Past Concerts

One of North America's leading guitar ensembles, ChromaDuo shares uncommonly beautiful music with audiences throughout the world. Since 2008, Tracy Anne Smith and Rob MacDonald have concertized across their native Canada and throughout the United States, as well as in Mexico, England, and Germany. Passionate advocates for their art form, their deep creative connection allows audiences to immerse themselves more fully into the music. From the critic who stated, "their exchanges seem almost symbiotic, and profoundly moving as if the instruments were corporeal rather than of wood, nylon and brass,” (James Filkins) to the elementary-school student who revealed, "the music made me see Paris in a way,” (Dawson), the duo aims to provide a sincere, timeless experience for each listener. The Iserlohner Zeitung observed, "As ChromaDuo sounded the first harmonies, you could hear a pin drop in the house of worship. Smith and MacDonald immediately captivated the audience.”  

They are the dedicatees of works by top composers, including French classical-jazz virtuoso Roland Dyens, British iconoclast Stephen Goss, Canadian virtuosa Dale Kavanagh, and musical polyglot Dušan Bogdanović. In the 2022/23 season they commissioned and premiered works by legendary Cuban maestro Leo Brouwer, uncanny Atlantic composer Amy Brandon, and iconic Brazilian artist Sergio Assad. As Naxos recording artists, they have just released their third album of world-premiere recordings, called What I Saw in the Water. Their debut release Hidden Waters also contains five world premieres, while the duo's original arrangements of French Impressionist works shine in their sophomore recording, Ravel and Debussy, Music for Two Guitars. Sergio Assad predicted that ChromaDuo's commissions would not only "enter and enrich the traditional repertoire of guitar duos across the world in the coming years,” but that they "would have a larger impact: to further this great way of expressing musical art.”  

They have performed, taught, and adjudicated competitions at major festivals of the guitar world including the GFA, Boston’s Festival 21, 30th International Guitar Festival Iserlohn, and Festival Internacional de Guitarra Sinaloa, Culiacán.  ChromaDuo's music is heard on various radio programs and stations, including Canada's CBC, RadioFrance, National Public Radio, Hong Kong's RTHK, Sweden's Sveriges Radio among others. The two have created an ever-growing ChromaDuo Collection with publisher Productions d'Oz, made up of dedications and commissioned works. They are also active international educators; Rob MacDonald teaches at the University of Toronto and Tracy Anne Smith is Assistant Professor of Guitar at Memorial University of Newfoundland.

Founded by Paul van Dongen in 1965, the Niagara Youth Orchestra is the premiere training ground for young orchestral musicians under twenty-five years old in the Niagara Region. Led by professional coaches and conductors who are affiliated with orchestras across the province, musicians in the Niagara Youth Orchestra receive extensive music education and performance experiences through regular concert seasons and special events. Our musicians come from all over the region including Grimsby, Beamsville, Niagara Falls, Niagara-on-the-Lake and St. Catharines.

As a long time member of the Toronto music scene, teacher, performer and creator William Beauvais is presenting a farewell celebration Saturday May 2 at 7:30 pm at St Thomas' Anglican church at 383 Huron Street. For this event Beauvais will perform with various alumni from his 50 year teaching career. These include: Jeff Hanlon [Kingston], Bilal Nasser [Windsor], Liam Jaeger [Toronto], Sam Mason, Chris Russo, Soloman Younan and Maximilian Henein.

Beauvais has written and arranged music for Mezzo-soprano Maria Soulis and violinist Joyce Lai, which is collected on a CD titled Golden Branches – Silver Leaves. He has toured with Jeunesse Musicale Canada, and performed in hundreds of schools through the Toronto Symphony Education program. Beauvais taught at The Royal Conservatory of Music, Queen’s University, the University of Windsor and at York University. His music has been heard all over the world, and he is an associate of the Canadian Music Centre.

Simon Farintosh is an award-winning guitarist, composer, and educator based in Victoria, BC. Named one of CBC’s ‘30 Under 30 Classical Musicians’ in 2023, he is known for his unconventional programming choices, connecting with audiences by integrating the classical guitar with more contemporary musical forms such as electronica and jazz. Simon is currently a music performance instructor at the University of Victoria, where he teaches undergraduate and graduate guitar students.

Simon studied with Dr. Alexander Dunn at the University of Victoria, where he earned his Bachelor of Music Degree in 2018. Simon's musical pursuits later took him to Milwaukee, WI, where he completed a Master's Degree at The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2020. Here, he was a student and teaching assistant to Rene Izquierdo, a renowned Cuban virtuoso and revered pedagogue. Currently, Simon is in the finishing stages of a Doctorate of Musical Arts at the University of Toronto, where he is a student of Jorge Caballero and Dr. Jeffrey McFadden.

