Media release - for immediate release
Toronto, February 2, 2026
SINFONIA TORONTO PLAYS A KALEIDOSCOPE OF EMOTIONS
Toronto ON - Maestro Nurhan Arman will lead Sinfonia Toronto and two guest stars through five emotional landscapes, in the orchestra's PATHETIQUE concert on Saturday, February 28 in the superb acoustics of George Weston Recital Hall at the Meridian Arts Centre.
The orchestra’s program will range from the serene, pastoral mood of Elgar’s Serenade vivid echoes of Armenian heritage in Petros Shoujounian’s Sinfonietta, meditations on love in Colin Eatock’s beautiful settings of four poems by the iconic Bengali poet Rabindrath Tagore, a dazzling violin showpiece, and poignant passion in an orchestral version of Beethoven’s famous ‘Pathétique’ Sonata.
Two exciting guest artists will join the orchestra. Montreal soprano Kripa Nageshwar will sing ‘Four Song Offerings’ on Tagore poems in the world premiere of an orchestral version dedicated to her by Toronto composer Colin Eatock, hailed as an especially fine writer for voice. The brilliant young violinist Evan Pyne will play one of his instrument’s most popular virtuoso showpieces, Camille Saint-Saëns’ Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso.
Music Director Nurhan Arman commented, "I am looking forward to conducting this program that traverses centuries and continents, and, as we always do, blending classics with evocative new works by living composers. It will also be exciting for our listeners to hear the very talented violin virtuoso, Toronto's Evan Pyne, and wonderful Canadian soprano Kripa Nageshwar."
The concert will also feature Toronto artist Tamara Harutunyan’s on-stage painting as she interprets the emotions and tone-colours of this varied program on canvas as the orchestra plays.
Soprano Kripa Nageshwar has won praise for her elegant, agile voice and her ability to perform styles from Baroque to contemporary, jazz to Bollywood. In addition to roles in Canadian opera productions of Cosi Fan Tutti, The Marriage of Figaro, Orpheus in the Underworld, Les Indes Galantes, La Serva Padrona and Die Fledermaus, she has performed in the US, Austria, Czech Republic, France and the UK.
Kripa is also a proficient chamber music soloist and has given recitals in major Canadian cities. She is a founding member of Trio dell’Aria (soprano, clarinet and piano), who released their debut CD in 2019, and of the SKY Trio (soprano, viola and piano), whose goal is sharing music from across genres, especially French and Québecois.
Kripa’s production company, Hamsa Lyric Creations, creates and produces innovative projects, most of which focus on democratizing classical music for those in the South Asian community by marrying classical music with the arts and culture of her Indian heritage. Her current project, Confluence: Where the St. Lawrence Meets the Ganges, unites opera with Indian music and dance, accompanied by a multicultural fusion ensemble.
Violinist Evan Pyne is a graduate of the RCM Taylor Academy and is currently in his fourth year at the Cleveland Institute of Music. He won First Prize at the Canadian Music Competition in 2018, second at the Orchestre Métropolitain OMNI Competition in 2021, fourth at the 2021 Rudolph Barshai International Strings Competition, third at the Ilona Fehér International Violin Competition in 2019, and was a finalist at the 2020 International Grumiaux Competition. His performances at Canada’s National Commemorative Ceremony in honour of Queen Elizabeth II and the National Commemoration for the Duke of Edinburgh were aired nation-wide on CBC.
During the summer of 2022 Evan toured in the National Youth Orchestra and received an NYO Award of Excellence. In summer 2023 he was a winner in the Pacific Region International Music Association's concerto competition and performed the first movement of the Sibelius Violin Concerto with the festival orchestra. He has participated in the Heifetz International Music Institute and the Interharmony International Music Festival. Evan has received guidance from violinists such as Martin Beaver, Ida Kavafian, Vadim Repin, Shmuel Ashkenasi and James Ehnes.
Nurhan Arman has conducted throughout Europe, Asia, South America, Canada and the US, returning especially often to Europe. Maestro Arman has conducted orchestras around the world, including the Moscow Philharmonic, Deutsches Kammerorchester Frankfurt, St. Petersburg State Hermitage Orchestra, Orchestre Régional d'Ile de France, Hungarian Symphony, Belgrade Philharmonic and dozens of orchestras in Italy, with many return engagements.
Sinfonia Toronto is in its 27th season. It has toured twice in Europe, in the US, South America and China, receiving outstanding reviews. The orchestra has released seven CDs; one of them earned the JUNO Award. Under the baton of Maestro Arman, the orchestra performs an extensive repertoire that spans the great string orchestra works of the 18th to 21st centuries. Dedicated to fostering new music, Sinfonia Toronto has introduced audiences to numerous premieres by contemporary composers.
