Performer Bios

Ricker Choi - Pianist, Artist, Composer

Ricker Choi’s (www.rickerchoi.com) career is in financial risk management.  He began studying the piano at 13, after his family immigrated to Canada from Hong Kong.  Having earned the ARCT Diploma in Piano Performance at 18, Ricker enrolled in York University’s Schulich School of Business, where he earned BBA and MBA degrees.  He is also a certified Chartered Financial Analyst and Financial Risk Manager.

Ricker’s art and piano composition “Hong Kong Rhapsody” (香港狂想曲) has been labeled by the Chinese Communist Party as “separatist art and music”, and on 04-20-2022 文匯報Wen Hui Bao, a Chinese state-funded media, accused him of infringing the National Security Law. 
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He is a prolific artist and his protest art has been exhibited in Hong Kong, New York, London UK, Toronto, Dublin, Tokyo and Prague.  An award-winning pianist, Ricker has performed in festivals and recitals in Toronto and internationally.  Ricker has won numerous awards, including 2nd prize from Berlin Int'l Amateur Piano Competition (2010) and 3rd prize from Concours International de Grands Amateurs de Piano (2012).  His most memorable performances were at the Berlin Philharmonie’s 2500 seat Großer Saal and at Paris' 1000 seat Salle Gaveau.

Karen Kobayashi - Flautist, Composer, Arranger

Karen Kobayashi, aged 15, currently studies flute in the studio of Susan Hoeppner at the Phil and Eli Taylor Performance Academy for Young Artists.  

Japanese-born Karen started to play flute at age 8 at her school in Thailand, and began taking private lessons when her family moved to Chicago, USA. Her previous teachers include Hideko Amano and Louis Papachristos. Most recently, Karen was awarded at the 2024 CanAmerican Flute Symposium Solo Artist Competition, The Oakville Chamber Orchestra Youth Concerto Competition, the Taylor Academy Concerto Competition, the 2023 North York Concert Orchestra Youth Concerto Competition, the MOYSE International Flute Competition, the 2022 Walgreens National Concerto Competition, the Society of American Musicians Competition, and the Chicago Flute Club Student Competition. During the 2024-25 season, Karen will perform as a soloist with the Oakville Chamber Orchestra and the Cathedral Bluffs Symphony Orchestra.

She is a former member of the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra (CYSO), and the Toronto Youth Wind Orchestra (TYWO). Karen has performed in masterclasses with Denis Bluteau, Joanna G’froerer, Demarre McGill, Jonathan Keeble, and Nancy Stagnitta. In 2023, Karen performed at Carnegie Hall as a first place winner of the American Protégé International Music Talent Competition and also played on the “Introduction“ of WMFT, Chicago’s classical music radio station.

​Outside of music, Karen enjoys reading, cooking new recipes, and gazing at constellations.

Sora Sato-Mound - Violinist, Pianist, Composer, Arranger

Sora studies the violin with Professor Atis Bankas at the Phil and Eli Taylor Performance Academy for Young Artists of the Royal Conservatory of Music on a full  scholarship.

Most recently, Sora won 1st prize at the 21st International G. Ph. Telemann Violin Competition in Poland. In addition, he won the first place in the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra Concerto Competition in 2023, and he will have the honor of performing as a soloist with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in its 2024-2025  season. Previously, Sora has been a prize winner of: OYMI, the North York Concert Orchestra Concerto Competition; the Kocian International Violin Competition, the  Czech Republic; the Vienna International Music Competition; the Unionville Music  Competition; ENKOR International Violin Competition; the Oakville Chamber  Orchestra Youth Concerto Competition; and the Taylor Academy Concerto  Competition. He performed as a soloist with North York Concert Orchestra, Oakville Chamber Orchestra, Glen Gould School Chamber Orchestra, Canadian Sinfonietta, and Gould Strings Quartette.

