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“That sound just grabbed me… She’s a virtuoso!” – Victor Wooten

Passionately creative and creatively passionate, Alyssa Wright is a Canadian cellist, vocalist, songwriter, composer, educator, writer, activist, advocate, and occasional rant-er. After spending her first three decades in Toronto, she is currently based in Barrie, Ontario.

“The best thing in a woman’s voice since Ruthie Foster or Serena Ryder” – David Zub

In addition to her solo performance, Alyssa is currently working on a program of “lost” music by female composers with pianist Sandra Ruttan, explores the world of classical music and beyond in the musical fusion collaborative Frizzen Spring she leads with pianist/organist Marilyn Reesor, plays with Celtic band Pagan’s Folly, and is Ontario folk music’s “go-to-it” girl for cello studio and session work.

She’s played in a rock band, sung in a barbershop quartet, flirted with electronica, jazz, various “world music” and whatever new sounds tickle her fancy. She has played festivals and venues from Cape Breton to Vancouver Island, including Massey Hall, Hugh’s Room, The Carleton, Harbourfront Centre and Molson Amphitheatre, and has appeared on gazillions of commercial recordings (she admits to having lost count some time ago).

“An amazingly talented musician… sweet, sweet cello… has brought a tear to my eye many times.” – Mose Scarlett

Recent highlights include performing with Grammy Award-winning bassist Victor Wooten, and performing a co-written song with multi-award-winning acoustic blues singer-songwriter Eric Bibb. (Yes, she can die now – but hopefully she won’t, and there will be many more highlights to come!) And, in the vein of “it’s not art until you scare yourself a bit”, in March, 2017, Alyssa ventured into theatre with her one-woman show (plus musical friends Leslie Arden and Ray Dillard) “Music for the Changing Voice” – a journey in song and story about growing up in her grandfather’s shadow, finding her own voice, and turning even the most broken bits into art. This show made its professional debut as part of Talk Is Free Theatre’s 2018-19 season.

“Fiercely talented! …triumphant feats of talent, passion, and genuine honesty.” – Broadway World

When not performing, Alyssa teaches cello and music workshops, runs music publicity company Take Note! Promotion, presents a house concert series, and is in the process of bringing the Katie Project to life “giving a voice to the voiceless – using music to promote awareness of and healing from childhood sexual abuse.” She also teaches cello, voice, ensemble work and improvisation, and gives music and creativity workshops throughout Ontario.

Occasionally, she has a nap.

But only occasionally…

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Alan Hetherington’s performing experience spans many of the musical genres in the west where percussion can be found today. He has performed widely in North and South America and the Caribbean: Cumbia in Colombia, the Joropo tradition (maracas) in Venezuela, Afro-Peruvian music in Lima, Peru, Cuban folkloric music in Havana, and today specializes in the many musical styles of Brazil. His extensive background has allowed him to perform in a variety of musical settings including with The Toronto Symphony, The Vancouver Symphony, John Wyre and World Drums, Nexus, Hermeto Pascoal, Guinga, Andrea Bocelli, David Foster, Michael Bublé, Trichy Sankaran,, Evergreen Club Gamelan, The Canadian Opera Company, Peter Erskine, Glen Velez, Filó Machado, Celso Machado, and Henrique Cazes, among others. He was a member of Ravi Naimpally’s critically acclaimed Indo-Jazz ensemble, Tasa, which has toured North America, Europe and Japan, and recorded 5 cd’s. He has also performed and recorded with many accomplished Canadian vocal artists such as Lenka Lichtenberg, Maryem Tollar, Sophie Milman, Carol Welsman, Emily-Claire Barlow, Melissa Stylianou and Kiran Ahluwalia. He has made numerous recordings for television and film and has toured with ensembles or as a solo artist throughout Europe, North and South America and Asia. A Canadian born drummer/percussionist, he holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of British Columbia where he studied with John Rudolph, and a Masters Degree in Percussion Performance from the University of Toronto under Russell Hartenberger.Since 1989 Alan has spent Canadian winters in São Paulo and Rio de janeiro Brazil, performing with Sombra e Agua Fresca, Bell Brasil, Carlos do Cavaco, Chocolatte da Vila Maria, Henrique Cazes, and Filó Machado. Alan has been a devotee of the samba school tradition of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo since 1990, performing with some of the largest and most exciting percussion ensembles (baterias) in the world. He has studied and performed with great masters including Mestre Serjão from the Escola de Samba Arco Iris and Leões da Hortolândia de Jundiaí, Mestre Sombra from Mocidade Alegre, Mestre Odilon from Acadêmicos do Grande Rio, Mestre Celinho from Unidos da Tijuca, Mestre Beto from Imperatriz Leopoldinense, and Mestre Paulão from Beija-Flor. Alan is the founder and Director of Toronto’s own Escola de Samba de Toronto, teaches a course in Brazilian bateria at The Royal Conservatory of Music, and has traveled throughout Canada, the United States and Japan teaching the tradition. Alan’s Escola de Samba de Toronto toured Brazil in 2008, 2011 and 2016 to high acclaim, and today the ensemble is considered one of Canada’s principal cultural links to Brazil. Alan’s Brazilian musical life is the subject of filmmaker Avi Lev’s feature documentary, We Are Samba.In 2001 Alan founded the collective, Samba Toronto, together with the creative spirits of his Brazilian colleagues and in 2006 formed the band Sambacana. Their first CD, Nós, was released in 2009.His most recent recording, A Fantástica Bateria de Alan Hetherington and Chocollatte, recorded in São Paulo and Toronto, is a percussion tour de force that mixes traditional and contemporary idioms.Also of note is Alan’s role as producer, co-musical director and performer with 2018 American Folk Music Award winning artist Lenka Lichtenberg; releasing 3 CD’s together, including the latest, Embrace.In 2016, 2017 and 2018 Alan brought artists from Brazil such as Filó Machado and Henrique Cazes to perform in Canadian festivals with Canadian sidemen. He is presently devoting his time towards producing new Canadian-Brazilian joint musical projects.Alan is a Sonor Drums and Contemporânea Instrumentos Musicais endorser. https://www.afantasticabateria.com/alan www.sambatoronto.ca www.wearesamba.com