Tickets for the February 28 concert are available at sinfoniatoronto.com
Sinfonia Toronto is supported by the Canada Council, Ontario Arts Council, Toronto Arts Council and the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario).
Contact for more information:
Margaret Chasins, Director of Operations
margaretchasins@sinfoniatoronto.com
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News release - for immediate release - January 19, 2026
TWO GUEST STARS AND FOUR CENTURIES OF MUSIC
Toronto, ON - Sinfonia Toronto will present Berlin Philharmonic oboist Christoph Hartmann in his Canadian début at the orchestra’s FOUR CENTURIES concert on Friday, January 23 at 7.30 pm at the Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre. The concert will also feature Canadian virtuoso cellist Noémie Raymond, in a program ranging from Baroque to the present.
Maestro Nurhan Arman will lead the orchestra in a Mozart Divertimento, celebrating “Wolfie’s” birthday a few days early, and Mr. Hartmann will join them for the world premiere of ‘Mene Mene’ by Norbert Palej and JS Bach’s Concerto in A Major for Oboe d’amore. Ms. Raymond will play the world premiere of David Jaeger’s Fantasia ‘Conjure You’ for Cello and Orchestra and the Cello Concerto No. 1 by Camille Saint-Saëns.
Christoph Hartmann became principal oboist with the Stuttgart Philharmonic in 1991 and then joined the Berlin Philharmonic the next year. He travels as a soloist and chamber musician, leads the Landsberger Sommermusiken Festival, teaches at the Herbert Von Karajan Academy and gives masterclasses.
At the point where colleagues finish their day, Hartmann’s second life begins: sport. He runs marathons, is a co-partner of the shop Bikeline in Berlin-Friedenau and has developed his own bicycle brand: Pasculli, named for the Italian oboe virtuoso whose music he has recorded on the CD ‘Fantasia Italiana,’ received with acclaim after release on EMI. He leads the Landsberger Sommermusiken festival and the festival’s Ensemble Berlin, which tours internationally and is heard with him on the CD’s ‘Bella Napoli,’ ‘Virtuoso,’ ‘Le tombeau de Couperin’ and ‘Clair de Lune.’
Canadian cellist Noémie Raymond’s diverse international career has carried her from London’s Royal Albert Hall to the Festival Internacional de Musica de Camara in Lima. Her appearances on four continents have included performances with Midori Goto and Pinchas Zukerman.
Recognized as a CBC “Hot 30 Under 30” classical artist, Noémie is also an accomplished educator with a Doctorate from the Eastman School of Music. She is a mentor for the Heifetz International Music Institute and teaches at the Festival del Lago in Mexico. She has won national and international competition prizes and been a laureate of the Canada Council Musical Instrument Bank competition.
Nurhan Arman has conducted throughout Europe, Asia, South America, Canada and the US, returning especially often to Europe. Maestro Arman has conducted orchestras around the world, including the Moscow Philharmonic, Deutsches Kammerorchester Frankfurt, St. Petersburg State Hermitage Orchestra, Orchestre Régional d'Ile de France, Hungarian Symphony, Belgrade Philharmonic and dozens of orchestras in Italy, with many return engagements.
Sinfonia Toronto is in its 27th season. It has toured twice in Europe, in the US, South America and China, receiving outstanding reviews. The orchestra has released seven CDs; one of them earned the JUNO Award. Under the baton of Maestro Arman, the orchestra performs an extensive repertoire that spans the great string orchestra works of the 18th to 21st centuries. Dedicated to fostering new music, Sinfonia Toronto has introduced audiences to numerous premieres by contemporary composers.
Tickets for the January 23 concert are available at sinfoniatoronto.com
Sinfonia Toronto is supported by the Canada Council, Ontario Arts Council, Toronto Arts Council and the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario).
Contact for more information:
Margaret Chasins, Director of Operations
margaretchasins@sinfoniatoronto.com
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News release - for immediate release - November 24, 2025
Sinfonia Toronto’s ‘BAROQUE & BEYOND Holiday Treats’ Celebrates the Season
Toronto, ON - The Ezra Duo will join Sinfonia Toronto for Mendelssohn's Double Concerto for Violin and Piano at the Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre on December 11, part of a program brimful of melodic holiday delights.
Music Director Nurhan Arman will also lead a sparkling Vivaldi sinfonia, the first Ontario performance of a neo-romantic work by Winnipeg composer Larry Strachan, the beloved orchestral Overture and Pifa from Handel’s Messiah and Jenkins' Palladio, the famous “A Diamond is Forever” music.