Simon's performances have garnered him top awards in various national and international competitions. He was the 1st Prize winner of the 2018 Northwest Guitar Festival in Spokane, WA, and has been a finalist in the Canadian National Music Festival, GuitarLab International Competition, Wilson Center Guitar Competition, and the Twisted Spruce Guitar Competition. As a composer, he was recently awarded First Prize in the 2022 Ottawa Guitar Society Composition Competition for his original piece 'Distant Light.' He is a six-time recipient of the British Columbia Arts Council Award, and has been a featured performer or visiting clinician for organizations such as The Classical Guitar Society of Tri-Cities (Washington), Madison Classical Guitar Society, Ottawa Guitar Society, the Guitar Society of Toronto, Chemainus Classical Concerts, and more. He has adjudicated festivals such as the London Kiwanis Music Festival and the Canadian National Music Festival.

Simon is currently an instructor at The University of Victoria, where he runs the guitar department. He is also the owner and operator of ReVamp Guitar Academy, which offers virtual lessons to students across Canada and beyond. His students regularly receive top prizes in local and provincial music competitions, as well as excellent scores on RCM examinations. In addition to teaching and performing, Simon is also president of the Victoria Guitar Society, an organization dedicated to promoting the guitar through outreach and an international concert series.

Simon Farintosh is an award-winning guitarist, composer, and educator based in Victoria, BC. Named one of CBC’s ‘30 Under 30 Classical Musicians’ in 2023, he is known for his unconventional programming choices, connecting with audiences by integrating the classical guitar with more contemporary musical forms such as electronica and jazz. Simon is currently a music performance instructor at the University of Victoria, where he teaches undergraduate and graduate guitar students.

Simon studied with Dr. Alexander Dunn at the University of Victoria, where he earned his Bachelor of Music Degree in 2018. Simon's musical pursuits later took him to Milwaukee, WI, where he completed a Master's Degree at The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2020. Here, he was a student and teaching assistant to Rene Izquierdo, a renowned Cuban virtuoso and revered pedagogue. Currently, Simon is in the finishing stages of a Doctorate of Musical Arts at the University of Toronto, where he is a student of Jorge Caballero and Dr. Jeffrey McFadden.

Simon's performances have garnered him top awards in various national and international competitions. He was the 1st Prize winner of the 2018 Northwest Guitar Festival in Spokane, WA, and has been a finalist in the Canadian National Music Festival, GuitarLab International Competition, Wilson Center Guitar Competition, and the Twisted Spruce Guitar Competition. As a composer, he was recently awarded First Prize in the 2022 Ottawa Guitar Society Composition Competition for his original piece 'Distant Light.' He is a six-time recipient of the British Columbia Arts Council Award, and has been a featured performer or visiting clinician for organizations such as The Classical Guitar Society of Tri-Cities (Washington), Madison Classical Guitar Society, Ottawa Guitar Society, the Guitar Society of Toronto, Chemainus Classical Concerts, and more. He has adjudicated festivals such as the London Kiwanis Music Festival and the Canadian National Music Festival.

Simon is currently an instructor at The University of Victoria, where he runs the guitar department. He is also the owner and operator of ReVamp Guitar Academy, which offers virtual lessons to students across Canada and beyond. His students regularly receive top prizes in local and provincial music competitions, as well as excellent scores on RCM examinations. In addition to teaching and performing, Simon is also president of the Victoria Guitar Society, an organization dedicated to promoting the guitar through outreach and an international concert series.

Sam "Modern Mason" is an award winning guitarist and composer from Toronto, Canada. His music is often peaceful and melancholic with progressive forms and impressionistic soundscapes inspired by psychedelics, rage and revolution.

Dr. Daniel Ramjattan has become an ambassador for the classical guitar in Canada, having premiered dozens of chamber and solo works for guitar. He has given recitals in Vienna, Austria, Italy, and various locations across Canada, the United States, Trinidad and Tobago, and Japan, and has received an array of top prizes in provincial and national solo guitar competitions. He has performed in festivals such as Koerner's 21C Festival, Open Ears, Waterloo, Guitar Alla Grande, INNERChamber, Ottawa Chamberfest, the Livorno Music Festival, Italy, the Alte Schmiede Kunstverein, Vienna’s Contemporary music series, Toronto Guitar Society’s Guitar Weekend, Vancouver Classical Guitar Festival, and many more. He also gave his concerto debut with Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez in 2023 with the Stratford Symphony.

Daniel’s past mentors have included Patrick Roux, Dr. Jeffrey McFadden, the late great Bruce Holzman, Lorenzo Micheli, and Jorge Caballero, and he has performed in masterclasses for world- class artists such as Sergio Assad, Judicael Perroy, Pavel Steidl, Fabio Zanon, and many others. He has taken first prize at competitions such as the Ottawa-Gatineau guitar competition and OMFA Provincial Guitar Competition open level in 2014 and 2016. He also placed second in the FCMF National Guitar Competition in 2016, and placed as a finalist in the Montreal and Hamilton International Guitar Competitions.

Experience the power of the piano and pipe organ together in concert with Duo 330. From Mozart’s sparkling Magic Flute overture to Liszt’s fiery Hungarian Rhapsody, this program moves between the playful, the lyrical, and the grand. Works by Mascagni, Peeters, and Canadian composer Denis Bédard round out a concert rich in unique colours.