​Sora is a passionate young composer: his arrangement of Myroslav Skoryk’s Hutsul Triptych for Symphony Orchestra for three violins was premiered in Niagara on the Lake in the summer of 2023 to a critical acclaim. Sora is a grade nine student in the gifted program at the Western Technical-Commercial School in Toronto. 

Sean Sutherland - Pianist, Composer, Arranger, Percussionist

​Born in St. Vincent and The Grenadines, Sean Sutherland serendipitously discovered the piano as a child and was instantly enamored. At 15, Sean was offered a scholarship to study piano at one of the Royal Schools of Music in the United Kingdom but had to decline under strong parental directive, as he had not yet completed high school. Even though his opportunities for studying piano were limited in St. Vincent, Sean remained active training choirs and accompanying singers and instrumentalists. Upon his arrival at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he resumed his piano studies while earning a bachelor’s degree in Music, and bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.
 
After working in several industries, Sean pursued an MBA at McGill University in Montréal. Following this degree, he started a niche tutorial service that specialized in standardized test preparation (SAT, ACT, SSAT, and GMAT) and lectured at McGill as an adjunct professor of international finance and information systems. Given his interest in education, Sean completed a master’s degree focused on Learning and Design Technologies at Stanford University in 2017, following which he moved to Toronto where he works as a Product Manager. 
 
Over the years, Sean has continued to pursue his passion for classical piano music as a pianist and has performed solo recitals across Canada, Dallas USA, Germany, and throughout the Caribbean. Sean has also collaborated with many instrumentalists and singers and has a keen interest in performing classical music on the steelpan. This work includes transcribing classical works for steel orchestra and performing Tchaikovsky’s First Piano Concerto as a soloist with the National Steel (Steelpan) Symphony Orchestra of Trinidad and Tobago in 2011. Sean has appeared with traditional symphony orchestras, including the National Sinfornia of Trinidad and Tobago, Las Colinas Symphony, Fort Worth Symphony, and the International Symphony Orchestra, with whom he played Gershwin’s Concerto in F and Rhapsody in Blue over two nights in October 2023.
 
Sean has competed creditably on the amateur piano circuit, a journey that began with him getting to the semifinals of the 2016 Van Cliburn Amateur Piano Competition in Fort Worth. Sean was a prize winner at the 2022 Van Cliburn Amateur Piano Competition and won the 2021 Chopin Amateur Piano Competition in Warsaw, Poland. Sean’s contribution to music in the Caribbean was regionally recognized when he became the recipient of the 2021 Anthony Sabga Caribbean Award for Excellence in the Arts and Letters. Most recently, Sean was invited to play an opening recital at the 2024 Warsaw Chopin Amateur Piano Competition.

George Elliot Clarke - Poet Laureate, Parliamentary Poet Laureate, U of T Professor of English

The 4th Poet Laureate of Toronto (2012-15) and the 7th Parliamentary/Canadian Poet Laureate (2016-17), George Elliott Clarke was born in Windsor, Nova Scotia, in 1960.  A professor of English at the University of Toronto, Clarke has also taught at Duke, McGill, UBC, and Harvard. His recognitions include the Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Centre Fellowship (US), the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Fellows Prize, the Governor-General’s Award for Poetry, the National Magazine Gold Award for Poetry, the Premiul Poesis (Romania), the Eric Hoffer Book Award for Poetry (US), and International Fellow Poet of the Year, Encyclopedic Poetry School [2019] (China).  His acclaimed titles include Whylah Falls (1990, translated into Chinese), Beatrice Chancy (1999, translated into Italian), Execution Poems (2001), Blues and Bliss (selected poems, 2009), I & I (2008), Illicit Sonnets (U.K., 2013), Traverse (2015), and Canticles II (MMXX) (2020).  Since 1983, he has published some 25 volumes of poetry.