"I am really looking forward to collaborating with the Ezra Duo on the beautiful and fascinating Mendelssohn Concerto for Violin and Piano. Our first three concerts are linked in a sense. In November we followed Dvorak with a youthful work by Janacek and for this wonderful program we salute the young genius of Mendelssohn again, after his lively 2nd Symphony opened our new season in September."
Recognized as “an iconic team” (Fairbanks Daily News-Miner), The Ezra Duo blends their charismatic stage presence with unique and relatable programming. Formed in 2016 while violinist/violist Jacob Clewell and pianist Sasha Bult-Ito were students at The Glenn Gould School, Ezra has gone on to become one of North America’s most interesting string/piano duos.
The duo has garnered an impressive list of accomplishments, including recital tours of their Women in Music, Art of the Duo, and Colorfully Contemporary programs in the US and Canada, an appearance in Carnegie Hall, and a performance as guests at a G7 Summit event held at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto. Jacob and Sasha are top prizewinners of numerous international competitions both individually and together, are frequent guests with orchestras and chamber ensembles across North America, and are increasingly involved with premieres of new music written specifically for Ezra.
Nurhan Arman has conducted throughout Europe, Asia, South America, Canada and the US, returning especially often to Europe. Maestro Arman has conducted orchestras around the world, including the Moscow Philharmonic, Deutsches Kammerorchester Frankfurt, St. Petersburg State Hermitage Orchestra, Orchestre Régional d'Ile de France, Hungarian Symphony, Belgrade Philharmonic and dozens of orchestras in Italy, with many return engagements.
Sinfonia Toronto is in its 27th season. It has toured twice in Europe, in the US, South America and China, receiving outstanding reviews. The orchestra has released seven CDs; one of them earned the JUNO Award. Under the baton of Maestro Arman, the orchestra performs an extensive repertoire that spans the great string orchestra works of the 18th to 21st centuries. Dedicated to fostering new music, Sinfonia Toronto has introduced audiences to numerous premieres by contemporary composers.
Tickets for the December 11 concert are available at sinfoniatoronto.com
Sinfonia Toronto is supported by the Canada Council, Ontario Arts Council, Toronto Arts Council and the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario).
Contact for more information:
Margaret Chasins, Director of Operations
margaretchasins@sinfoniatoronto.com
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Media release - for immediate release
October 7, 2025
SINFONIA TORONTO'S FLUTE MAGIC OPENS DOWNTOWN SERIES
Toronto, ON - Virtuoso flutists Susan Hoeppner and Luisa Sello will join Sinfonia Toronto to play the world premiere of a new work by Canadian composer Alice Ping Yee Ho. Maestro Nurhan Arman will conduct the orchestra in Romantic works by Glazounov and Janacek. The concert will take place November 6, at 7:30 pm in superb acoustics of the Trinity-St. Paul's Centre.
Maestro Arman comments: "Our 'Flute Magic' concert is a kaleidoscope of colours, sounds and contrasting styles. The program ranges from Vivaldi to the world premiere of the great Canadian composer Alice Ping Yee Ho's 'Celestial Concerto', written for Sinfonia Toronto and two star flutists. I'm delighted to be performing it with the brilliant Canadian flutist Susan Hoeppner and Italian flutist Luisa Sello, who returns to us after huge applause two years ago."
The concert opens with Glazounov's Theme and Variations, highlighting the Russian composer's skill in exploiting the many textures and colours of the string orchestra. Alice Ping Yee Ho's Celestial Concerto for Two Flutes and Strings uses flutes’ great expressive range in three movements depicting mythical birds. Vivaldi's vivid Sinfonia in G Major was originally an overture to his opera ‘Faith Betrayed and Avenged.’ The evening concludes with Leoš Janáček's Suite for Strings, a vibrant work reflecting his heritage and inspiration rooted in Czech folk music.
Toronto flutist Susan Hoeppner is an international soloist, recitalist and chamber musician. She has performed in North and South America, Europe, Japan and China, and has recordings on iTunes, Spotify, Marquis Classics, EMI, Centrediscs/Naxos and Grammophon BIS. A graduate of Juilliard, she offers masterclasses and teaches at the Glenn Gould School, the RCM Taylor Academy and the University of Toronto. In the summer she teaches at Canada’s Domaine Forget and the Campus Internazionale della Musica d'Arte in Italy.
