lot of improvisation and leaving plenty of room for puns and jokes–musical and otherwise.
The group was formed in mid-2023 and has played several venues in the city, such as the University of Toronto’s Hart House, Lula Lounge, Drom Taberna, and the Big Fam Sessions at Kensington Sound, always presenting music that, in its richness and rhythmic liveness, touches the heart, the body and the mind in equal proportions. Gentle Weep is thus a nod to the different cultures that gave birth to the joy of playing music and the varied music formed on the whole American continent.
Marichka is a well-known Ukrainian-Canadian singer, folklorist, activist and musician (Balaklava Blues, Lemon Bucket Orkestra). She is the only Ukrainian singer in North America who truthfully and deeply represents the original authentic tradition of folk singing. Marichka’s creator’s work and performances has won numerous international awards. Marichka is also teaching Ukrainian traditional old songs to get a taste or learn deeply a special vocal technique of Ukrainian polyphony called “open voice.” Marichka performed in in the legendary Barbican Centre in London, UK (2022) and Carnegie Hall (2022). In 2023 Marichka joined the Ukrainian Army Forces as a volunteer combat medic and a journalist in a war zone in Eastern Ukraine.
Accompanying Marichka will be Zoë Santo. Zoë wields the viola with finesse as an artist whose journey has been profoundly influenced by global folk music. With a distinguished background, she has trained under renowned classical pedagogues, as well as with members of acclaimed international ensembles such as Ensemble Made in Canada (recent Juno winners), Afiara Quartet, Linden Quartet, and Harlem Quartet. Zoë has skillfully channeled her talents to cross geographical and cultural boundaries.
Her musical journey spans a wide range of genres, from the evocative melodies of the Balkans to the ethereal enchantment of Celtic harmonies and the soul-stirring resonance of Klezmer. Each note she plays reflects her deep appreciation for the diverse and vibrant traditions of folk music from around the world.
Ali Rajan is an instrumentalist who plays the Rubab (رباب), a Central Asian stringed instrument. Born and raised in Toronto, he became inspired to play the Rubab in the Northern Areas of Pakistan. He has composed and arranged a variety of pieces in collaboration with other artists and has performed for audiences consisting of government and community leadership.
Ali was nominated to represent Canada in the Global Encounters Festival 2025 as the Champion in Instrumental Music for the Illume National Arts and Sports Festival. He continues to be featured in venues such as The Living Sea — Fragile Beauty exhibition’s Canadian debut.
Through African music, poetry, and dance, Izimba Arts shares the beauty of authentic diverse Zimbabwean culture.
Izimba Arts is a collective of African performing artists who pursue art as an instrument for community engagement. The group specializes in performances and workshops that include high-energy traditional and urban dances and music from Southern Africa.
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.
Elvis Bokosha band originated from Zimbabwe but then moved to Canada. The band was established in 2012 by Elvis Bokosha. Elvis is the lead singer and his gifted with a powerful voice. This is a nine-member band comprising of the lead singer who plays acoustic guitar, bass guitarist, pianist , keytarist, drummer, electric guitarist and three backing vocalists. Our music can be classified as Afro Jazz but we would like to believe that it has a contemporary feel to it. We are a band that seeks to address social facts pertaining to day to day life. All the songs are composed by Elvis and most of them are about love, motivation and guidance. The languages used in the music are mainly Shona, Ndebele and English. Shona and Ndebele being the native languages in Zimbabwe. We have shared stage with most popular Zimbabwean musician like Oliver Mtukudzi, Tocky Vibes, Winky D , Shinsoman just to mention a few. Our performances have mainly been in Zimbabwe, South Africa, United Kingdom and Canada. In Canada we have performed at Bring on the sunshine festival, Habari Africa Festival and other events.
Priyanka Tope is an emerging Kathak dancer, choreographer, and educator currently based in Hamilton, Ontario with over 10 years of training. Tope is interested in exploring unique collaborations between Kathak and instruments not traditionally used in the context of Kathak.
Turkwaz is a unique combination of four musicians/singers, immersed in diverse traditions from mysterious Sufi devotional love songs to rousing Thracian dance music. Each performer brings a special flavour to the group. Maryem Hassan Tollar draws on her Arabic language heritage, Jayne Brown and Sophia Grigoriadis bring their experience with Greek music to the mix, and Brenna MacCrimmon adds her Turkish fascination. They have a long-standing collective interest in Balkan traditions and add Albanian, Bulgarian, Macedonian, and whatever else strikes their fancy to their repertoire. The love and respect they have for the traditions they draw from are clear but they are not afraid to arrange the tunes in new and unexpected ways to give them a fresh spin.
