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Performer Biographies |
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Jayne Brown Singer and bass player with Maza Mezé, Jayne also performs with Mernie! and is singer with traditional Greek music group Diaspora. Jayne has performed with Ilédč, an Afrocuban drum and dance ensemble, Nazka, a Latin American folk music ensemble and Staro Selo, a traditional Macedonian folk ensemble. Jayne received a Canada Council Individual grant in 2000 to study Arabic music with Dr. George Sawa in Toronto, Arabic singing in Cairo, Egypt and Greek music with Domna Samiou in Athens, Greece. Sophia GrigoriadisSophia sings, plays percussion, baglama and tambura with Maza Mezé. She also sings with Mernie! and the traditional Greek ensemble Diaspora. She has performed with Arabic traditional group Doula, Ilédč, and Staro Selo. Sophia conducts the All Saints Greek Orthodox Church Choir, which she co-led on a concert tour of Turkey in 1992. Sophia also runs her own company "Clapping Land" in which she provides music and movement programs to young children. John GzowskiJohn Gzowski plays oud, electric and acoustic guitars, fretless electric guitar, cello, cumbuc and tamboura with Maza Meze. He has created music for over 50 plays, winning 4 Dora Mavor Moore Awards. His work in dance includes pieces for Dancemakers, Julia Aplin, Kate Alton and Kaeja Dance. He has also written for Array Music, Evergreen Club Gamelan Ensemble and Hemispheres. He builds and plays his own instruments, some of which have been exhibited by the Art Gallery of Ontario. Jennifer MooreJennifer sings with Maza Mezé, She also leads the PIRATE JENNY trio, with percussionist Blair Mackay and guitarist Bill Parsons. Jennifer has performed with the Altin Yildiz Orkestar, the Evergreen Club Gamelan, and Kurt Swinghammer, among others. Dance-related performances include Dora Award-winning Peter Chin's Bridge and Julio Lumo, choreographed by dancer Peggy Baker. Jennifer holds a BFA in voice and has studied Arabic singing and theory with Dr. George Sawa and at the Arab Music Retreat in South Hadley, Mass. Debashis SinhaDebashis plays percussion with Maza Mezé, Doula, Mernie, Diaspora, and Anne Lederman’s Fiddlesong, as well as appearing with other ensembles. His interests have led him into appearances performing Flamenco, Balkan, Jazz, Metis, and new music. His studies (supported by the Canada Council) have taken him as far afield as Cairo and Athens, as well as closer to home where he continues South Indian rhythmic studies with Professor Trichy Sankaran. Ernie TollarErnie plays clarinet, sax, ney (mid-east reed flute) and bansuri flute (India) with Maza Mezé. He co-leads world/jazz group Mernie! with his wife, Maryem. Ernie has studied South Indian music with world renowned master Trichy Sankaran and performs regularly with him in Trichy's Trio. Ernie received a Canada Council Individual Grant in 2000 to study South Indian music with Professor Trichy Sankaran in Toronto; Vairamangalam in Madras, India; Ibrahim Kawala in Cairo, Egypt; and Ross Daly in Athens, Greece. Maryem Hassan TollarMaryem sings and plays qanun for Maza Mezé. She also co-leads Mernie! with husband Ernie Tollar and Arabic music ensemble Doula with dancer/musician Roula Said. Maryem received numerous grants & awards to study Arabic singing, oud, qanun and percussion with the assistance of the Canada Council for the Arts. This year she received a Chalmers to go to Cairo, Egypt in the winter to have private singing lessons under the supervision of Dr. Alfred Gamil and singer Wella Hamdy. Jeff WilsonPercussionist for Maza Mezé, Jeff also plays with Ska band The Liquidaires. He has played with The Altin Yildiz Orkestar, Wind May Do Damage, klezmer band Hu-Tsa-Tsa and various other pop and world music bands. He collaborates regularly with modern dancers, appearing live in numerous performances. Jeff plays percussion for dance classes at George Brown College, Dancemakers, and various classes in Toronto. |
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