“Seasonal Celebration with Sultans of String”

With Special Guests
Rebecca, Campbell, Saskia Tomkins,
Ken Whiteley, Aviva Chernick, Alberto Suárez
Michael Newnham, Conductor
◆

Chris McKhool: violin, vocals
Kevin Laliberté: guitars, vocals
Drew Birston: bass, vocals
Rebecca Campbell: vocals
Saskia Tomkins: nyckelharpa
Ken Whiteley: guitar, vocals
Aviva Chernick: vocals
Alberto Suárez: percussion, drums
◆

A Most Wonderful Christmas
arr. Robert Sheldon

The Little Swallow / Al Vuelo
Sultans of String

Christmas Time is Here
Sultans of String

A Django Christmas
Sultans of String

The Light of Christmas
Ken Whiteley

Fanfare for the Festival of Lights
arr. Evan VanDoren

Ocho Kandelikas
Aviva Chernick

Niel Gow’s Lament / Rakes of Mallow /
Rouge River Valley
Saskia Tomkins

Hallelujah
Rebecca Campbell

Intermission

It’s Christmastime!
arr. Calvin Custer

Stille Nacht
Sultans of String

Little Drummer Boy
Rebecca Campbell

Luna
Sultans of String

The Christmas Song
Tormé/Wells arr. Bob Lowden
Lyris Pat, conductor

The Last Month of the Year
Ken Whiteley

Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring
Rebecca Campbell

Jingle Bells / Vive le Vent / Auyuittuq Sunrise
Sultans of String

**Music Director’s Message**

Hello Friends,
The December concerts at Orchestra Toronto are always very special. As an orchestra, we have a chance to do something a little different musically.
This year, we are teaming up with Sultans of String. I have had the pleasure of working with this excellent group before, but this is their first appearance with OT. This concert works around music featured in their recording, “Christmas Caravan”. This is an expansion of the traditional way of presenting Christmas music, with an added perspective of world music and various folk traditions. You will hear all kinds of musical influences this afternoon: from Quebec, Turkey, Africa, the Himalayas, rumba flamenco, all backed by magnificence that a symphony orchestra the size of OT can offer.
I am absolutely sure that you will be delighted by what you hear.
Don’t forget to join us for our film music night, featuring scores from the Godfather and Star Wars! Mark your calendars for Saturday, January 24 at 7:30!
**MICHAEL NEWNHAM**
MUSIC DIRECTOR

Michael Newnham
Music Director

Michael Newnham is best known for his intense and inspiring conducting style, based on a deep knowledge of the score and informed by a strong interest in languages, cultures and history. A born communicator, his open and direct contact with musicians and audiences creates performances full of expression and energy.
Along with being Music Director of Orchestra Toronto, he is also Music Director of the Peterborough Symphony Orchestra, and also held that title with Symphony New Brunswick and Camerata NB. Newnham has been instrumental in bringing these ensembles to new artistic heights and raising their profile on the provincial and national level.
Along with appearances in his native Canada, Newnham has also appeared at the helm of many orchestras and opera companies throughout Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Austria, Italy and South Korea.
Endowed with a special passion and gift for working with young musicians, Michael founded the Kawartha Youth Orchestra in 2002, and has been a faculty member as conductor and chamber music coach at Music at Port Milford for several years. His involvement in educating young musicians is not limited to Canada. He spent two years as Guest Professor and Orchestra Conductor at Taegu-Hyosung University in South Korea.
Originally from Hamilton, Newnham is a graduate of the conducting class of prof. Bogusław Madey at the Chopin Academy of Music in Warsaw, Poland. He also studied at the Indiana University of Music and at the University of Toronto. A recipient of several awards, including the “Order of Merit” from the Republic of Poland, the “Best Conductor” Award from the East Slovakian State Opera, Newnham was recently granted the Turzanski Award for his services in promoting Polish music and culture in Canada.
Collaboration with Canadian composers has been central to Newnham’s life in music. In the summer of 2005, he was specially honoured to have been chosen by R. Murray Schafer to be the Music Director of an acclaimed production of Schafer’s “Patria: The Enchanted Forest”.
Before taking up the baton, Newnham began his musical career as a trombonist, playing with the Toronto and Kitchener-Waterloo Symphonies, as well as a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Canada. He currently lives in Peterborough with his wife, cellist Zuzanna, two daughters, and three cats, and is a home barista.

ORCHESTRA TORONTO acknowledges that we make and share our beautiful symphonic music on the traditional territory of Haudenosaunee speaking nations, including the Huron-Wendat, Seneca, and Mohawk. Haudenosaunee speaking nations have been here since time immemorial and were more recently joined by the Mississaugas of the New Credit. We all, at Orchestra Toronto, are privileged to rehearse and perform here and to even attempt to honour, renew and consistently uphold the values and relationships as outlined in the ancient agreements.

ABOUT ORCHESTRA TORONTO

Founded in 1954 as the Bennington Heights Community Orchestra and rebranded as Orchestra Toronto in 1998, our organization stands as a testament to the enduring power of music in building connections and enriching lives. From its humble beginnings, Orchestra Toronto has grown to become one of Canada’s oldest and largest volunteer orchestras, proudly serving the Greater Toronto Area and beyond with passion and dedication.