Padideh Ahrarnejad, Ooldouz Pouri, and Ali Massoudi are acclaimed Iranian musicians who have brought their talents to the global stage.
Padideh Ahrarnejad, an award-winning tar player and educator, has performed Persian music worldwide, collaborated with legendary composer Hossein Alizâdeh, and is a member of Kuné, “Canada’s Global Orchestra.” She also teaches tar and setar in Toronto.
Ooldouz Pouri, an Azeri-Iranian singer, has toured internationally, blending folklore and jazz. After releasing a solo album with Norwegian label KKV, she formed the band “OOLDOUZLAR,” performing Azeri and Farsi songs in Toronto.
Ali Massoudi, a percussionist and academic, has played with renowned orchestras, including the Iranian National Music Orchestra. Now based in Canada, he co-founded the Navasaz Music Academy and remains active in the music scene.
Formed in 2023, the Rosh Riddims Band, comprised of Canada’s top musicians, has quickly become a force to be reckoned with. Their six-month residency at the Drake Hotel has solidified their reputation for delivering mesmerizing Reggae and Dancehall Fusion performances. With a rich tapestry of Reggae, Dancehall, Jazz, and cultural rhythms from the Caribbean, the Rosh Riddims Band crafts music that speaks to the heart and soul.
Moskitto Bar is a fresh and unique sound created in the multi-cultural hub of Toronto, Canada. Their sound combines a beautiful and original mix of Ukrainian, Balkan, Iraqi, and French Celtic music.
Toronto’s Polky, led by multi-talented immigrant female musicians, delights audiences with traditional vocals, unusual instruments, and energizing performances. Drawing deep inspiration from Poland’s rich cultural tapestry, they push musical boundaries by fearlessly blending Polish traditional music with sounds and rhythms from across the globe.
This Arabic-Andalusian music blends the Spanish sounds of Andalusia with traditional Arabic music. An enchanting guitar performance containing Arabic rhythms intertwined with flamenco music sets the stage for professional flamenco dancers.
Each note is a song in Arabic and Spanish, coming together as history reunites Arabs with their long-gone past and presence in Andalusia. This project is produced and created by Tarek Ghriri.
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 TV shows as an oud player along with various well-known musicians. After graduating as an engineer from Hacettepe University, his adventure le him to Russia where he released several studio albums and performed with many ensembles and musicians from all over the world. His style combines older traditions with contemporary innovations rooted in a deep knowledge of the art of improvisation.
Anuja Panditrao is an eclectic vocalist based in Toronto. She began her vocal musical training in North Indian Classical music. She currently studies under the tutorship of Shri. Narendra Datar. In 2009, Panditrao received the Ontario Arts Council’s Chalmers Professional Development Grant to complete a one-year intensive study of classical music in India. She has performed with various artists on stages across Canada, the U.S., Australia, and India. In recent years, Panditrao has dabbled in composing Bandish, Taranna and Khyal. In collaboration with New York-based Indian Raga fellowship recipients, Panditrao released a cross-collaborative composition called “Highlights.” Her goal and musical journey aims to nurture and preserve the soundscapes of Indian music in North America.
Erez Sussman is a stylistic innovator, combining diverse genres and influences into a beautiful, creative, and appetizing feast of sounds. Sussman is a composer, performer, and recording artist in many styles and has received numerous awards and grants including a National Gold Medal from the Royal Conservatory of Music, The Toronto Guitar Society’s President’s Award, arts grants, and a Master’s degree in Performance from the University of Toronto.
Kiyaan Lavji is a 16 year old student in an all French IB program. Kiyaan has been fortunate to have had the opportunity to be part of the Jubilee Arts and Illume initiative and participated in both the Regional and National Festival, and will be Representing Canada in Dubai 2025. He performed for the Right Honorable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada in 2018. Kiyaan continues to collaborate with other artists locally and nationally while creating classical compositions to improve his craft.
He established “Kiyaan’s School of Tabla” which held its first tabla workshop in August 2019. In August 2020 Kiyaan ranked 3rd in a National India Classical Tabla Competition. Kiyaan has collaborated with renowned artists on the song Deedar E Khuda which was released by Merchant Records. Most recently Kiyaan performed for Prince Amyn at the ground breaking ceremonies for generations Canada and performed our rendition of the song child of the ocean in the presence of Prince Hussain as a gift to him. He aspires to inspire others to follow their passion.