Usha - Vocalist

Born and raised in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Usha’s love for singing and theatre began at a young age, commencing her vocal education in her native land, through the affiliated Royal and Trinity College Schools of Music, London, England.  After immigrating to Canada, she pursued her Vocal development through The Royal Conservatory of Music and Voice Performance, Faculty of Music, U of T under the tutelage of Dr. Darryl Edwards.  As Toronto is home, she enjoys her work as Senior Library Assistant with the Toronto Public Library and continues her passion for singing, performing and collaborating with musicians, poets and authors – she was a featured artist with “5 Poets Breaking Into Song #7 in 2022.  

​Usha is also passionate about her work with young people on the Autism spectrum – using Music and Movement to bring out the very best in them!  Usha is an aspiring member of COSA Canada (Centre for Opera Studies and Appreciation) opening their 2022-2023 Season live productions; “Usha” – The Music of my Life – a solo recital, followed by lead roles in Gilbert and Sullivan’s operas; The Pirates of Penzance (as Ruth) with the Cobourg Symphony, later in Lakefield, Peterborough and Port Perry and H.M.S Pinafore (as Buttercup) in collaboration with Symphony In The Barn at The Saugeen Opera Festival, Hanover. Last Spring and Summer (2023), Usha was a soloist with Tapestry Opera’s Songbook XII concert series and also had the opportunity to perform three lead voices in the premiere of Norbert Palej’s opera, “The Art of Love” at the Summer Vocal Intensive Program at Mount Allison University, New Brunswick.

Meghan Butcher - Pianist

​Meghan Butcher grew up as an interdisciplinary artist and strives to remain as versatile as she can. With a BMus in classical piano from the University of Toronto, Meg has been immersed in music theatre, art song and dance accompanying as as her main areas of interest, and is also frequently featured in small corners of Toronto’s poetry scene. Described as a sensitive and expressive collaborator, Meg continues to hone her craft and share art with others by any means possible. 

Antonia Facciponte - Poet

​Antonia Facciponte received her MA in English Literature and Creative Writing from the University of Toronto. Her first collection of poetry, titled To Make a Bridge, was published by Black Moss Press in 2021, and her story “Lilla” recently won first place in The South Shore Review’s flash fiction contest.  She plans to pursue further graduate work, including perhaps a doctorate, in Creative Writing.

Giovanna Riccio - Poet

​A prize-winning poet and teacher who thrives on scholarly pursuits, Giovanna Riccio was born in Calabria, Italy, and immigrated to Canada as a child. She is a graduate of the University of Toronto, where she majored in philosophy. Giovanna is the author of Vittorio (Lyricalmyrical Press, 2010) Strong Bread (Quattro Books, 2011), and Plastic’s Republic (Guernica Editions, 2019) which was a finalist for the 2022 Bressani Prize.  Her poems have appeared in national and international publications, numerous anthologies and have been translated into six languages. Website and contact: giovannariccio.com

Gloria Maxx - Marketer, Social Entrepreneur, Artist, Writer, Emerging Poet

​Gloria Maxx is a multi-platform marketer by profession, a social entrepreneur with a rZilient™ journey by purpose, a self-sabotaging writer by passion, a ‘WordStract’™ artist by need, and childhood trauma survivor living and learning to thrive with PTSD by fate.  

Gloria’s twenty-five-year social entrepreneurial start-up journey (Millenniumhope, She-Commerce, HeartEsteem, Goodness Magazine... to name a few) took her from Toronto to Montreal, to New York, to San Francisco to Rome, to Dubai, and Mexico City and San Francisco returning home to Toronto in 2018 “homeless.” Armed only with courage, a broken spirit, and a broken credit rating, she gratefully began living in a transitional home for women on the mental health continuum when she decided NOT to give up, and ShelterCHEF™ and "rZilient" were born.  In 2024, at 57, she is still overcoming mental health challenges - facing (elitist) STIGMA head ON - and rebuilding her life with the help of CAMH and the Women’s College Hospital Trauma Therapy Program.

