Community Music Program Artist Roster
The 2024/2025 Artist Roster
Kwasi Dunyo - Ghanaian Percussion
Kwasi was born in the Ewe village of Dagbamete, Volta Region of Ghana, West Africa. He has been drumming from the time he was a small boy, standing on blocks to reach the top of the drums. Since that time he has drummed, danced, taught and directed extensively in a variety of contexts both in Ghana, USA, Canada, Bermuda and Taiwan. Kwasi is a member of the faculties of York University, University of Toronto, Royal Conservatory of Music and the Toronto District School Board. He has also performed and given workshops at many Canadian and American universities including the University of Western Ontario, Waterloo, McMaster, Saskatchewan, Guelph, Brock, Wilfred Laurier, Carlton, Dalhousie and Humber College.
Charles Hong - Korean Percussion
Charles is a music educator, composer, and performer, who has been playing Korean drums for over 30 years. In 1992 he travelled to Seoul, South Korea, and for four years apprenticed under master drummer Kim Duk Soo. He has visited Korea a number of times to further his studies of drumming repertoire. In 1998, he founded Ensemble Jeng Yi, a professional Korean drum and dance company based in Toronto. He is an active educator, leading Korean drumming and dance projects in the Toronto District School Board since 2014.
In 2016 he was the Artist-in-Residence at Hillcrest Library under the auspices of the Toronto Art Council's Artist in the Library Program. From this residency evolved the Ironflower Drummers, a large community group of Korean drum enthusiasts led by Charles Hong. The community group meets rehearses weekly, and has performed in local events across Toronto.
Joaquin Nunez Hidalgo - Cuban/Brazilian Drumming
Joaquín has been a percussionist on Juno and Grammy nominated CD compilations, Juno nominated – Hilario Durán Trio “Motion” (2010); and Grammy nominated and Juno Award Winner 2007 – Hilario Big Band CD “From the Heart” featuring Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez & Paquito D’Rivera (2007). Joaquín co-produced “Havana Nights” (2010) in collaboration with pianist, Eddie Bullen; also, he was the producer of Cubanos’ debut CD “Holguin” (2002); and he performed as percussionist for the North American premier of the soundtrack to the musical theatre production of “Dirty Dancing” (2008). Exploded onto the world music scene as a co-producer of the CD with famed Euro-performer Zucchero “La Sesión Cubana”, doing the record’s release “2013-2014 World Tour Zucchero and La Sesión Cubana.” The lyrical CD” Keep Them Close” with Kalabash was produced by Mr. Hidalgo and most notably awarded a Juno (2014) for his work with David Buchbinder and Odessa Havana with the CD “Walk to the Sea.”
In the midst of all, Mr. Hidalgo's passion for educating and teaching others the amazing world of music through drumming, dance and songs and it's correlation with other arts, excel on his more than 30 years of experience. Some of his achievements includes: founder of Sistema Toronto's Percussion Department(2012) as well as Rumba Squad at St. Michael College School (2013-2019). Since 2014 has been lead instructor of the for the Cuban/Brazilian Percussion Program part of the TDSB's Community Music Program. He has brought multiple school groups to perform inTDSB Spring Festival Concert and has instructed at TDSB's Music by The Lake camp, to note a few.
Click here for info and application to Cuban/Brazilian Percussion
David Powell - Indonesian Gamelan
Already keen on gamelan music, David went to Indonesia in 1982 with a Canada Council Short Term Grant to research puppetry. While there he fell in love with the majesty of Javanese music. On his return to Canada he built his own set of instruments from available materials, and started giving workshops in Toronto schools. He joined both the University of Toronto and the Indonesian Consulate gamelan groups when they started up, and became their repairman. He has been the TDSB gamelan instructor since soon after the program started, and is honoured to be able to introduce students to this totally hands-on music making.
Click here for more info and application for the Indonesian Gamelan Kit