Joelle Crigger is an accomplished and versatile violinist and fiddler who has served as concertmaster of the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra and the University of Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Within the past year, she has soloed with the Oakville Chamber Orchestra, the North York Concert Orchestra, the Cathedral Bluffs Symphony Orchestra, and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. A past winner of the Canadian Open Junior Fiddle Championship, Crigger is well-versed in playing a variety of fiddle styles and has received the 2023 Stingray Rising Stars Award.
Joelle recently completed her studies in Violin Performance at the University of Toronto in the studio of Jonathan Crow. She will be starting her graduate studies this September as a full scholarship student at the Glenn Gould School of Music, where she will be studying with Paul Kantor and Barry Shiffman.
Ragamalika Mohanraj is an IT Engineer by profession and an Indian Classical dancer by passion. She is a first-generation artist and Immigrant from South Asia to Canada. Starting Bharatanatyam at age 4, she trains with Gurus Shijith Nambiar and Parvathy Menon. She also studies Odissi under Barnalee Sarkar and has explored other dance styles and body conditioning. In Canada, she is pursuing the Martha Graham Technique at Toronto Dance Theatre and collaborates with freelance dancers, providing opportunities for women constrained by career or family. She has performed across Canada, the USA, and India, earning the North American Tamil Excellence Award 2024.
Dimitra Kahrimanidis is a Greek-Canadian singer, songwriter, and lute player.She is a graduate of the University of Toronto, Faculty of Music in Canada, majoring in Voice. Kahrimanidis is also a graduate of the Department of Music Studies of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece, majoring in Ethnomusicology and Cultural Anthropology. Dimitra has performed on albums including, “Ti kala to leeit’aidoni” and “The Old Song of Small Aegean.” She has also performed on TV shows such as “Radio Arvila” and ”Oloi oi kaloihorane” in Greece. She has performed in many festivals and collaborated with artists and groups in Greece, Canada, and the USA.
A Gayageum musician from Korea, Roa (HyunYoung) Lee 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.
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 the Modern Folk Fusion in Eastern Europe, France, and Portugal.
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.
Graeme Jonez is singer-songwriter based in Toronto, Ontario. A storyteller at heart, Jonez’s lyrics are the foundation of his music, heavily influenced by old American folk and blues. His sound straddles outlaw country, alt-folk, blues, and indie rock. Jonez’s debut album, “Creatures & Criminals,” was released in 2023. In March of 2024, his single “The Flood!” reached #1 on the Indigenous Music Countdown and earned him a 2024 Merilainen Music Award for Single of the Year. He is an alumnus of Manitoba Music’s Indigenous Music Residency and a member of the Sheguiandah Ojibwe First Nation (Manitoulin Island, ON).
Suzette Vidale is an innovative artist with roots in Trinidad and St. Lucia. As an ambassador of the steelpan, her greatest moments are using it as a wellness tool to educate, entertain, and inspire. Vidale hopes that the instrument will act as a tool to provide a safe space to foster curiosity and creativity and encourage others to learn more about Caribbean arts and culture. Vidale has performed at the Viola Desmond Awards, the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, and the Lieutenant Governor’s New Year’s Levee.
Violinist and music producer, Tina Sol, blends classical finesse with contemporary cadence. Despite her rigorous training at the Royal Conservatory of Music, her radical creative journey was ignited by the sonics of 90s and 2000s Hip-Hop and R&B. From being a session violinist skilled in multiple genres and creating elegant string arrangements to performing on concert and festival stages, her rebellious artistry echoes a daring invitation: to explore, embrace, and reimagine the symphony of your craft.
Rahaf is a singer, social worker, and community builder from Syria. Since arriving in Canada in 2016, she has actively participated in programs with various organizations in the GTA. She founded the Haneen Women Choir, she has completed herMA in Humanities York University, Rahaf is a choir member at the Canadian Arabic Orchestra. She is always striving to unite people through food, music, and culture.
Gurprabh Sandhu, an alumni of MS university in Vadodara India, is renowned for her Sufi -infused Indian classical Vocals, drawing inspiration from legends like Abida Parveen, Shubh Upadhyay has been playing the keyboard/piano for 10+ years. Shubh is also RCM 4 certified in Piano.
