Deborah Staiman

Originally a singer of the operatic and concert repertoire, Toronto born and raised, Deborah Staiman has sung in London, Israel, Canada and throughout the United States. After receiving a Bachelor of Music at the University of Toronto and opera studies in London, England and Rome, Deborah returned to school and received a Master of Sacred Music and ordination as a Cantor from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York. She has served congregations in New Jersey and Florida.

In 2002, Staiman returned to her familial roots in Toronto, after 27 years of international exposure to great teachers and performances. She brings this wealth of background and experience to her musical interpretations, being equally at home with Sacred music, Yiddish, Ladino, Hebrew and Broadway songs. Her CD "Mosaic" is a reflection of her musical journey. more

Reuven Grajner, Piano

Reuven Grajner is an award-winning Pianist/Singer/Composer/Arranger based in Toronto. Reuven performs and writes music in various styles including with his dream-pop trio Selfoss and a cappella quartet Yonge Guns. Reuven has performed, recorded, and toured extensively throughout Ontario, as well as USA, and Europe. Expanding his musical horizons, Reuven was selected as one of three jazz pianists into the Faculty of Music at the University of Toronto.

Asher Farber, Piano

Asher Farber is a freelance pianist, collaborator and teacher from Ottawa who pursues his interest in a broad range of musical styles, which includes opera, song, choral and Jewish Music. Asher has a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from the University of Ottawa and received a Masters of Music in Collaborative Piano Performance from the University of Toronto in 2014. During the summer of 2015 he worked with the Halifax Summer Opera Festival. He is active at the Miles Nadal Jewish Community Center where he accompanies the Daytime and Evening Community Choirs. He is also the musical director, pianist and co-founder of 'Toronto Opera Initiative'.

Mark Camilleri, Piano

Mark's theatre credits include Music Directing and performing in "Cats" (NuMu Productions), "The Toxic Avenger" (Dancap Productions), "Mamma Mia", "Dirty Dancing" (Mirvish Productions) "Cinderella" (Ross Petty Productions), "To Life" (HGJTC) "High School Musical" (Drayton Entertainment) and the World Premiere of "Queen for a Day" (April 30th Productions).

Mark has been the music director for many concerts including the "Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame Galas", "The Canadian Tenors PBS Special", "Canada Eh" with Steve Patterson (CBC) and has shared the stage with Il Divo, Celine Dion, Oprah Winfrey, Sting, Eric Clapton, Andrea Bocelli, Paul Anka, Sheryl Crow, Sarah McLachlan, Jeff Beck, David Foster, Annie Lennox, Audra McDonald, The Canadian Tenors, Herbie Hancock and most of the major symphony orchestras across Canada. Mark was also a featured pianist at the Pan-Am Games cultural concert and has toured as a Concert Artist for Yamaha Canada. In addition he was part of the creative team for both seasons of "Triple Sensation" (Produced by CBC/Garth Drabinsky).

Lenny Solomon, Violin

Lenny Solomon’s jazz violin virtuosity has been recognized throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. Called Canada’s premier jazz violinist, he has always explored new possibilities for the violin. Lenny’s career has evolved through the decades from his cutting edge rock violin featured in the Juno Award winning pop duo Myles and Lenny, to a more traditional sound with the pop string quintet Quintessence. He is a popular and versatile studio musician playing on hundreds of recordings and soundtracks. Lenny’s hit international show, Bowfire, composed of 10 virtuoso string players, made its debut performance at Expo 2000 in Hannover, Germany. Lenny’s most recent release is The Blues Violin, a collection of original Blues tunes in a variety of settings.

Jessica Deutsch, Violin

Jessica Hana Deutsch is a multi-style violinist/fiddler in Toronto. She is well-versed in many musical idioms, among them Klezmer, gypsy jazz, Celtic, bluegrass, Latin and classical. She plays regularly in Toronto in her bands and as a freelance musician. She is a former member of the Lemon Bucket Orkestra, and a current member of Ventanas. Jessica's own project, Ozere, features her original compositions and is a unique fusion of fiddle and folk. With her feet in so many doors, Jessica has developed versatility as well as originality in her playing and improvising. Her love for the violin and her ability to express herself through the instrument have garnered her much attention.

Aleksandar Gaijic, Violin

Much in demand, Alekasandar has a distinguished career in classical, chamber, and symphonic music, but also bears a deep affinity for folk and world music. In his native Yugoslavia Aleksandar was a member, soloist, and concert master with a number of the country's leading orchestras, including the Belgrade Philharmonic and both the Symphony and Chamber Orchestras of Radio and Television of Serbia. Aleksandar was also first violinist for seven years in the renowned Bellotti String Quartet. Since arriving in Canada Aleksandar has performed with a number of leading ensembles in the Toronto area, including Odessa/Havana and Suba Sankaran's Autorickshaw.