Nick Halley

Debut Atlantic alumnus Nick Halley is a drummer/percussionist, keyboardist, composer, and conductor based in Nova Scotia, Canada. Nick is Assistant Director of Music of The Cathedral Church of All Saints and is Founder & Artistic Director of Capella Regalis Choirs. Nick was Assistant Music Director of The University of Kings College, and, while there, founded and directed The King’s Chorus. Nick was known to Canadian audiences as host of CBC’s national radio program, ‘Choral Concert’, and he received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in recognition of his contribution to the arts, principally for his work with Capella Regalis. As a drummer and world percussionist, Nick performs internationally with a wide range of musicians.

Haig Beylerian

Haig Beylerian is a Canadian-Armenian guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, and composer. Born in Toronto to a musical family and shaped by both Western and Armenian culture, his work spans the classical tradition, folk heritage, and pop he grew up with. He received a Bachelor of Music in Classical Guitar Performance from Dalhousie University, where he studied under Doug Reach, Jeff Torbert, Scott MacMillan, and Don Ross. Beylerian has toured extensively across North America and Asia as a performer, scored for film and theatre, and contributed to numerous recordings as both composer and session guitarist — collaborating with internationally acclaimed artists including Rufus Wainwright and Serouj Kradjian. He currently resides in Nova Scotia, where he maintains an active career as a performer, producer, and educator. His catalogue includes Solo Guitar, Armenian Folk Music For Guitar, and Armenian Folk Music For Guitar Vol. 2 — a series that reflects his commitment to preserving and reinterpreting the Armenian musical tradition through the guitar.

Chris Donnelly

Debut Atlantic alumnus Chris Donnelly’s repertoire is an eclectic mix of jazz, improvisation, original compositions, and classical music. Formerly a Steinway artist and instructor at the University of Toronto, he has resided in Nova Scotia since 2025. Unfortunately, the fact that he was nominated for some Juno awards eons ago still follows him around to this day. Chris is currently living in Chester, NS, with his wife, two Yorkies, and multiple families of deer. He teaches at the local high school, writes video game music, enjoys playing music with friends, and will talk anyone’s ear off about music and education.

During their extensive tours, Christ and Dominique showcased their musical prowess in a special tribute concert to the legendary Astor Piazzolla. The performance artfully weaved together compositions from influential figures in Piazzolla’s youth, including Gardel, Bach, Ellington, Ginastera, Fauré and Bartok. As a crowning moment, Dominique contributed an original composition titled “Hommage à Piazzolla,” a captivating piece for guitar and cello that served as the grand finale, touching their audiences with its emotive resonance and exciting solos for both instruments.

Piazzolla, the pioneering Argentine composer, created the groundbreaking Tango Nuevo style, fusing elements of traditional tango and classical music. This innovative style laid the foundation for the duo’s exploration and reinterpretation of Piazzolla’s works, adding a contemporary dimension to their performances.

Together, Christ and Dominique form a harmonious musical partnership, conquering audiences with their distinctive sound and collaborative synergy. Their performances create an immersive experience for their listeners, showcasing not only their technical prowess but also a deep appreciation for classical music. As a duo, they continue to enchant and inspire, leaving an enduring impact on the Canadian classical music landscape.

Christ Habib is an acclaimed classical guitarist recognized for his exceptional artistry and passionate performances. He has earned numerous distinctions, including first prize in classical guitar at the National Music Festival (FCMF) in Saskatoon (2019) and recognition as one of Canada’s Top 30 Classical Musicians Under 30 (2020).

In October 2020, he made his debut with the National Arts Centre Orchestra under renowned conductor Alexander Shelley, performing Jacques Hétu’s Concerto for Guitar and Strings, Op. 56. Habib’s competitive successes span both national and international stages, consistently earning top placements.

A graduate of the Gatineau Conservatory of Music, he completed a Master’s degree and received the Prize in Chamber Music after 12 years of study with Patrick Roux. He has further refined his craft through masterclasses at the Boston International Guitar Academy and the Domaine Forget International Academy, studying with distinguished artists from around the world.

