Canadian mezzo-soprano Catherine Daniel observes that there is a persistent lack of representation and awareness of diversity within the classical music industry. In her view, composers outside the traditional canon are still often overlooked. “We have been slowly discovering that there are composers of different backgrounds composing in this [classical] style, but the full impact…

“My song Migrant Voices came to me a few years ago as if it was whispering in the wind. Its unique melody seemed to migrate through the air, carried by the flow of immigrants across our world, laden with their hopes, fears and dreams,” notes composer and instrumentalist Itamar Erez, describing his creative process. Performing Migrant Voices and other…

For over a decade, Vancouver’s Gamelan Bike Bike has been blending the traditional sounds of Indonesian gamelan music with local, sustainable innovation. The group, known for crafting instruments from metal scrap bins in the city, is gearing up for their album release concert – a unique interdisciplinary event that draws from music, dance and textile…

Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and artist Dobet Gnahoré has had music and art coursing through her veins from the very beginning. After growing up in an artist’s village in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghanoré spent the last 25 years creating and sharing original music, which is diversely influenced by a range of new and old African…

The Naadaleela Ensemble will be pushing the boundaries of music at the Taiwanese Canadian Cultural Festival. “It’s all brand-new music that no one has ever made before,” says Naadaleela ensemble percussionist and composer Curtis Andrews. “So, when you come to see our group, you’re going to hear and see something that doesn’t exist anywhere else.”.…

A rich world of francophone music and culture will be on full display at the 35th annual Festival d’été, or Francophone Summer Festival. This year’s festival features the music of Ottoman Splendours, a group that celebrates culturally diverse styles and forms. “We believe that the programming we are offering you is a beautiful array, coloured…

The stories of Anatolia will be on full musical display this month as the Turkish-Canadian Society’ Choir Ensemble takes the stage for their major annual concert. The 30-member choir will be led by conductor Sevgi Dogan and accompanied by a dozen musicians, as they look to share a variety of folk and classical songs whose…

Drawing from the oeuvre of the Filipino composer José Maceda, the Vancouver-based non-profit Western Front invites the public to gather for a rare event: the opportunity to create a work of musical art communally. It will present a musical workshop on April 27 at the Roundhouse Community Arts and Recreation Centre where registered participants will…

Over the last 20 years, DakhaBrakha has established itself globally as a unique artistic force, bringing some of Ukraine’s most stylish and fantastical music to the world stage. But more recently, the group has used their international fame to help raise awareness about Russia’s invasion of their country, with their Tour for Ukraine project. This…

The diversity of traditional Acadian music is vast and exciting, and Vishtèn Connexions looks forward to showcasing classic pieces with their own creative nuances. The Acadian multi-instrumentalist duo celebrates the vibrancy of francophone culture at Festival Du Bois, which takes places March 8 to 10. “Our passion for our roots has always been a driving…

Promoting awareness and understanding of the history of Black communities in Vancouver is what inspires Brandon Thornhill. Ebony Roots (part two), with Thornhill as the show’s producer and vocalist, is a curated musical display of Black history in Vancouver. The concert, to be performed at the Yaletown Roundhouse Performance Centre on Feb. 9, takes attendees…

“We all love to be happy, we don’t want to be suffering,” says Tibetan singer Yunchen Lhamo. Lhamo showcases her values of healing and of joy with her upcoming spiritual-inspired performance. “I think, collectively, we can heal and we can send love to the world,” Lhamo says, about her upcoming shows. Lhamo has seen solid…