Jingquan Xie has been characterized by the Toronto Concert Review as a pianist who “… has found her own voice and is making music that goes beyond the technical and musical demands of the music." She has performed as soloist with the Symphonic Orchestra of Keimyung University in Daegu, the Symphonic Orchestra of the Shanghai Conservatory, and Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra, and played solo recitals at the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre of the Canadian Opera Company, The Royal Occasion in Koerner Hall, University of Toronto’s Piano Laureates Concert, recital series in Hamamatsu, and at the Bianco Arts Concert Series as winner of the 11th Texas State International Piano Festival's Betty Dickinson Award. She is a top prize winner at The Asian Pacific International Chopin Piano Competition, the Concerto Competition and Chamber Music Competition of the Shanghai Conservatory, the VI Krystian Tkaczewski Competition, the Pacific Rim International Piano Competition, the Chicago International Music Competition, and The 3rd Paul Badura-Skoda International Piano Competition.

Ryan Baxter is a candidate in the Doctor of Musical Arts program at Western University’s Don Wright Faculty of Music, studying solo piano performance. He also takes courses in Indigenous studies through the university’s Memegwaanh Indigenous Learning Honour program. Ryan has previously graduated from Brock University, Humber Polytechnic, the University of Manitoba, and Athabasca University, with additional diplomas in piano and organ performance, and piano pedagogy. Beyond academic life, Ryan is Music Director and Organist at Rowntree Memorial United Church in London. Previously, he held the same positions at Trillium United Church in St. Catharines. He has worked as a teaching assistant, collaborative pianist, piano and theory instructor, festival adjudicator, in-classroom mathematics tutor, course facilitator, English teacher in Thailand, and in various other education-related positions. When Ryan is not practicing, writing, or working, he can be found walking outside, cooking, baking, reading, and applying to more programs.

Dr. Daniel Ramjattan has become an ambassador for the classical guitar in Canada, having premiered dozens of chamber and solo works for guitar. He has given recitals in Vienna, Austria, Italy, and various locations across Canada, the United States, Trinidad and Tobago, and Japan, and has received an array of top prizes in provincial and national solo guitar competitions. He has performed in festivals such as Koerner's 21C Festival, Open Ears, Waterloo, Guitar Alla Grande, INNERChamber, Ottawa Chamberfest, the Livorno Music Festival, Italy, the Alte Schmiede Kunstverein, Vienna’s Contemporary music series, Toronto Guitar Society’s Guitar Weekend, Vancouver Classical Guitar Festival, and many more. He also gave his concerto debut with Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez in 2023 with the Stratford Symphony.

Daniel’s past mentors have included Patrick Roux, Dr. Jeffrey McFadden, the late great Bruce Holzman, Lorenzo Micheli, and Jorge Caballero, and he has performed in masterclasses for world- class artists such as Sergio Assad, Judicael Perroy, Pavel Steidl, Fabio Zanon, and many others. He has taken first prize at competitions such as the Ottawa-Gatineau guitar competition and OMFA Provincial Guitar Competition open level in 2014 and 2016. He also placed second in the FCMF National Guitar Competition in 2016, and placed as a finalist in the Montreal and Hamilton International Guitar Competitions.

Jung Tsai

Based in Kitchener, Ontario, violinist Jung Tsai has performed extensively in the region where she serves as 2nd Associate Concertmaster in Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony Orchestra. Her other main appearances include performing as guest concertmaster and guest soloist with several local symphony orchestras in Ontario.

Jung received her Bachelor degree in Mannes The New School for Music (New York), Master Degree in DePaul School of Music (Chicago) and Artist Diploma in McGill School of Music (Montreal). During her stay in the United States she has won several prizes including winner of Mannes Community Concerto Competition, finalists of Plowman Chamber Music Competition, and Luminaries Fellowship winner of string category. Her past teachers include Nina Beilina, Ilya Kaler, Axel Strauss, Jonathan Crow and Denise Lupien.

Recognised by The Guardian as “a young 21st-century virtuoso”, Alexandra Whittingham is rapidly redefining the role of the classical guitarist in today’s musical landscape. She is signed exclusively to Decca Classics, with her first album on the label ‘Letters from Paris’ released in October 2025. Recent highlights include a performance at the Royal Albert Hall with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic for Classic FM Live, a UK tour with duo partner Stephanie Jones, and a 43-date North American tour as part of International Guitar Night. Having first gained international attention at the age of 16 by sharing videos of her performances online, Alexandra has since cultivated a global audience with over 100 million views on YouTube alone. Her debut album, My European Journey (2021), was described as “a superb debut” by BBC Music Magazine and celebrated her love for romantic guitar music and lesser-known composers. The recording earned her a place on Classic FM’s ‘30 under 30’ list in 2022 and a feature on Sky Arts’ Rising Stars, hosted by Julian Lloyd Webber. In 2023, Alexandra released A European Journey, a guitar anthology published by Camden Music. Aimed at beginner to intermediate-level players, the book features a curated selection of 19th-century European works. Her most recent publication Forgotten Songs continues this theme by highlighting selected pieces by the English composer Ernest Shand. Education and outreach are central to Alexandra’s work. Alongside regular masterclasses at conservatoires across Europe and North America, she leads workshops in schools to inspire young people from diverse backgrounds to engage with classical music. Alexandra began her studies at Chetham’s School of Music at the age of 11, where she now teaches alongside her former professor. She later studied with Michael Lewin at the Royal Academy of Music and this year was elected an Associate of the Academy, an honour awarded to alumni who have distinguished themselves in the music profession and made a significant contribution to their field. Alexandra is an Augustine Strings artist and plays guitars made by Martin Blackwell and Christopher Dean. 