Dominique Beauséjour-Ostiguy is an award-winning cellist and composer, celebrated for his artistry and versatility. Recipient of the 2018 Prix d’Europe, the 2021 Choquette-Symcox Award, and the 2017 Peter Mendell Award, he was named one of CBC Music’s “30 Hot Canadian Classical Musicians Under 30” in 2018. A two-time first prize winner at the Canadian Music Competition, Dominique has performed as a soloist with leading ensembles including the Laval Symphony Orchestra and the Drummondville Symphony Orchestra.

An active chamber musician, he is a founding member of the Trio de l’Île and the Andara String Quartet, performing across North America and Europe, and joined the acclaimed Hochelaga Trio in 2018. As a composer, Dominique earned third prize in the Domicile Adoré competition organized by the Fondation Jeunesses Musicales Canada in 2020. The Laval Symphony Orchestra has performed two of his works under the direction of Alain Trudel. He is also the co-founder of BOA Experience, a collaborative instrumental project of original compositions, and released Aux deux hémisphères—an album of his complete works for cello and piano—with pianist Jean-Michel Dubé.

Dominique holds a Master’s degree in performance from the University of Montreal, where he studied with Yegor Dyachkov, and has participated in masterclasses with distinguished artists including Mischa Maisky, Alisa Weilerstein, Jean-Guihen Queyras, Hans Jørgen Jensen, Raphaël Wallfisch, Philippe Muller, and Richard Aaron. He performs on a 1704 David Tecchler cello and a c.1855 Pierre Simon bow, generously loaned by Canimex Inc. of Drummondville, Quebec.

Montreal-born guitarist Adam Cicchillitti has earned widespread acclaim as a soloist, chamber musician, and advocate for new music. Classical Guitar magazine praised him as “a virtuoso at the top of his game,” while CBC Music named him an “ardent ambassador for classical guitar” and included him in their list of Canada’s Top 30 Musicians Under 30.

A visionary performer, Adam is known for pushing the boundaries of his instrument through close collaboration with composers. Since 2019, he has commissioned over thirty new works for solo guitar, duo, and guitar with chamber ensemble. His latest recording, Re/String (Leaf Music, 2025), features six world premieres for two guitars and string ensemble in collaboration with Steve Cowan and the Juno-winning Montreal nonet collectif9.

Adam has released six albums on Analekta, ATMA Classique, and Leaf Music, with two additional albums forthcoming in 2025 and 2026. His 2021 album Focus, dedicated to new Canadian music for two guitars, won “Classical Recording of the Year” at the East Coast Music Awards; its follow-up, Intimate Impressions, was nominated the following year. With Cowan, he also earned second and third prizes at the Guitar Foundation of America International Ensemble Competition in 2023 and 2021, respectively.

He has performed as a soloist with major Canadian ensembles including the Orchestre classique de Montréal, Thirteen Strings, and collectif9, and is one of only two guitarists to have won the grand prize at Canada’s Canimex Concerto Competition. He has toured extensively across Canada, the U.S., and the U.K. through agencies such as Prairie Debut, Debut Atlantic, Latitude 45, and Jeunesses Musicales Canada.

Adam holds a Doctorate in Performance from McGill University and teaches guitar at Mount Allison University. He founded the guitar program at Ottawa Suzuki Strings and performs on a guitar by Sergei de Jonge. For more info, vist: adamcicchillitti.com

Concert Description

With a focus on original arrangements and contemporary repertoire, Contrasts reflects a deeply personal curatorial vision—bridging centuries of music from multiple continents through the lens of the modern guitar. From evocative, folk-inspired textures to introspective modern works, each piece contributes to a narrative of reinvention, resilience, and artistic discovery. At its heart, the program is a celebration of the guitar’s evolving identity: expressive, virtuosic, and endlessly adaptable.

Le guitariste montréalais Adam Cicchillitti s’est distingué comme soliste, chambriste et figure engagée dans la création musicale. Le magazine Classical Guitar le décrit comme « un virtuose au sommet de son art », tandis que CBC Music l’a qualifié « d’ambassadeur ardent de la guitare classique » et l’a inclus dans sa liste des 30 meilleurs musiciens canadiens de moins de 30 ans.

Adam est reconnu pour son approche visionnaire de l’interprétation et ses collaborations étroites avec les compositeurs. Depuis 2019, il a commandé plus de trente œuvres pour guitare solo, duo ou musique de chambre. Son plus récent enregistrement, Re/String (Leaf Music, 2025), propose six créations mondiales pour deux guitares et ensemble à cordes, en collaboration avec Steve Cowan et le nonette collectif9, lauréat d’un prix Juno.