The Harana Kwartet is a modern OPM (Original Pilipino Music) group that interprets traditional and popular Filipino music, as well as original material. They combine musical elements of the R&B, jazz, and pop music scene along with their influence of Filipino music to create a fresh contemporary sound.
Maryem Tollar, the acclaimed Egyptian-Canadian vocalist, is known for her diverse world music performances. Notable for her appearances on CBC’s “Little Mosque on the Prairie” theme and A.R. Rahman’s Bollywood hit “Mayya Mayya,” she’s also collaborated with renowned groups like Tafelmusik and the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. Tollar tours internationally and has received prestigious awards like the Johanna Metcalf Prize for Performing Arts in 2019.
Ernie Tollar, an internationally recognized musician and composer, has been a fixture in Toronto’s jazz and world music scene since 1980. He’s performed at prestigious festivals worldwide and is a member of various Toronto musical groups, showcasing his talent across genres like traditional Arabic, Indian, and Armenian jazz. In 2022, Ernie authored an étude book for woodwind players exploring global music traditions.
Originally from Edmonton, Simon Williams is a Toronto-based composer, producer, synthesist and pianist. Williams grew up studying classical piano before apprenticing under Joel Gray in the Littlebirds program. Since then, he has played in Edmonton, Calgary, Victoria, and Toronto, notably at Massey Hall and Koerner Hall. Most recently, Simon was a fellow in the 2023 Intercultural and Creative Music Fellowship, which culminated in the creation of the band Carmine, and the release of their EP; Something is Awake. Simon is currently a Bachelor of Music student at Humber in Toronto.
Following his graduation from the Berklee College of Music, George Crotty immersed himself in New York’s jazz and world music scenes, joining several ensembles such as the Brooklyn Raga Massive and the Detroit-based National Arab Orchestra, in addition to collaborating with Paquito D’Rivera, Anat Cohen, Simon Shaheen, and Darol Anger. Crotty leads The George Crotty Trio, whose latest album, Chronotope, showcases the Canadian cellist’s expressive fluidity and modal orientation. Crotty also served as cello chair on the North American tour of the Broadway musical, The Band’s Visit.
DIVKA embodies the spirit of ancient village rebellion through a captivating blend of folklore, traditional singing, and the accumulated fury of generations of provoked girls. It’s the brainchild of two passionate ethnomusicologists with a penchant for sharp commentary:
Alina Kuzma – a master at refocusing tradition through her bandura and enchanting vocals.
Zoë Santo – a violin virtuoso skilled in refining chaos into harmonious notes.
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.
Tiran Bay is a first-generation SWANA region Canadian singer-songwriter and electric cellist. Her deeply soulful lyrics, enchanting vocals, and exceptional electric cello performance break the barriers of conventional pop and classical music. It’s an art form that many have not even dared to try. Tiran Bay is a genre-bending and genre-fluid artist who creates an Art Pop, Avant-Pop, and Global Pop musical experience with singing and electric cello as the show’s highlight. Tiran Bay is boldly creating her own lane and will soon be releasing her debut EP.
Kahveh brings back the ancient Dotar tradition, blending centuries of Iranian poetry and song. The soothing sound of the Dotar brings calm and joy, while Kahveh’s melodic voice uplifts listeners through song and dance.
Matt Sellick is a flamenco guitarist and composer from Thunder Bay, Ontario, now living in Toronto. Matt has produced four original solo guitar music albums and a suite of orchestral arrangements. He tours internationally in the band of Canadian guitarist Jesse Cook, and he has had the privilege of performing as a soloist with the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra, Consortium Aurora Borealis, and the Annex String Quartet.
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.
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.
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 TV shows as an oud player along with various well-known musicians. After graduating as an engineer from Hacettepe University, his adventure le him to Russia where he released several studio albums and performed with many ensembles and musicians from all over the world. His style combines older traditions with contemporary innovations rooted in a deep knowledge of the art of improvisation.
Amrita is a duo featuring soprano saxophonist Kayla Milmine and tabla player Anita Katakkar. Their music acts as a canvas where shapes are formed by rhythmic grooves, the colour is spontaneous improvisation, and the texture is an exploration of tone, timbre, and emotion.
Hindustani vocalist Rachana Deshpande will be accompanied by tabla player Anita Katakkar. Deshpande is an Indian classical vocalist in the Jaipur and Gwalior gharanas. She earned her Master’s in Music from the Bharati Vidyapeeth University of the Performing Arts in Pune. Anita Katakkar studies the tabla of Lucknow with Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri.
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.
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.