Recognised by The Guardian as “a young 21st-century virtuoso”, Alexandra Whittingham is rapidly redefining the role of the classical guitarist in today’s musical landscape. She is signed exclusively to Decca Classics, with her first album on the label ‘Letters from Paris’ released in October 2025. Recent highlights include a performance at the Royal Albert Hall with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic for Classic FM Live, a UK tour with duo partner Stephanie Jones, and a 43-date North American tour as part of International Guitar Night. Having first gained international attention at the age of 16 by sharing videos of her performances online, Alexandra has since cultivated a global audience with over 100 million views on YouTube alone. Her debut album, My European Journey (2021), was described as “a superb debut” by BBC Music Magazine and celebrated her love for romantic guitar music and lesser-known composers. The recording earned her a place on Classic FM’s ‘30 under 30’ list in 2022 and a feature on Sky Arts’ Rising Stars, hosted by Julian Lloyd Webber. In 2023, Alexandra released A European Journey, a guitar anthology published by Camden Music. Aimed at beginner to intermediate-level players, the book features a curated selection of 19th-century European works. Her most recent publication Forgotten Songs continues this theme by highlighting selected pieces by the English composer Ernest Shand. Education and outreach are central to Alexandra’s work. Alongside regular masterclasses at conservatoires across Europe and North America, she leads workshops in schools to inspire young people from diverse backgrounds to engage with classical music. Alexandra began her studies at Chetham’s School of Music at the age of 11, where she now teaches alongside her former professor. She later studied with Michael Lewin at the Royal Academy of Music and this year was elected an Associate of the Academy, an honour awarded to alumni who have distinguished themselves in the music profession and made a significant contribution to their field. Alexandra is an Augustine Strings artist and plays guitars made by Martin Blackwell and Christopher Dean. 

Recognised by The Guardian as “a young 21st-century virtuoso”, Alexandra Whittingham is rapidly redefining the role of the classical guitarist in today’s musical landscape. She is signed exclusively to Decca Classics, with her first album on the label ‘Letters from Paris’ released in October 2025. Recent highlights include a performance at the Royal Albert Hall with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic for Classic FM Live, a UK tour with duo partner Stephanie Jones, and a 43-date North American tour as part of International Guitar Night. Having first gained international attention at the age of 16 by sharing videos of her performances online, Alexandra has since cultivated a global audience with over 100 million views on YouTube alone. Her debut album, My European Journey (2021), was described as “a superb debut” by BBC Music Magazine and celebrated her love for romantic guitar music and lesser-known composers. The recording earned her a place on Classic FM’s ‘30 under 30’ list in 2022 and a feature on Sky Arts’ Rising Stars, hosted by Julian Lloyd Webber. In 2023, Alexandra released A European Journey, a guitar anthology published by Camden Music. Aimed at beginner to intermediate-level players, the book features a curated selection of 19th-century European works. Her most recent publication Forgotten Songs continues this theme by highlighting selected pieces by the English composer Ernest Shand. Education and outreach are central to Alexandra’s work. Alongside regular masterclasses at conservatoires across Europe and North America, she leads workshops in schools to inspire young people from diverse backgrounds to engage with classical music. Alexandra began her studies at Chetham’s School of Music at the age of 11, where she now teaches alongside her former professor. She later studied with Michael Lewin at the Royal Academy of Music and this year was elected an Associate of the Academy, an honour awarded to alumni who have distinguished themselves in the music profession and made a significant contribution to their field. Alexandra is an Augustine Strings artist and plays guitars made by Martin Blackwell and Christopher Dean. 

Three words: Adventurous, nature-inspired compositions.

Program Description

Join us for a captivating concert with Folias Duo, the celebrated pairing of Michigan-based flutist Carmen Maret and guitarist Andrew Bergeron. With over two decades of collaboration, they are renowned for their seamless fusion of classical, jazz, world music, and improvisation.

Their original compositions, inspired by life on the road and the beauty of the natural world, transport audiences with vivid storytelling through music. This performance will feature highlights from their newest works, including pieces inspired by the Great Lakes.

Don't miss this opportunity to experience the artistry of two trailblazing musicians defining the flute and guitar ensemble!

Three words: Adventurous, nature-inspired compositions.