Il a publié six albums sous étiquettes Analekta, ATMA Classique et Leaf Music, avec deux nouveaux disques prévus pour 2025 et 2026. Son album Focus (2021), consacré à la musique canadienne contemporaine pour deux guitares, a remporté le prix de l’Enregistrement classique de l’année aux East Coast Music Awards. Son successeur, Intimate Impressions, a été nommé l’année suivante. Avec Cowan, il a aussi remporté les deuxième et troisième prix au concours international en ensemble de la Guitar Foundation of America (2023 et 2021).

Adam s’est produit en tant que soliste avec plusieurs ensembles majeurs, dont l’Orchestre classique de Montréal, Thirteen Strings et collectif9. Il est l’un des deux seuls guitaristes à avoir remporté le grand prix du Concours Canimex. Il a tourné au Canada, aux États-Unis et au Royaume-Uni avec des agences telles que Prairie Debut, Debut Atlantic, Latitude 45 et les Jeunesses Musicales Canada.

Adam est titulaire d’un doctorat en interprétation de l’Université McGill, enseigne à l’Université Mount Allison et joue sur une guitare construite par Sergei de Jonge.

Courte description du concert

Mettant l’accent sur des arrangements originaux et un répertoire contemporain, Contrasts reflète une vision curatoriale profondément personnelle, qui relie plusieurs siècles de musique provenant de différents continents à travers le prisme de la guitare moderne. Des textures évocatrices inspirées du folklore aux œuvres modernes introspectives, chaque pièce contribue à une narration axée sur la réinvention, la résilience et la découverte artistique. Au cœur de ce programme se trouve une célébration de l’essence évolutive de la guitare : expressive, virtuose et infiniment adaptable.

Drew Jurecka, bandoneon/violin/vocals

Joseph Phillips, bass

Mark Camilleri, piano

Payadora is an award-winning ensemble that performs arrangements drawing from Argentinian/Uruguayan traditions (tangos, milongas, waltzes, and folk music such as the Zamba and chacarera), as well as original songs inspired by that tradition.  Comprised of musicians who are each musical powerhouses in their own right, this “superstar group” has combined their profound love of tango with their classical, jazz, and global music backgrounds to create something entirely new. Payadora is officially endorsed by the Argentinian Consulate in Toronto for its adherence to the spirit of tango, and audiences flock to performances that convey joy, virtuosity, humour, and intense passion.

Since 2013, Payadora has presented concerts and sold-out shows at the National Arts Centre, Ottawa Chamberfest, St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre, Stratford Summer Music, Toronto Summer Music, Festival of the Sound, Vancouver Island MusicFest, Toronto Jazzfest, the COC’s World Music Series at the Four Seasons Centre, and the World Accordion & Tango Festival in Victoria.  Payadora has also collaborated with the London Symphonia, the Cathedral Bluffs Symphony, the Hannaford Street Silver Band, and the PointeTango Dance Company – exploring the intersection between classical dance and earthy tango.

In the spring of 2023, Payadora’s third and latest CD, the critically acclaimed “Silent Tears: The Last Yiddish Tango”, reached #1 on the World Music Charts in Europe. It received rave reviews, airtime, and press coverage around the globe, including the BBC, CTV, CBC television and radio, the Bangkok Post, NPR, and RTE Irish Public Radio. “…The most memorable release I have ever had the privilege to listen to and review” (WholeNote Magazine). “Silent Tears” is currently #17 on the Transglobal World Music Chart.

They have received creation and recording grants from numerous agencies, including the Ontario Arts Council and the Toronto Arts Council. Additionally, they were awarded a generous grant from the Canada Council for the Arts to create a multi-arts digital presentation of an Argentine folk tale told through music, dance, illustration, and words.

Across the globe, they have won numerous awards for their work. During Payadora’s November 2023 tour of South America, they won “Best New Piece” at the 2023 Yiddish Music Awards in São Paolo. Their most recent tour of Europe in June of 2024 included an appearance at Germany’s renowned Rudolstadt Festival, where they were winners of the German World Music Award (Weltmusikpreis Ruth Award) for their “Silent Tears” program.

