Toronto-based Nagata Shachu has enthralled audiences with their mesmerizing and heart-pounding performances of the Japanese drum (taiko) since 1998. The group has toured widely throughout Canada, the U.S., and Italy, and has performed at major engagements in both Lebanon and Mexico. While rooted in the folk drumming traditions of Japan, the ensemble’s principal aim is to rejuvenate this ancient artform by producing innovative and exciting music that seeks to create a new voice for the taiko.

AG Dance Fitness is an emerging dance company based in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Their dynamic classes combine high-intensity Bollywood-style workouts with elements of jazz, hip-hop, and traditional Indian classical dance. With studios conveniently located in Milton and Brampton, they have welcomed over 100 enthusiastic members who are reaping the stress-relieving benefits of their classes, led by lead Instructor AnupamZ, who has over 10 years of experience in the dance industry.

Alpha Rhythm Roots, is comprised of the group’s founder, Alpha, and percussionists Derek Thorne, Walter MacLean, and multiple other artists. Together,  they regularly perform at numerous events across the country. Alpha Rhythm Roots also hosts workshops, percussion classes, and more with the goal of bringing the traditional music, dance, and culture of Guinea and West Africa to Canada and beyond.

Combining elements of Western classical music, jazz, funk, and blues with South Asian classical and folk traditions, Running Rivers combines unique colours, moods, and resonance from their varied palettes of expression and experience. Running Rivers’ unique sound is rooted in understanding, humility, insignificance, and a celebration of the collective human experience.

Toronto-based band Kazdoura fuzes nostalgia and reinvention in their modern interpretation of Arabic music. Their style is a cross-cultural blend of Eastern and Western music that combines old-world Arabic classics with jazz, funk, electro-pop, and disco. This project was founded in the summer of 2020, quickly finding success online, where their videos have collected more than 3 million views on Tik Tok. In June 2022, Kazdoura released their debut EP “Wain,” which received support from the Ontario Arts Council, CBC, Danny Hajjar’s popular Sa’alouni El Nas Substack, and featured on Habibi Funk’s popular Spotify playlist.

The Band of The Royal Regiment of Canada is based at Fort York in Toronto and has a continuous tradition reaching back to 1863, making it the oldest permanently formed military band in Canada. A decree by Queen Victoria authorized the Regiment to wear the distinctive scarlet uniform and bearskin cap of the “Guards” on all ceremonial occasions. The Band appears at various functions across Canada and internationally. The Band is under the musical direction of Captain Kevin Anderson, CD, Director of Music and is led on parade by Drum Major Steven Yasinsky.

The Band performs by kind permission of Lieutenant-Colonel Peter Martinis, MB, CD, Commanding Officer.

PASSARIM celebrates the art of Brazilian composer Antonio Carlos Jobim, the creator of Bossa Nova, in a classy and modern tribute, framed through carefully adapted arrangements using synthesizers, vocal effects, and electric guitars. The project started in 2017, celebrating the 30th anniversary of Jobim’s first gold album Passarim (1987). In their first international tour, the group will perform in Toronto, Montreal, and Ottawa, as well as the maritime provinces of New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.

Elvine Assouline dedicated most of his life to empowering and entertaining kids through magic and leadership programs. He has successfully organized hundreds of private events, such as birthday parties and weddings as well as corporate events like holiday celebrations and family days. After relocating to a new continent, Elvine brings a unique French touch with a bit of “je ne sais quoi” to Toronto, making his events extra special.

Born on the streets of Toronto in 2017, Big Smoke Brass is a leading voice in the Canadian brass landscape. With hundreds of performances under their belt, the band is equally comfortable on the streets, in clubs, at events, at festivals, or on the road. Their polished, high-energy sound is unmistakable and has captivated audiences all over, leading to numerous web and television appearances, shows alongside international artists, and a growing discography of original music and videos. The band maintains a busy performance schedule throughout the year, all while endeavouring to spread positivity and foster community with their listeners and the next generation of musicians.

Violinist and music producer, Tina Sol, blends classical finesse with contemporary cadence. Despite her rigorous training at the Royal Conservatory of Music, her radical creative journey was ignited by the sonics of 90s and 2000s Hip-Hop and R&B. From being a session violinist skilled in multiple genres and creating elegant string arrangements to performing on concert and festival stages, her rebellious artistry echoes a daring invitation: to explore, embrace, and reimagine the symphony of your craft.

Rahaf is a singer, social worker, and community builder from Syria. Since arriving in Canada in 2016, she has actively participated in programs with various organizations in the GTA. She founded the Haneen Women Choir, she has completed herMA in Humanities York University, Rahaf is a choir member at the Canadian Arabic Orchestra. She is always striving to unite people through food, music, and culture.

A drummer and percussionist hailing from Portmore, Jamaica, Roshane Wright started playing percussion instruments at the age of six and has gone on to win numerous awards in his divisions. Wright fuses his musical Caribbean roots with jazz to create his own authentic sound. Roshane has been a freelance artist as well as a music educator, composer, arranger and band leader.