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Howard Moore is a classically trained musician specializing in improvised solo and ensemble trumpet, vocals, and keyboard across multiple genres, including jazz. He studied at York University, University of Toronto, and the Royal Conservatory of Music. With over 35 years of experience, Howard is an actively touring and recording musician, featuring on over 200 studio albums in performance and supervisory roles. His professional designations include band leader, producer, music consultant, arranger, and music contractor. He is also seasoned in television broadcast media, having contributed to the NHL Awards, Juno Awards, Genie Awards, Gemini Awards, and Canadian Idol (2005-2008).Howard’s expertise spans Reggae, Blues, Jazz, and R&B, making him a versatile and sought-after studio musician and live performer. Notable collaborations include artists like Buju Banton, Beenie Man, Ken Boothe, and Dennis Brown, as well as bands like The Maple Blues Band and The Hogtown Allstars.In television, Howard has worked with international artists such as Paul Anka, Tony Bennett, Johnny Rawls, Downchild Blues Band, Sue Foley, Colin James, Colin Linden, and Martin Short. His supervisory roles include BRAVO’s “The Jazz Man,” Disney’s “In a Heartbeat,” “In My Father’s Shoes” starring Lou Gossett Jr., and “Jacob Two-Two Meets the Hooded Fang” starring Gary Busey and Ice-T.

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Rhythm and Blues as well as Reggae bassistJuno nominated and award winning bassistAward winning song writer

Violinist/Violist Catherine Molina enjoys an exciting, multi-faceted career, as a performer, pedagogue, and arts administrator.Catherine is the Director of Open Strings Music Studio, a Senior Theory Examiner with the Royal Conservatory of Music, College of Examiners, and a member of the Association of Canadian Women Composers.Currently the principal violist of the Guelph Symphony Orchestra, Catherine has also been a principal player in the Thunder Bay Symphony and the Toronto Sinfonietta.Ms. Molina is a performance graduate of both the University of Toronto and the Royal Conservatory of Music. She continued her studies at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria and in Assisi, Italy, at the Academia Ottorino Respighi.

Danny Scott brings the rock with his classic gravel tenor in the purest rock n’roll traditions of Rod Stewart, Bob Segar and Bruce Springsteen.As a songwriter/performer, Danny signed a U.S. Recording contract with Herb Alpert’s label, A&M/Universal resulting in thehit songs “Habits of the Heart” & “It’s Just Emotion” (which continue to get generous play on Canadian AOR radio).Danny has recorded with and performed alongside some of Canada’sgreatest musical talents including The Spoons (Gordon Deppe), Glass Tiger (Alan Connelly)and Rob Preuss (Associate Musical Director – Mama Mia / New York).His compositions are included in episodes of the hit TV series Degrassi.Danny’s distinctive voice, sense of humour and infectious stage charm endear audiences towards himevery time he graces the stage.

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For over 30 years, two-time Juno Award winning pianist/composer Andy Milne has demonstrated boundless versatility, collaborating with artists spanning multiple genres. A fearless improviser and respected voice at the heart of New York’s creative jazz scene, he has recorded and toured throughout the world with Ravi Coltrane, Ralph Alessi, Carlos Ward, Carla Cook and Steve Coleman, and has collaborated with a range of artists including Andrew Cyrille, Sekou Sundiata, Avery Brooks, Bruce Cockburn, Fred Hersch, Ben Monder, Dianne Reeves, Jen Shyu and Tyshawn Sorey.Milne has also scored films, including seven Star Trek themed documentaries for acclaimed actor/director William Shatner and the recent CBC Television series “Black Life: Untold Stories”. He has released 12 recordings as a leader or co-leader, is a Yamaha Artist and a full-time assistant professor of music at The University of Michigan. Milne has received numerous awards and commissions, including the prestigious Civitella Fellowship in Italy.

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