Payadora est un ensemble primé qui interprète des arrangements tirés des traditions argentines et uruguayennes (tangos, milongas, valses et musique folklorique comme la Zamba et la chacarera), ainsi que des chansons originales inspirées de ces traditions. Composé de musiciens qui sont chacun une puissance musicale à part entière, ce « groupe de superstars » a combiné son amour profond du tango avec sa formation en musique classique, en jazz et en musique du monde pour créer quelque chose d’entièrement nouveau. Payadora est officiellement reconnu par le Consulat d’Argentine à Toronto pour son adhésion à l’esprit du tango, et les spectateurs se pressent pour assister à des spectacles où se mêlent joie, virtuosité, humour et passion intense.

Depuis 2013, Payadora a présenté des concerts et des spectacles à guichets fermés au Centre national des Arts, au Festival de chambre d’Ottawa, au St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, au Harbourfront Centre de Toronto, à Stratford Summer Music, à Toronto Summer Music, au Festival of the Sound, au Vancouver Island MusicFest, au Toronto Jazzfest, à COC’s World Music Series au Four Seasons Centre, et au World Accordion & Tango Festival à Victoria.  Payadora a également collaboré avec le London Symphonia, le Cathedral Bluffs Symphony, le Hannaford Street Silver Band et la PointeTango Dance Company, explorant l’intersection entre la danse classique et le tango traditionnel.

Au printemps 2023, le troisième et dernier CD de Payadora, « Silent Tears: The Last Yiddish Tango » (Larmes silencieuses : Le dernier tango yiddish), acclamé par la critique, a atteint la première place des World Music Charts (Classement des musiques du monde) en Europe. Il a fait l’objet de critiques élogieuses, de temps d’antenne et d’une couverture médiatique dans le monde entier, notamment sur la BBC, CTV, la télévision et la radio de la CBC, le Bangkok Post, NPR et la radio publique irlandaise RTE. « C’est l’album le plus mémorable que j’ai eu le privilège d’écouter et de chroniquer » (WholeNote Magazine). « Silent Tears » occupe actuellement la 17^e place du Transglobal World Music Chart.

Ils ont reçu des subventions de création et d’enregistrement de la part de nombreuses agences, dont le Conseil des arts de l’Ontario et le Conseil des arts de Toronto. En outre, ils ont reçu une généreuse subvention du Conseil des Arts du Canada pour créer une présentation numérique multidisciplinaire d’un conte populaire argentin raconté par la musique, la danse, l’illustration et les mots.

À travers le monde, ils ont reçu de nombreux prix pour leur travail. Lors de la tournée de Payadora en Amérique du Sud en novembre 2023, ils ont remporté le prix de la « meilleure nouvelle pièce » aux 2023 Yiddish Music Awards à São Paolo. Leur tournée européenne la plus récente, en juin 2024, comprenait une apparition au célèbre festival allemand de Rudolstadt, où ils ont remporté le prix allemand de la musique du monde (Weltmusikpreis Ruth Award) pour leur programme « Silent Tears ».

Visit Payadora’s Media Resources page to see more performance videos, read interviews, and more!

– Yves Bernard, Le Devoir (Montreal) 

“… The duo plays the music unwrapping each statuesque melody as if revealing some delightful mystery for the listener to grasp with their ears with great expectation.”

– Raul da Gama, World Music Report (Ottawa) 

Flute and guitar duo, Duo Beija-Flor, presents a dynamic and accessible repertoire of classical works inspired by the many diverse cultures found around the world. This fresh and modern style they call ethno-classical highlights the emotions and experiences we all share, expressing them through the lens of music. 

The duo has performed across Canada, the United States, Argentina, and Costa Rica. To date, they have released three crikcally acclaimed albums: Envol (2011), Muzica (2013), and Costas (2018). The duo’s latest album, Costas, was released in September 2018 with the American label Big Round Records/NAXOS of America and garnered rave reviews (4.5/5 Winnipeg Free Press, 4/4 Cinemusical (USA), McNally Robinson Booksellers/Classic 107FM (Manitoba) album of the month for November 2018). Their unique approach to their repertoire has led to invitations on many TV and radio programs (Radio-Canada, Global TV, CIBL, TVCK, Cogeco TV, etc.). 