Gloria is a two-time university dropout. The Varsity Univerity of Toronto’s student paper published her first story when she was 19 in the first 1986 edition of the school year called “Farewell to a Land of Jellybeans”. Three months and six published articles later, she dropped out due to mental health reasons.   The following year, she applied to and was accepted into York University’s prestigious Creative Writing Program. She attended one lecture, froze in self-sabotaging fear, and never went back – being 100 lbs overweight had something to do with that.  
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On September 24, 2024, she will launch rZilient, Inc., a 'Lived Xperience' goodness incubator/VC fund with a mission to become a "power of story-telling unicorn” one day, and its sister non-profit heARTivism, Inc., with “her” mission to share the stories and heARTS of activists past and present who support the mental health inclusion of all other artists openly—without elitist stigma—as equals in all human art forms, including sports, for everyone is HUMAN LIKE US. 

Yeshim Ternar - Poet

​Yeshim Ternar was born in Istanbul, Turkey in 1956. She has a Ph.D. in cultural anthropology from McGill University. Yeshim lived in Montreal, Canada between 1980 and 2000.  She has published 2 short story collections: Orphaned by Halley’s Comet and True Romance with a Sailor; a book of historical non-fiction, The Book & The Veil and a historical novel, Rembrandt’s Model.  The excerpts that broke into song are from The Book & The Veil, Escape from an Istanbul Harem, Vehicule Press, 1994.  Since her retirement in 2018, Yeshim Ternar has been living in Las Vegas, New Mexico, USA, and quietly working on her spiritual autobiography. 

Andrea Thompson - Poet

​Andrea Thompson is a poet, novelist and spoken word artist who has been sharing her work for over twenty-five years. Her recent collection, A Selected History of Soul Speak, was listed for the Pat Lowther, Raymond Souster and Robert Kroetsch awards, and she is the recipient of the 2021 Pavlick Poetry Prize. Andrea currently teaches creative writing through the University of Toronto’s department of English and Drama, where she created U of T’s first spoken word course. Her recent album, The Good Word, is an exploration Black history and faith. 

H. Eleni Zisimatos - Poet

​H. Eleni Zisimatos was born and raised in Montreal/Tiohtià:ke. Her work has been widely published and she has been a finalist for several prestigious awards.  She is one of the founders of Vallum Poetry (www.vallummag.com) and has worked as an editor since 2000.  She looks forward to more peaceful times, and to philosophical studies.

Nevawn Patrick - Composer, Percussionist

​Nevawn Patrick, BMus, CD from Ajax, Ontario, is a classically trained trombonist graduating from the University of Toronto.  In 1996, he joined the Canadian Armed Forces becoming a member of the Stadacona Band in Halifax in 2004.  Since moving to Halifax, He has performed with several local groups including Symphony Nova Scotia.  His debut as a composer came in 2021 with ‘For My Country’ – inspired by the No. 2 Construction Battalion, Canada’s only Black Battalion.  For this, Nevawn was presented with the Commander of the Canadian Army Commendation and QEII Platinum Jubilee Medal.  Nevawn lives in Halifax with his wife Michelle, who remains his greatest source of motivation, encouragement and support.

James Rolfe - Composer, Musician

​Composer James Rolfe’s music has been commissioned and performed by ensembles, orchestras, choirs, and opera companies in Canada and abroad, and recognized with a Guggenheim Fellowship, a Jules Léger Prize, and Dora and JUNO Award nominations. His recently released CD, Wound Turned to Light: New Songs, is based on songs commissioned by GEC, with whom he collaborated to produce their highly acclaimed opera, Beatrice Chancy.

Juliet Palmer - Composer, Musician

Juliet Palmer’s music has found its way to a highway off-ramp, a swimming pool, a boxing ring and to concert halls across North America, Europe and Oceania. From Aotearoa / New Zealand, Juliet makes her home in Tkaronto., where she is the artistic director of Urbanvessel, a platform for interdisciplinary collaboration.  She’s been described as a “post-modernist with a conscience” (The Listener), whose work “crosses so many genres as to be in a category of its own” (Toronto Star). Her most recent CD is Rivers.