Italian flutist Luisa Sello has performed as a recitalist and chamber musician across Europe, the US, Canada, South America, Eastern Europe, and Asia. She has appeared with Sinfonia Toronto, Wiener Symphoniker, Salzburger Krammerorchester, and Milan's Teatro alla Scala Orchestra under Riccardo Muti, among many others.. A visiting professor at the University of Music in Vienna, she has led master classes at universities in Cologne, Aachen, Moscow, Madrid, Miami, Tallinn, Zagreb, Beijing, Shanghai, and Buenos Aires. She holds Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from Italy and Paris, specializing in flute and Contemporary and Baroque performance practice.
Nurhan Arman has conducted throughout Europe, Asia, South America, Canada and the US, returning especially often to Europe. Maestro Arman has conducted orchestras around the world, including the Moscow Philharmonic, Deutsches Kammerorchester Frankfurt, St. Petersburg State Hermitage Orchestra, Orchestre Régional d'Ile de France, Hungarian Symphony, Belgrade Philharmonic and dozens of orchestras in Italy, with many return engagements.
Sinfonia Toronto is now in its 27th season. It has toured twice in Europe, in the US, South America and China, receiving glowing reviews. It has released seven CDs, including a JUNO Award winner. Under the baton of Maestro Nurhan Arman, the orchestra performs an extensive repertoire that spans the great string orchestra works of the 18th to 21st centuries. It is committed to introducing new works and has premiered several compositions by contemporary composers.
Tickets for the November 6 concert are available at sinfoniatoronto.com
Sinfonia Toronto is supported by the Canada Council, Ontario Arts Council, Toronto Arts Council and the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario).
Contact for more information:
Margaret Chasins, Director of Operations
margaretchasins@sinfoniatoronto.com
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Media Release - August 25, 2025
SINFONIA TORONTO OPENS SEASON WITH VIRTUOSO VIOLIN SOLOIST
Toronto, ON - Sinfonia Toronto will launch their 27th season on Saturday, September 27 in George Weston Recital Hall. Music Director Nurhan Arman will lead the orchestra in a program featuring three popular composers and a brilliant virtuoso, Russian-American violinist Igor Pikayzen.
Maestro Arman comments, "Our season opening concert focuses on three great composers in different stages of their careers. Mendelssohn must have been about 13 years old when he wrote his String Symphony No. 2. Dvorak composed his Serenade for Strings during a happy period in his life; at 34, he was already enjoying great success. Shostakovich was at the end of his career and in poor health when he wrote his extraordinary Violin Sonata Op. 134.”
“These composers lived under strikingly contrasting conditions. In today’s terms Mendelssohn's dad would be a billionaire; Dvořák’s talent pulled him out of his family’s poverty; and Shostakovich had to compose cautiously under the scrutiny of Soviet Russia’s “social realism” watchdogs. What they have in common is the universal appeal of their music. The three works on this concert resonate with their amazing creativity."
The September 27 program traces the evolution of string writing across three eras. Mendelssohn's Symphony shows precocious genius and the Classical influence of Mozart; Dvořák's Serenade brims with Romantic-period lyricism and reflections of Czech folk music; and an orchestral version of Shostakovich's Sonata for Violin includes a colourful array of percussion instruments.
Violinist Igor Pikayzen has performed as a soloist with leading orchestras worldwide, including the London Philharmonic, Russian State Symphony, Sinfonia Toronto, Orquesta Sinfónica del Estado de México, Sinfónica Nacional de Chile, Orquesta Sinfónica de Xalapa, National Symphony of Georgia, Zhejiang Symphony Orchestra and many others. He has appeared in major venues such as Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, and Tchaikovsky Hall. He performs at major international festivals and directs the Edelio summer music festival in Connecticut. Grandson of the legendary Soviet violinist Viktor Pikayzen, Igor Pikayzen was born in Moscow. He received his bachelor's from Juilliard and a master's and artist diploma from the Yale School of Music and his DMA from the CUNY Graduate Center. In 2019 he was appointed Professor of Violin at the Lamont School of Music at the University of Denver.
Nurhan Arman has conducted throughout Europe, Asia, South America, Canada and the US, returning especially often to Europe. Among the orchestras Maestro Arman has conducted are the Moscow Philharmonic, Deutsches Kammerorchester Frankfurt, St. Petersburg State Hermitage Orchestra, Orchestre Régional d’Ile de France, Hungarian Symphony, Belgrade Philharmonic and dozens of orchestras in Italy, with many return engagements.
Sinfonia Toronto, now entering its 27th season, has toured twice in Europe, in the US, South America and China, receiving glowing reviews. It has released seven CD’s, including a JUNO Award winner. Under the baton of Maestro Nurhan Arman, they perform an extensive repertoire including all the major string orchestra works of the 18th through 21st centuries and premieres of many new works.