Since their creation, the duo have been recipients of many awards and grants from several organizations, including the Canadian Arts Council, the Conseil des Arts et Lettres du Québec, laureates for Mon Accès à la Scène, le fond de promotion from the GMMQ, the Leo Brouwer endowment from the Banff Arts Centre, residency grant from the National Arts Centre and a residency grant from Orford Music. They were selected to tour under the auspicious of Prairie Debut for the 2020-22 seasons. More recently, they were featured in the digital concert series from Debut Atlantic in February 2022. 

Hailed by San Francisco’s Flute View magazine as “…an incredibly dynamic and creative team“, the duo is known for their “masterful arrangements” (Flute Quarterly, USA), which helps them create a more personal style, something outside of the established flute and guitar repertoire. To lend credence and to better understand the cultures represented in their arrangements, the duo takes care whenever possible to meet and learn from the people and musicians that make up the culture that inspired these works. In 2015, they travelled to Buenos Aires to create and refine their arrangements of Astor Piazzolla’s “Escualo” and “Oblivion,” which premiered at the Museo Fernandez Blanco in Buenos Aires. They also worked with cimbalomist Nicolae Margineanu and flutist Mircea Gheorghescu to better understand the Romanian musical language for their arrangement of Bartok’s “Romanian Folk Dances.” 

Constantly searching for new works, Duo Beija-Flor has collaborated with several Canadian composers to expand their repertoire. These composers include Roddy Ellias’s “Havana Street Parade” (premiered at Concordia University, October 2013), Carmen Braden’s “The Culture of IsolaKon, aka No Rehearsal” (premiered simultaneously online and on the radio in partnership with the University of Calgary’s campus radio CSJW in November 2020, grant from SOCAN and Prairie Debut), and “Petite Nation, Suite Rustique Riponaise” by Sylvain Picard, premiered in June 2022 in St-Placide, Québec. The duo is currently in discussion with the legendary Cuban composer and guitarist Leo Brouwer for a newly commissioned work for flute and guitar based on the Cuban contradanza. The piece, which will be only the third flute and guitar piece he has written, is set to be finished in November 2023. 

In early 2023, the duo spent 12 days residency at Orford Music in Quebec to work on an all-new program, Musings from Elsewhere. This program pairs pieces from different composers worldwide that share a common inspiration. This ode to creativity sees Boccherini meet Rossini, Piazzolla visiting Patrick Roux, Debussy inspired by Miyagi, Ravel by Cuba and Leo Brouwer and Purcell trading ideas with Villa-Lobos. 

Le Duo Beija-Flor, duo de flûte et de guitare, présente un répertoire dynamique et accessible d’œuvres classiques inspirées par les nombreuses et diverses cultures du monde. Ce style frais et moderne met en lumière les émotions et les expériences que nous partageons tous, en les exprimant à travers le prisme de la musique. Salué par le magazine The Flute View de San Francisco comme « …une équipe incroyablement dynamique et créative », le duo est connu pour ses « arrangements magistraux » (Flute Quarterly, États-Unis), et s’est produit à travers le Canada, les États-Unis, l’Argentine et le Costa Rica. À ce jour, le duo a sorti trois albums salués par la critique : Envol (2011), Muzica (2013) et Costas (2018). Au début de l’année 2023, le duo a passé 12 jours en résidence à Orford Musique au Québec pour travailler sur un tout nouveau programme, Musings from Elsewhere (Réflexions d’ailleurs).

Visit Duo Beija-Flor’s Media Resources page to see more performance videos, read interviews, and more!

Prologue, Fougue et Allegro Trépidant – Patrick Roux
This is a piece inspired by three composers that Patrick Roux admires: Chopin, Bach and Piazzolla. Patrick Roux was the founding member of the Canadian Guitar Quartet and his music has been at the core of the ensembles programs since it’s beginning. Bach and Chopin’s music were the initial inspiration behind creating the work, and additionally, the Latin-American style of Piazzolla resonates throughout all three movements.

Empty Houses – Renaud Côté-Giguère
Empty Houses is a piece inspired by the music of Brad Mehldau, and refers to the nostalgic feeling of visiting a house where you once have lived. The piece is divided into four movements that are linked by the use of broken melodies, where the melody can only be heard through the combination of all four instruments instead of having separate accompaniment and melodic lines. Renaud Côté-Giguère’s music is often influenced by jazz and this can be heard in the second movement of this piece.