Program Description

Join us for a captivating concert with Folias Duo, the celebrated pairing of Michigan-based flutist Carmen Maret and guitarist Andrew Bergeron. With over two decades of collaboration, they are renowned for their seamless fusion of classical, jazz, world music, and improvisation.

Their original compositions, inspired by life on the road and the beauty of the natural world, transport audiences with vivid storytelling through music. This performance will feature highlights from their newest works, including pieces inspired by the Great Lakes.

Don't miss this opportunity to experience the artistry of two trailblazing musicians defining the flute and guitar ensemble!

Alex Ring is a local musician and composer, born in St. Catharines. He continues to live here with his young family, working as an elementary school teacher with the DSBN. His principal instrument is the violin, playing solo and with local collective The Northern Arm. As a solo artist, he primarily plays the violin with other sound sources, including sine-wave oscillators, guitar, etc. His recorded music involves manipulation of found sources, along with “traditional” instrumentation. Layering is a key component to his sound, resulting in everything from minimalist drone to dense soundscapes and “noise”.

Neha Mahajan is a sitarist from the Beenkar Gharana, a renowned family tradition in Raga Music emerging from the stroking style of the B. She performs Raga, the melodic system at the heart of Indian music, in the Kharaj-Pancham Baaj style, which highlights deep, resonant tones. Trained by her father, Shri Vidur Mahajan, and currently under Ustad Zunain Khan, Neha blends classical tradition with creative innovation and expression. She has performed with Grammy-winning artist Ricky Martin and was awarded the Sitarvadak Yuva Puraskar (2025). With a Master’s in Philosophy, Neha invites audiences to explore the beauty, emotion, and timeless resonance of Raga Music.

Zaheer Abbas is a Toronto-based tabla player and student of Ustad Allarakha’s senior disciple, Shri Prafulla Athalye. He has performed across Canada in a variety of classical, semi-classical, and contemporary settings, and has accompanied many leading artists in the Canadian performing arts landscape. Zaheer-Abbas brings the tradition of tabla to new contexts through his diverse artistic collaborations and projects. 

Emma Rush is “widely regarded as one of Canada’s premier classical guitarists” (Vivascene Magazine) and her career has commanded world recognition. Touring highlights include the Altamira Shanghai International Guitar Festival (China), Festival de Guitarras Lagos de Moreno (Mexico), and Future Echoes Festival (Sweden), and performing on a cross-country train trip aboard The Canadian. In 2026 Rush will perform throughout Canada with appearances in Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia, and international performances will include the Iserlohn International Guitar Symposium in Germany and a U.K. tour. “Emma Rush has crafted a sound that transcends generations and speaks directly to the heart and soul.” (Too Much Love Magazine)

In 2025 Emma Rush released The Life and Times of Catharina Pratten, dedicated to the Victorian guitar icon and her circle. It contains many first recordings and was featured as the CBC In Concert Record of the Week. A Dream of Colour (2023) featured “exquisite additions to the contemporary Canadian guitar repertoire” (The WholeNote) that Rush commissioned. In 2020 Rush released Wake the Sigh, a collection of rare music written for guitar by women in the 19th century, almost none of which had ever been recorded before. Her earlier recordings are Canadiana and Folklórica.

Rush’s work has been heard on CBC’s In Concert and About Time, NPR’s Classical Guitar Alive!, and Radio France and she has been featured in Classical Guitar Magazine, Fretboard Journal, Record World, and Sweden’s Gitarr och Luta.

Rush is a guest lecturer at colleges and universities throughout North America. She was an Artist-in-Residence at the Fountain School of Performing Arts at Dalhousie University in the fall of 2016, has completed two artistic residencies at the Sointula Art Shed in remote British Columbia, and a research residency at GEDOK Schleswig-Holstein in Lübeck, Germany. She is active in presenting guitar events around the world and is Co-Director of GuitarFest West in Calgary (AB), Director of the Pigeon Lake Guitar Retreat (ON), Hamilton Guitar Day (ON), Nelson Guitar Festival (BC), and a collaborator with Wakefield Guitar Festival (QC).

Emma Rush has received three City of Hamilton Arts Awards, and has had her work supported by the Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, Arts Nova Scotia, Hamilton City Enrichment Fund, and FACTOR. She completed her graduate studies at the Hochschule für Musik Detmold in Germany, and holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia.

Emma Rush is “widely regarded as one of Canada’s premier classical guitarists” (Vivascene Magazine) and her career has commanded world recognition. Touring highlights include the Altamira Shanghai International Guitar Festival (China), Festival de Guitarras Lagos de Moreno (Mexico), and Future Echoes Festival (Sweden), and performing on a cross-country train trip aboard The Canadian. In 2026 Rush will perform throughout Canada with appearances in Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia, and international performances will include the Iserlohn International Guitar Symposium in Germany and a U.K. tour. “Emma Rush has crafted a sound that transcends generations and speaks directly to the heart and soul.” (Too Much Love Magazine)

In 2025 Emma Rush released The Life and Times of Catharina Pratten, dedicated to the Victorian guitar icon and her circle. It contains many first recordings and was featured as the CBC In Concert Record of the Week. A Dream of Colour (2023) featured “exquisite additions to the contemporary Canadian guitar repertoire” (The WholeNote) that Rush commissioned. In 2020 Rush released Wake the Sigh, a collection of rare music written for guitar by women in the 19th century, almost none of which had ever been recorded before. Her earlier recordings are Canadiana and Folklórica.