Fabia-De'on Fulsom - Pianist, Music Teacher

Originally from Nova Scotia, pianist Fabian-De’on Fulsom, now calls Toronto home.  He holds a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from Acadia University, as well a double BA in Pedagogy and Early Childhood Music Education from Wilfrid Laurier University.  He has studied with notable teachers including the late Boyanna Toyich (from the Royal Conservatory of Music), John Hansen  (from Acadia), and the renowned Lawrence Pitchko. Throughout his studies and abroad, he has participated in Masterclasses with international-calibre musicians such as Angela Hewitt, Jon Kimara Parker, Janina Fialkowska, James Anagnoson and the late Kendall Taylor to name a few.  Most recent highlights include being featured at the 2023 Toronto Summer Music Festival’s “Finale Gala Concert” held at the University of Toronto each summer, and as well placing 2nd at the 2023 Provincials (Ontario Music Festival Competition).  Alongside his performances, Fabian is also a dedicated pedagogue, currently teaching at Dixon Hall Music School in Regent Park Toronto, as well as maintaining his own private studio downtown. He is also an Advisory Council Member at the newly launched Avenue Road Music and Performance Academy in Toronto (a registered music charity, featuring the intimate Gordon Lightfoot Concert Hall). If you don’t find Fabian either performing or teaching, you can also find him in the recording studio where he is producing and recording his 3rd album.

Nathalie Tsoy - Pianist, Piano Teacher, Choir Conductor

Nathalie is a multi-faceted musician with 25 years of experience as a pianist, and piano teacher. Born in Uzbekistan, Nathalie is experienced music teacher steeped in classical traditions of Russian piano pedagogy. After acquiring Masters degree in conducting, Nathalie worked as music/piano teacher, choir conductor and MC at concert halls introducing classical music performance to the audience.

Nathalie is currently serving as a First Vice-Present of the Ontario Registered Music Teachers Association (ORMTA) Newmarket and area branch. Her lessons are never solely practiced on technique and musicality. She loves to share her knowledge of classical music history, always tells her students about the composers, their life stories and styles. Nathalie prepares students for music exams, competitions and festivals. She also believes that for young musicians, stage experience and opportunity to perform in public is equally important as daily piano practice.

Nathalie’s students successfully compete in piano competitions (solo and duet categories) and festivals, including the Ontario Registered Music Teachers Association (ORMTA), North York Music Festival, Unionville Music Festival and many others.

Karim Khakimov - Violinist, Pianist, Composer, Arranger

​Karim Khakimov won many awards at competitions and festivals across Canada, including a first prize at the OMFA Provincial Completion, Provincial and National gold medals for RCM Flute examinations in 2017, 2019 and 2020 and multiple first prizes in the North York Music Festival (NYMF) and Unionville Music Academy Competition (UMAC). From 2020 to 2023 Karim was a senior flute student at the Phil and Eli Taylor Performance Academy for Young Artists, where he studied under the renowned Canadian flautist Susan Hoeppner and continued learning music theory and history alongside. During this time, Karim was developing a passion for teaching music and mathematics, his other main interest.

Now, Karim has over 3 years of teaching experience. He is a second-year Mathematics Specialist student at the University of Toronto and continues teaching and tutoring alongside his studies. At Musical Arts Academy, he offers lessons in music theory and flute.

Salma Khakimov - Violinist, Pianist, Composer, Arranger

​Salma Khakimov (she/her) is an aspiring young musician who shows equal love and interest towards both the piano and the violin. She is a winner of multiple awards at provincial and national competitions since she was 5 years old.