The Canadian Guitar Quartet
Renaud Côté-Giguère – Jérôme Ducharme – Christ Habib – Louis Trépanier

Since its debut in 1999, the Canadian Guitar Quartet has performed on three continents, going from one standing ovation to the next, and established a reputation as one of the finest guitar ensembles in the world.

During its twenty-plus years, the CGQ has released four critically acclaimed CDs while touring extensively in Canada and abroad, appearing in recital, and with orchestra. The CGQ’s first concert at the 92Street Y in New York city, part of the Art of the Guitar series, was extremely well received. Don Witter Jr., of the New York City Classical Guitar Society, wrote: “The Canadian Guitar Quartet made one of the greatest New York City Debuts of any artistic ensemble in
decades…STUNNING !!!”.

As well as performing and recording, the CGQ continues to mentor and direct young guitarists through clinics, masterclasses, and one on one teaching. While personnel changes have occurred over the years, the ensemble has remained committed to its core mission: chamber music at its highest level, presenting a robust mix of clever new arrangements of classical masterworks alongside bold new works for guitar quartet – most often penned by past and present members of the ensemble. The engaging repertoire, performed with the CGQ’s fiery virtuosity, augmented by the players’ easy and congenial rapport with the audience, all make a Canadian Guitar Quartet concert an event to remember.

Harb’s past concert appearances in North America, Europe, South America, Africa, and Asia, are highlighted by performances in prestigious halls such as the 2000-year-old Roman Amphitheatre in Jordan, the Bunka Kaikan concert hall in Tokyo, the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Edinburgh’s International Conference Centre for TEDGlobal in the UK, the Cairo Opera House, and Carnegie Hall in New York. Moreover, Harb performed and gave masterclasses in guitar festivals, including the Sauble Beach Guitar Festival, Guitare Montréal Festival, and Competition, and the Guitar Foundation of America Convention and Competition.

Tariq Harb has four solo albums in his name to date: From Bach to Barrios, A Guitar Through the Eras, Harb Plays Sor Studies and Copla. To complement his Harb Plays Sor Studies album, Harb released a DVD comprising video performances and educational material on all the twenty Sor/Segovia studies. He also has two publications: The Unlimited Guitar, which proposes a method of adapting music for the instrument, and his edition of Matteo Carcassi’s 25 Melodic and Progressive Studies, op. 60. An educational DVD and CD recording will be released in the Spring of 2020 to compliment his Carcassi studies edition. Additionally, he is a composer and has composed several works for solo guitar, including a five-movement Suite titled “Spirit.”

A Jordanian-Canadian with Palestinian roots, Harb moved to Canada to commence university studies. At age 25, after quitting his initial career in finance and starting a performance career in music, he diligently studied the guitar with Roddy Ellias, Patrick Kearney, Jerome Ducharme, Dr. Garry Antonio, and Dr. Jeffrey McFadden, and the violin with Clemens Merkel of the Bozzini Quartet and Claude Gelineau. He also participated in numerous masterclasses, including classes hosted by Jason Vieaux, Pavel Steidl, Rémi Boucher, and Manuel Barrueco. Harb currently holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Toronto, a Masters in Performance degree from McGill University, and Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Commerce degrees from Concordia University. He joined Concordia University’s Music Department as a faculty member in Fall 2015. Tariq Harb is sponsored by Hill Guitar Company, Savarez, and LaBella Strings.

Après avoir remporté le premier prix et le prix du public au Concours Barrios WorldWideWeb, le premier prix du Concours international de guitare Classique de Montréal et le prix du gouverneur de Tokyo au Concours international de guitare classique de Tokyo, Tariq Harb s’est rapidement imposé comme l’un des principaux guitaristes classiques de sa génération. « En un temps record, la maîtrise de la mélodie et de l’émotion de Tariq Harb l’a propulsé dans les rangs supérieurs des guitaristes classiques ». (TEDGlobal) Son jeu démontre « non seulement sa technique sans faille, mais aussi son goût raffiné et un grand sens inné de l’interprétation vraiment magnifique ». (TheJordan Times) Choisi comme guitarist de l’année 2013 à la radio de la CBC (CBCRadio’s NEXT! Guitarist), il a été acclamécomme « la prochaine superstar de la guitare classique au Canada » et a été présenté en spectacle dans les studios Glenn Gould au Canada, ce qui a contribué à propulser davantage sa carrière dans le monde entier.

