Mediterranean Landscapes

With his innate musicianship, gift for communication, and irresistibly joyous spirit, conductor Rafael Payare is Music and Artistic Director of both Canada’s Orchestre symphonique de Montréal (OSM) and California’s San Diego Symphony (SDSO), as well as Principal Conductor of Virginia’s Castleton Festival and Conductor Laureate of Northern Ireland’s Ulster Orchestra. Payare is celebrated for his expertise in late Romantic repertoire while also cultivating the next generation of composers with regular commissions and performances of new works. A veteran of Venezuela’s El Sistema program – in which he began playing horn at the age of 14 – and 2012 first prize winner at Denmark’s Malko Competition for Young Conductors, Payare remains dedicated to inspiring younger musicians, regularly working with youth orchestras and establishing mentorship programs like El Sistema OSM and the SDSO Conducting Fellowship. Payare resides in San Diego and Montreal with his wife, acclaimed cellist Alisa Weilerstein, and their two young children.

Created in March 2021, in Montreal, by Allison Migeon (General Manager) and Brandyn Lewis (Artistic Director), Ensemble Obiora is the first Canadian classical music ensemble, composed essentially of professional musicians from culturally diverse backgrounds. Ensemble Obiora’s mission is to promote musicians from different cultural backgrounds in order to increase their representation on the classical music scene, and to program works by composers from different origins whose music is little known or little considered.

Founded on the 3D principle – Diversity, Discovery and Diffusion – Ensemble Obiora’s ambition is to breathe new life and diversity into classical music in Canada, to create a sense of belonging within hitherto under-represented communities, and to inspire the next generation of classical musicians.

Joseph Tawadros is one of the world’s leading oud performers and composers, his style of playing fuses the Arabic Maqam system with western jazz and improvisation. His drive to push musical boundaries has led to collaborations with renowned performers including Kate Miller-Heidke, Katie Noonan, Zakir Hussain, Sultan Khan, John Patitucci, Jack DeJohnette and Richard Bona. He has recorded 14 albums and is known for his brilliant technique, deep musicianship and joyous style of performance as well as his solid repertoire of innovative, original music. Joseph tours extensively regularly headlining across Europe, America, Asia and the Middle East.

Joseph Tawadros is acknowledged for expanding the oud’s notoriety in mainstream western culture and he’s also received recognition in the Arab world, appearing on the judging panel of the Damascus International Oud competition in 2009, and taking part in Istanbul’s first Oud festival in 2010.

In June 2023, Joseph released his 20th studio recording, ä solo album “To Those Who Came Before Us”. Drawing upon the ancient music tradition of taqasim, Joseph attempts a soulful meditative hour long improvisation in this tradition. After 20 albums, this will be the greatest feat of solo creativity, a long extended solo work using the Arabic madam system and the other influences picked up in his 20 year recording career.