Rush’s work has been heard on CBC’s In Concert and About Time, NPR’s Classical Guitar Alive!, and Radio France and she has been featured in Classical Guitar Magazine, Fretboard Journal, Record World, and Sweden’s Gitarr och Luta.

Rush is a guest lecturer at colleges and universities throughout North America. She was an Artist-in-Residence at the Fountain School of Performing Arts at Dalhousie University in the fall of 2016, has completed two artistic residencies at the Sointula Art Shed in remote British Columbia, and a research residency at GEDOK Schleswig-Holstein in Lübeck, Germany. She is active in presenting guitar events around the world and is Co-Director of GuitarFest West in Calgary (AB), Director of the Pigeon Lake Guitar Retreat (ON), Hamilton Guitar Day (ON), Nelson Guitar Festival (BC), and a collaborator with Wakefield Guitar Festival (QC).

Emma Rush has received three City of Hamilton Arts Awards, and has had her work supported by the Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, Arts Nova Scotia, Hamilton City Enrichment Fund, and FACTOR. She completed her graduate studies at the Hochschule für Musik Detmold in Germany, and holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia.

Ari Cohen Mann serves up "brilliant virtuosity" (The Whole Note) through their playing and brightness and optimism through their popular social media channels. Ari has been hailed as the "Jonathan Van Ness of the oboe" (CBC Music), proudly championing their queer identity and serving as a role model for LGBTQ youth. Based in Toronto, Ari is a dynamic recitalist, new music proponent, orchestral musician, and educator. Recognized on CBC's 30 Hot Canadian Classical Musicians under 30, they are also a Howarth Artist, performing on a Howarth LXV-VT oboe.  www.oboeari.com

Benjamin Smith

Described by the Barrie Examiner as having “scintillating technique”, Canadian pianist Benjamin Smith resides in Toronto, serving on the piano faculty of the Glenn Gould School (GGS) and Taylor Young Artist Academy at the Royal Conservatory. He has performed across North America, highlighted by appearances as soloist in both Carnegie and Alice Tully halls, and has partnered in concert with international soloists and principal players from orchestras around the world, including the Metropolitan Opera, Berlin Philharmoniker, Luzerner Sinfonieorchester, New York Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Houston Symphony, and all major Canadian orchestras. Along with a doctorate from Stony Brook University, he holds degrees from Juilliard, GGS, and the University of Toronto. 2025 marks Ben’s debut on Orchid Classics.

Flavius Wagner was born and raised in Baden-Baden Germany. From a very young age, he showed a great passion for the guitar. He began his first guitar lessons at the age of four at the music school in Baden-Baden and later studied under Prof. Boris Bagger. At the age of 14, he transferred as a young student to the University of Music and Performing Arts Stuttgart, where he is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in guitar.

Flavius is a multiple first-place national winner at "Jugend Musiziert" and a prizewinner at the International Youth Competitions (IYC) of the Guitar Foundation of America. Additionally, he received awards at the HASPA Cup 2024 (3rd prize) during the Hamburg Guitar Festival, the Hanika Guitar Competition in Bangkok, (3rd prize) the Dallas International Guitar Competition 2025 (2nd prize), and festivals across Europe and North America, including first prizes at the Ubuntu Guitar Festival in Bosnia, the UF Guitar Festival in Florida 2025 and the Chicago Guitar Competition 2025. As a soloist, Flavius regularly performs all across Germany and internationally. His concert tours have taken him to Venice, Canada, and the US.

Besides his solo career, he is also passionate about chamber music, playing in various ensembles—from guitar quartets to duos with violin or vocals. Currently, Flavius teaches at JMS Gerlingen, conducts masterclasses at international renown festivals, and works as an instructor for the Baden Württemberg State Music Council. He is actively involved in music education through various courses and initiatives supported by the State Music Council.

Flavius Wagner was born and raised in Baden-Baden Germany. From a very young age, he showed a great passion for the guitar. He began his first guitar lessons at the age of four at the music school in Baden-Baden and later studied under Prof. Boris Bagger. At the age of 14, he transferred as a young student to the University of Music and Performing Arts Stuttgart, where he is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in guitar.

Flavius is a multiple first-place national winner at "Jugend Musiziert" and a prizewinner at the International Youth Competitions (IYC) of the Guitar Foundation of America. Additionally, he received awards at the HASPA Cup 2024 (3rd prize) during the Hamburg Guitar Festival, the Hanika Guitar Competition in Bangkok, (3rd prize) the Dallas International Guitar Competition 2025 (2nd prize), and festivals across Europe and North America, including first prizes at the Ubuntu Guitar Festival in Bosnia, the UF Guitar Festival in Florida 2025 and the Chicago Guitar Competition 2025. As a soloist, Flavius regularly performs all across Germany and internationally. His concert tours have taken him to Venice, Canada, and the US.