Les concerts qu’il a donnés en Amérique du Nord, en Europe, au Moyen-Orient, en Amérique du Sud et en Asie ont été soulignés par des spectacles dans des salles prestigieuses comme l’amphithéâtre romain de Jordanie, vieux de 2 000 ans, la salle de concert Bunka Kaikan de Tokyo, le Concertgebouw d’Amsterdam, le Centre international de conférences d’Édimbourg au Royaume-Uni pour TEDGlobal, l’Opéra du Caire et le Carnegie Hall de New York. En outre, M. Harb a participé à des festivals de guitare, en plus de donner des cours de maître, notamment le Sauble Beach Guitar Festival, le Festival et Compétition internationale de guitare classique de Montréal, et le Guitar Foundation of America Convention and Competition. Parmi ses futurs engagements notables, citons une tournée en solo dans les provinces de l’Atlantique avec Début Atlantique en mars 2022, un concert en ligne pour la Guitar Society of Toronto, et un concert avec l’Orchestre Symphonique de l’Isle interprétant le magnifique Concierto de Aranjuez.

Tariq Harb compte à ce jour cinq albums solo à son actif : From Bach to Barrios (De Bach à Barrios), A Guitar Through the Eras (Une guitare à travers les époques), Harb Plays Sor Studies (Harb joue des études de Sor), Harb Plays Carcassi Studies (Harb joue des études de Carcassi) et Copla. En complément de ses albums Sor et Carcassi, M. Harb a sorti deux DVD comprenant des interprétations vidéo et du matériel pédagogique sur les vingt études de Sor/Segovia et les 25 études mélodiques et progressives de Carcassi. Il est également l’auteur de deux publications : The Unlimited Guitar (La guitare sans limites), qui propose une méthode d’adaptation de la musique pour l’instrument, et sa propre édition des 25 études mélodiques et progressives, op. 60, de Matteo Carcassi. Il est également compositeur et a compose plusieurs œuvres pour guitare seule, dont une suite en cinq mouvements intitulée « Spirit » (Esprit), qui a été récemment publiée par Les Productions d’Oz.

Jordanien-canadien d’origine palestinienne, M. Harb s’est installé au Canada pour commencer ses études universitaires. À l’âge de 25 ans, après avoir abandonné sa carrière initiale en finance et commence une carrière d’interprète en musique, il a étudié assidûment la guitare avec Roddy Ellias, Patrick Kearney, Jérôme Ducharme, le Dr Garry Antonio et le Dr Jeffrey McFadden, et le violon avec Clemens Merkel du Quatuor Bozzini et Claude Gelineau. Il a également participé à de nombreuses classes de maître, notamment celles dirigées par Jason Vieaux, Pavel Steidl, Rémi Boucher et Manuel Barrueco. M. Harb détient actuellement un doctorat en arts musicaux de l’Université de Toronto, une maîtrise en interprétation de l’Université McGill, ainsi qu’un baccalauréat ès arts et un baccalauréat en commerce de l’Université Concordia. Il s’est joint au département de musique de l’Université Concordia en tant que membre du corps professoral à l’automne 2015. Tariq Harb est parrainé par Hill Guitar Company, Savarez et LaBella Strings.

Steve Cowan, guitar

Adam Cicchillitti, guitar

For more videos of the duo as well as media and interviews, visit their Education & Engagement page HERE!

Guitarists Adam Cicchillitti and Steve Cowan form a dynamic ensemble that focuses on expanding the guitar repertoire through collaborations with living composers. Currently completing doctorates at McGill University with acclaimed guitarist Jérôme Ducharme, Cicchillitti (Dmus., 2022) and Cowan (Dmus., 2019) present daring programs featuring new music from prominent Canadian composers as well as their own arrangements of impressionist works from 20th-century France and Spain. Having recently collaborated on an album of Spanish guitar music under the Analekta label, these two long-time friends and award-winning guitarists will tour the Canadian East with Debut Atlantic in 2018. Their next album, featuring exclusively Canadian works by multiple generations of celebrated Canadian composers, will be released with Analekta in the fall of 2019.