In 2021, Salma participated in the Orchestra Metropolitaine OMNI Competition and won the Yannick Nézet–Séguin Prize, with a $2000 scholarship. In addition, she won 1st place at the Ontario Music Festivals Association (OMFA) provincials Gr. 10. During the Covid–19 pandemic, Salma and her brother Karim organized a series of online concerts and charity events that were livestreamed to friends and music lovers from all over the world.

In 2022 Salma became a semi–finalist in the International Classicalia competition, in Vienna, Austria. In the same year, Salma won two Canadian concerto competitions. Following that, she was awarded 3rd place in the CMC National Finals in Quebec City. Salma regularly performs at recitals, outreach concerts and local retirement homes. In 2019, Salma was accepted to the Phil and Eli Taylor Music Academy for Young Artists, and in 2021, she had been offered full scholarship tuition.

While Salma envisions that classical music will be weaved in her future professional life, her versatile interests include dancing, reading, painting and photography, and she constantly works on expanding her intellectual and spiritual horizons.

Dayou Kim - Pianist, Composer, Arranger

Dayou started her piano studies at the age of six. She studied piano at Music Prodigy Academy of Seoul Arts Centre and is currently studying under Michael Berkovsky on a full scholarship at The Taylor Academy at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, Canada.

Dayou has won numerous awards and scholarships, including 2022 The Taylor Academy Concerto Competition, 2021 Colburn School Piano Seminar Competition, 2021 Vancouver International Music Competition, 2021 Clara Schumann International Competition, 2021 Carles & Sofia Piano Competition, International Piano Competition Mozart, 2020 Young Ludwig Youth Music Competition in Germany, 2019 Korea-Asia Open Piano Competition, and 2018 Osaka International Music Competition in Japan.

Dayou performed Mozart Concerto with orchestra at Unveiling Celebration of the new Hamburg Steinway in Koerner Hall. The Globe and Mail interviewed Dayou and featured: The media referred her as a prodigy. She filmed and interviewed her performance to publicity for The Royal Conservatory of Music at Koerner Hall. She has performed as Young Artist Spotlight at 2022 Rockport Chamber Music Festival in MA, USA, Vaughan International Music Festival, and as a soloist with Orchestra Toronto at Meridian Arts Centre. She has also performed in numerous competition winners’ concerts. In addition, Dayou performed in “Lang Lang 101 Pianists” at Lotte Concert Hall in Seoul, South Korea.

Dayou has participated in master classes with Arie Vardi, Wha Kyung Byun, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Charles Richard-Hamelin, James Anagnoson, Michel Béroff, Alexander Mullenbach, and Attila Némethy. She participated in the 2021 Colburn School Piano seminar and the 2022 Morningside Music Bridge on a full scholarship at New England Conservatory in Boston, USA. In addition, she has been accepted to take part in Frost Chopin Academy on a scholarship in Miami, USA, and Morningside Music Bridge on a full scholarship this summer at New England Conservatory in Boston, USA.

Besides piano, Dayou loves reading, dancing, and exploring the art of mathematics.

Max Tian - Violinist, Pianist, Composer, Arranger

​Max Tian started piano with Dr. Michael Berkovsky at the age of four, and had his first debut with the Kindred Spirits Orchestra quintet at the International Music Festival and Competition Awards Ceremony. Currently, he is studying under pianist Alexander Panizza and mentored by Dr. Michael Berkovsky.

Max won his first prize at the 2016 CCC at the age of Five. He is the first prize winner at the Crescendo Piano Competition in 2020, and second prize at the VI Krystian Tkaczewski International Piano Competition. Max is the first prize winner of the Grade 8 OMFA Provincial Piano Competition at the age of eight. He is the second prize winner of the Napolinova International competition in 2021. He was awarded for the first prize of the IMFC Concerto Competition, and Max received a third place in the piano 10 years old category of Canadian Music Competition in 2022.

Max is now a grade 6 student in the gifted program at Zion Heights middle school.