Besides his solo career, he is also passionate about chamber music, playing in various ensembles—from guitar quartets to duos with violin or vocals. Currently, Flavius teaches at JMS Gerlingen, conducts masterclasses at international renown festivals, and works as an instructor for the Baden Württemberg State Music Council. He is actively involved in music education through various courses and initiatives supported by the State Music Council.

Sam "Modern Mason" is an award winning guitarist and composer from Toronto, Canada. His music is often peaceful and melancholic with progressive forms and impressionistic soundscapes inspired by psychedelics, rage and revolution. 

Flavius Wagner was born and raised in Baden-Baden Germany. From a very young age, he showed a great passion for the guitar. He began his first guitar lessons at the age of four at the music school in Baden-Baden and later studied under Prof. Boris Bagger. At the age of 14, he transferred as a young student to the University of Music and Performing Arts Stuttgart, where he is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in guitar.

Flavius is a multiple first-place national winner at "Jugend Musiziert" and a prizewinner at the International Youth Competitions (IYC) of the Guitar Foundation of America. Additionally, he received awards at the HASPA Cup 2024 (3rd prize) during the Hamburg Guitar Festival, the Hanika Guitar Competition in Bangkok, (3rd prize) the Dallas International Guitar Competition 2025 (2nd prize), and festivals across Europe and North America, including first prizes at the Ubuntu Guitar Festival in Bosnia, the UF Guitar Festival in Florida 2025 and the Chicago Guitar Competition 2025. As a soloist, Flavius regularly performs all across Germany and internationally. His concert tours have taken him to Venice, Canada, and the US.

Besides his solo career, he is also passionate about chamber music, playing in various ensembles—from guitar quartets to duos with violin or vocals. Currently, Flavius teaches at JMS Gerlingen, conducts masterclasses at international renown festivals, and works as an instructor for the Baden Württemberg State Music Council. He is actively involved in music education through various courses and initiatives supported by the State Music Council.

Flavius Wagner was born and raised in Baden-Baden Germany. From a very young age, he showed a great passion for the guitar. He began his first guitar lessons at the age of four at the music school in Baden-Baden and later studied under Prof. Boris Bagger. At the age of 14, he transferred as a young student to the University of Music and Performing Arts Stuttgart, where he is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in guitar.

Flavius is a multiple first-place national winner at "Jugend Musiziert" and a prizewinner at the International Youth Competitions (IYC) of the Guitar Foundation of America. Additionally, he received awards at the HASPA Cup 2024 (3rd prize) during the Hamburg Guitar Festival, the Hanika Guitar Competition in Bangkok, (3rd prize) the Dallas International Guitar Competition 2025 (2nd prize), and festivals across Europe and North America, including first prizes at the Ubuntu Guitar Festival in Bosnia, the UF Guitar Festival in Florida 2025 and the Chicago Guitar Competition 2025. As a soloist, Flavius regularly performs all across Germany and internationally. His concert tours have taken him to Venice, Canada, and the US.

Besides his solo career, he is also passionate about chamber music, playing in various ensembles—from guitar quartets to duos with violin or vocals. Currently, Flavius teaches at JMS Gerlingen, conducts masterclasses at international renown festivals, and works as an instructor for the Baden Württemberg State Music Council. He is actively involved in music education through various courses and initiatives supported by the State Music Council.

Tim Beattie gained international recognition after winning the 2018 Brussels International Guitar Competition. His career has since taken him to stages across North America and Europe, earning prizes at the international competitions in Antwerp, Brussels, Calgary, Enschede, Leicester, Manhattan, and Uppsala.

Beattie has performed at prestigious venues and festivals including Carnegie Hall (Weill Hall), Amsterdam Concertgebouw (supporting Ludovico Einaudi), Amsterdam Blue Note (with Nai Barghouti), Banff Centre, The Bath Festival, FirstOntario Concert Hall (supporting KD Lang), Kitaranova Festival Helsinki, Perth Concert Hall, and Théâtre du Vaudeville Brussels. His performances have also been featured on Dutch National TV and BBC Radio Scotland

Tim is an Associate Teacher of guitar at the University of St Andrews and director of the St Andrews GuitarFest (Scotland). He maintains a busy concert schedule and regularly visits institutions across Canada and the UK as a guest lecturer; most recently at the Alberta Strings Association, Calgary Classical Guitar Society, Mount Royal University, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, University of Alberta, University of Lethbridge, and the University of Regina.

Ben Ellis is a classical guitarist, community arts organizer, and educator. He programs recitals that explore the unexpected corners of guitar repertoire. Programming and pairing works from the eighteenth to the twenty-first century, Ellis finds unexpected threads that connect contrasting works. His programs have included paired transcriptions of violin music by Eugéne Ysaÿe and J.S. Bach as well as the standard “When You Wish Upon A Star” arranged by Chet Atkins paired with an homage to Walt Disney by contemporary composer Darragh O’Neill.