STEVE COWAN

Canadian guitarist Steve Cowan has performed and taught extensively throughout Canada, the United States, and Europe. His critically acclaimed debut album, Pour guitare, features exclusively Canadian music and has helped to establish him as “one of Canada’s top contemporary classical guitarists” (Classical Guitar Magazine). He has commissioned several new works for guitar and given world premieres in major cities such as Paris, Toronto, and New York.   Steve has won awards at 9 major national and international performance competitions, 7 of which are first prizes. He holds degrees from Memorial University, the Manhattan School of Music, and is currently pursuing Doctoral studies at McGill University in Montréal.

ADAM CICCHILLITTI

There were several media accolades in 2017 for Montreal-born guitarist Adam Cicchillitti. The renowned American magazine Classical Guitar called him “a superb Canadian guitarist” and CBC Music included him on its list of Canada’s top thirty most promising young musicians in classical music, describing him as an “ardent ambassador for classical guitar.” His debut album Canciones, which was financed by the Canada Council for the Arts and MusicAction, was released in early 2018 under the Analekta label.  Cicchillitti is an active performer, composer, teacher and arranger. His compositions and arrangements are published by renowned editor les Productions d’Oz. In 2016, he toured Eastern Canada with Jeunesses Musicales and baritone Philippe Courchesne-Leboeuf.  Adam is the founder of the guitar program at Ottawa Suzuki Strings and is a specialist in child pedagogy.

Bio français de Adam Cicchillitti içi

Bio bilingue de Cowan-Cicchillitti içi

Bio bilingue de Steve Cowan içi

TOUR DATES: November 4-13, 2016 and April 1-9, 2017  (Other dates available upon discussion)

BIOGRAPHY:

Over the past decade, Emma Rush has established herself as one of Canada’s preeminent classical guitarists. Known for her innovative programming and powerful stage presence, along with her warm sound and virtuosic technique, an event with Emma Rush is not a typical classical music concert. She is a compelling and engaging performer, a passionate educator, and a dynamic arts impresario.

Emma Rush’s career has commanded world recognition. Highlights of her 2014-15 season include a ten-day, 4-city tour in China, starting with the Altamira Shanghai International Guitar Festival, appearances at guitar festivals including Festival de Guitarras Lagos de Moreno (Mexico), Guitarfest Peru, the Lonestar Guitar Festival (Texas), ’Women of the Guitar’ Festival (Buffalo, NY), and a prestigious concert at the Internationales Gitarren Symposion, Iserlohn (Germany). Canadian appearances of this season have included concerts in Edmonton, Calgary, Halifax, Moncton, and Winnipeg, along with performances throughout Ontario as both a soloist and chamber musician. She performed in March 2015 at a sold-out JUNOfest showcase concert as a soloist and in collaboration with Canadian pop-folk sensation Jeremy Fisher. She will perform Rodrigo’s famous Concierto de Aranjuez with Burlington Symphony by the Bay and Cambridge Symphony Orchestra in the 2015-16 seaon.

Rush has been a prize winner at international music competitions (Great Lakes Guitar Festival and Competition, Columbus State International Competition), and was nominated for a YWCA Woman of Distinction Award for Arts and Culture . She is the only artist to have received three City of Hamilton Arts Awards (as Established Artist in Music, in Arts Education, Arts Administration categories).
Folklórica, Rush’s much-anticipated debut CD, was released in the fall of 2014. The CD showcases a global classical guitar repertoire that draws inspiration from folk legend and traditional music harmonies; programmatic selections that evoke culturally diverse narratives.

Rush completed her post-graduate studies at the Hochshule für Musik in Detmold, Germany, following an honors Bachelor of Music degree from Dalhousie University in Halifax, NS. Her faculty appointments at Mohawk College and Redeemer University College serve to not only stimulate an increasing number of students in developing classical guitar skills, but also to integrate them in the community ‘entity’ she inspired – Guitar Hamilton.

She is the Founder and Artistic Director of the Guitar Hamilton concert series that includes the Hamilton International Guitar Festival. This year, the Festival celebrates its 5-year anniversary. The Festival brings together classical guitar enthusiasts (students and a widespread community) to appreciate world-renowned artists for a 3-day celebration of master classes, musicians/artists-in-concert, guitar makers, and lecturers.