Tickets for the September 27 concert are available at sinfoniatoronto.com
Sinfonia Toronto is supported by the Canada Council, Ontario Arts Council, Toronto Arts Council and the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario).
Contact for more information:
Margaret Chasins, Director of Operations
margaretchasins@sinfoniatoronto.com
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Media release - February 10, 2025
For immediate release
SINFONIA TORONTO ANNOUNCES 2025-2026 SEASON
Musical Masterpieces and World Premieres
Toronto, ON (January 27, 2025) – Sinfonia Toronto has unveiled its 27th season. Under the baton of Music Director Nurhan Arman the orchestra will present a captivating journey through timeless classics and groundbreaking new works. The 2025-2026 season promises memorable experiences for music lovers of all ages, showcasing the orchestra's exceptional artistry and commitment to innovative programming.
During the next season Sinfonia Toronto will continue to offer three different concert series:
Masterpiece Series: Seven brilliant concerts in Toronto's finest halls - the orchestra's signature series and the best subscription value.
Downtown Concerts: Four intimate performances at the Trinity-St. Paul's Centre presenting superb soloists and captivating repertoire.
North York Concerts: Three concerts of musical masterpieces in the magnificent acoustics of George Weston Recital Hall at the Meridian Arts Centre.
Guest Soloists: A roster of nationally and internationally acclaimed musicians and emerging young Canadian performers will join the orchestra. Returning to Sinfonia Toronto are violinist Igor Pikayzen, Italian flutist Luisa Sello and pianist Anya Alexeyev. Making their Sinfonia Toronto débuts are Berlin Philharmonic oboist Christoph Hartmann, Canadian virtuoso cellist Noémie Raymond, Canadian flute star Susan Hoeppner, soprano Kripa Nageshwar, The Ezra Duo and the brilliant young violinist Evan Pyne.
World Premieres: The orchestra continues its dedication to contemporary composers by presenting world premieres of new works that enrich the repertoire and expand the horizons of classical music. World premieres of works by Canadian composers Alice Ping Yee Ho, Norbert Palej, David Jaeger, Colin Eatock and Petros Shoujounian are scheduled throughout the season.
Quotes: "We are thrilled to present our 27th season, a testament to Sinfonia Toronto's enduring commitment to artistic excellence and community engagement," says Nurhan Arman, Music Director of Sinfonia Toronto. "This season is a celebration of already-beloved masterpieces and beautiful new music, showcasing the wonderful talent of our own musicians and exciting guest soloists. We invite you to join us on an extraordinary musical journey."
Subscription Benefits: Subscribers enjoy a range of exclusive benefits, including:
- Priority seating and series savings
- Free ticket re-issues and exchanges
- Invitations to special events
- Access to pre-concert talks and behind-the-scenes insights
How to Subscribe: Early bird subscriptions are available until May 10, 2025, offering significant savings. First-time subscribers benefit from a reduced-price welcome offer. All subscriptions are available on the Sinfonia Toronto website at www.sinfoniatoronto.com or by calling 416-499-0403.
About Sinfonia Toronto: Sinfonia Toronto is a renowned chamber orchestra dedicated to presenting fine classical performances for audiences in Toronto and beyond. Under the leadership of Music Director Nurhan Arman, the orchestra has earned a reputation for innovative programming, exceptional quality and commitment to fostering a lifelong love of music.
Sinfonia Toronto, now in its 26th season, has toured twice in Europe, in the US, South America and China, receiving glowing reviews. It has released six CD’s, including a JUNO Award winner. Under the baton of Maestro Nurhan Arman, they perform an extensive repertoire including all the major string orchestra works of the 18th through 21st centuries and premieres of many new works.
Nurhan Arman has conducted throughout Europe, Asia, South America, Canada and the US, returning especially often to Europe. Among the orchestras Maestro Arman has conducted are the Moscow Philharmonic, Deutsches Kammerorchester Frankfurt, St. Petersburg State Hermitage Orchestra, Orchestre Régional d’Ile de France, Hungarian Symphony, Belgrade Philharmonic and dozens of orchestras in Italy, with many return engagements.
Sinfonia Toronto is supported by the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, Toronto Arts Council, Government of Ontario and the Socan Foundation.
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Contact for more information:
Margaret Chasins, Director of Operations
margaretchasins@sinfoniatoronto.com
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SINFONIA TORONTO
http://www.sinfoniatoronto.com
4005 Don Mills Road, Suite 253
Toronto ON M2H 3J9 Canada
416-499-0403