Recent performances include recitals for the Skaneateles Library Concert Series, the Classical Guitar Society of Upstate NY, the St. Eustace Music Series in Lake Placid, NY, WCNY Performance Space in Syracuse, NY, The Orangeburg

Fine Arts Center in Orangeburg, SC, and the Tenri Cultural Institute in NYC.

Recognised by The Guardian as "a young 21st-century virtuoso", Alexandra Whittingham's creative spirit is reshaping classical music and defying conventions. At the age of 16 she began to film her performances of popular guitar repertoire as a personal project, rapidly creating a large community of fans worldwide with over 65 million views. Having just signed exclusively to Decca Classics, recording continues to play an important part in Alexandra's career.

Her debut album 'My European Journey', released in 2021, was described as "a superb debut" by BBC Music Magazine. The album sees Alexandra's passion for romantic guitar music combined with a love of discovering lesser-known composers and bringing them into the spotlight.

Recognised by The Guardian as "a young 21st-century virtuoso", Alexandra Whittingham's creative spirit is reshaping classical music and defying conventions. At the age of 16 she began to film her performances of popular guitar repertoire as a personal project, rapidly creating a large community of fans worldwide with over 65 million views. Having just signed exclusively to Decca Classics, recording continues to play an important part in Alexandra's career.

Her debut album 'My European Journey', released in 2021, was described as "a superb debut" by BBC Music Magazine. The album sees Alexandra's passion for romantic guitar music combined with a love of discovering lesser-known composers and bringing them into the spotlight.

Mexican guitarist Ricardo Saeb has performed in venues across Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, and the United States. His performances have been described as “perfectly balanced,” “of an exquisite subtlety,” and “simply spectacular.” His tours have taken him to cities as diverse as Querétaro, Beirut, New York, Ciudad Juárez, Boston, Dallas, and Córdoba. Ricardo Saeb has appeared as a guest artist at international festivals such as the Festival Internacional de Música de Morelia, Festival Internacional Chihuahua, Chicago’s Latin American Guitar Festival, among others.

Ricardo has appeared as a soloist with numerous orchestras in Mexico and the USA, including the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, La Orquesta Filarmónica del Estado de Chihuahua, University of Kentucky’s Philharmonia, and the Camerata di Sant’Antonio, to name a few. Ricardo has also collaborated with various artists and ensembles including tenor Manuel Castillo, the Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus, pianist Cliff Jackson, the Buffalo Chamber Players, flautist Nicole Murray, and is featured in jazz saxophonist, Rusty Crutcher’s album, Romances Latinos.

Luis is returning to perform solo piano pieces from his Contrast series.

Luis Gerardo Molina completed his Music Bachelor’s Degree at the University of the Americas Puebla, Mexico and Brock University in St Catharines, Canada. He received piano performance education from world-class pianists such as Yolanda Castro, Ana Maria Tradatti, Oscar Tarrago, Bernard Flavigny, Dr. Jorge Federico Osorio, Faritza Tchivirova, and Dr. Karin Dibella among others. In 2020 he completed the master’s degree in Music Literature and Performance at Western University studying with the recognized Canadian pianist Leslie Kinton, a member of the Internationally celebrated Canadian piano duo Anagnoson & Kinton.

Bilal Nasser is a Palestinian-Canadian guitarist and composer from Windsor Ontario known for his ability to blend his classical guitar background with his passion for more experimental genres such as post-rock, shoegaze, and drone. Through his unique output he is known to challenge assumptions as to what classical guitar music can be, resulting in a signature sound often described as "Post-Classical".

Luis Gerardo Molina completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Music at the University of the Americas in Mexico and Brock University. He received piano performance education from world-class pianists and in 2020 he completed his Master’s degree in Music Literature and Performance at Western. Luis’ piano performer career encompasses international competitions and performances in France, U.S.A., Germany, Poland, Russia, Mexico and Canada.

Maracela Lagunas Burgos received her musical education from the Conservatory of Puebla and the University of Veracruz, where she was part of the cell studio of Anna Maklackiewicz. She studied under the principal cellist of the Xalapa Symphonic Orchestra and other world-class violoncello teachers such as Wolfant Laufer, Richard Luvi, David Ying, Richard Markson and Yo-Yo Ma. In 1998 she won an important scholarship granted by the Government for young musicians. 

Emma Rush is “widely regarded as one of Canada’s premiere classical guitarists” (Vivascene Magazine) and her career has commanded world recognition. She regularly performs across Canada and has performed around the world. The concert will feature beautiful rare works from the 19th century, Canadian music composed just for her, and some of her personal favourites from the guitar repertoire. With her warm tone and virtuosic playing “Emma Rush has crafted a sound that transcends generations and speaks directly to the heart and soul.” (Too Much Love Magazine)