As we look towards the future, Orchestra Toronto remains steadfast in our commitment to entertaining and inspiring diverse communities. We envision a world where the love of symphonic music is embraced by future generations, and we are dedicated to making this vision a reality.

Join us on this musical journey as we continue to enrich lives, foster connections, and celebrate the transformative power of music.

SULTANS OF STRING
FEATURED ARTIST

3x JUNO nominees and SiriusXM winners, Sultans of String create “Energetic and exciting music from a band with talent to burn!” (Maverick Magazine UK). Thrilling their audiences with their genre-hopping passport of Celtic reels, flamenco, Django-jazz, Arabic, Cuban, and South Asian rhythms, Sultans of String celebrate musical fusion and human creativity with warmth and virtuosity. Fiery violin dances with rumba-flamenco guitar, while bass and percussion lay down unstoppable grooves. Acoustic strings meet with electronic wizardry to create layers and depth of sound, while world rhythms excite audiences to their feet with the irresistible need to dance.

Since releasing their debut album, Luna in 2007, Sultans of String have continually strived to make each chart-topping album more original and meaningful than the last. That includes working with an orchestra (2013’s Symphony), teaming with Pakistani sitarist Anwar Khurshid (2015’s Subcontinental Drift) and even crafting a world-music holiday album (2017’s Christmas Caravan), which landed them on the Billboard charts and the New York Times. Their ambition and work ethic have garnered them multiple awards and accolades, including three JUNO nominations, first place in the International Songwriting Competition (out of 15,000 entries), six Canadian Folk Music Awards and countless other honours.

Their 2020 release Refuge garnered awards including 2 Independent Music Awards for Instrumental Song of the Year and World Music Producer of the Year, as well as 2021 CFMA for Producer of the Year for Chris McKhool. The lead track from their followup Sanctuary was part of John Bailey’s 2022 Engineering JUNO nomination, and the album won Global Music and Producer awards at the 2023 CFMAs. They have just released and are touring their ninth album, Walking Through the Fire, a powerful collection of collaborations with First Nations, Métis, and Inuit artists across Turtle Island. This album was made in the spirit of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 calls to action, and Final Report that asks for Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to work together as an opportunity to show a path forward.

McKhool has an Egyptian-born mother who happened to play piano, teach classical theory, and feed her young son as much Middle Eastern cuisine as she did music lessons. From there, the powerful violinist developed a taste for multi-genre string sounds and found a like-minded crew of all-world enthusiasts. When McKhool first heard founding guitarist Kevin Laliberté’s rumba rhythm, their musical synergy created Sultans of String’s signature sound – the intimate and playful relationship between violin and guitar. From this rich foundation, the dynamic duo grew with groove-master bassist Drew Birston and nyckelharpa star Saskia Tomkins.

Their live resume is similarly stellar. Equally at home in a concert hall, folk and jazz club or festival setting, Sultans of String have gigged at JUNOfest, the legendary club Birdland in New York, Celtic Connections Festival (Glasgow) and London’s Trafalgar Square. They have sold out Koerner Hall three times (Toronto’s Carnegie Hall), and performed with the Annapolis, Toronto, Vancouver and Edmonton Symphony Orchestras. They have played live on CBC’s Canada Live, BBC Radio, BBC TV, Irish National Radio, and the syndicated World Café, Woodsongs, and SiriusXM in Washington. Sultans of String’s musicianship and versatility are also showcased in collaborations with such diverse luminaries as Paddy Moloney & The Chieftains, Sweet Honey in The Rock, Richard Bona (Paul Simon), Alex Cuba, Ruben Blades, Yasmin Levy, Benoit Bourque, Béla Fleck, Crystal Shawanda & Ken Whiteley.

**CHRIS MCKHOOL**
VIOLIN

A Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medal recipient for his work creating community through music, bandleader Chris McKhool produces, composes and plays violin with BILLBOARD-charting Sultans of String. He was recently awarded the Dr. Duke Redbird Lifetime Achievement Award and the Merilaïnen Music Awards as Indigenous Ally of the Year, for his work on Walking Through the Fire, a collaborative project with First Nations, Métis and Inuit artists across Turtle Island.
McKhool has recorded and appeared with several jazz, world, folk and pop artists, including Béla Fleck, Jesse Cook, the Chieftains, Richard Bona, and Nikki Yanofsky. He has received multiple Canadian Folk Music Awards as Producer of the Year, and won the inaugural PIVOT AWARD from CIMA for creating the Sultans Zoom Room series. Chris also has a rich career performing for young audiences, and has written, directed and produced two Cannes World Film Festival Award winning films, The Refuge Project and Walking Through the Fire. This year he was presented Burlington’s Key to the City.

**SASKIA TOMKINS**

NYCKELHARPA

Saskia is a master musician of violin, viola, cello and Nyckelharpa, an educator, and a composer. UK born, she is classically trained with a folk background and a B.A.hons. in Music (Jazz). She is an All-Britain Champion Irish Fiddler and, in 2022, received an award for services to Irish Music in Canada. Saskia was the official Artist in Residence in 2022 with Folk Alliance International, and is currently Artist in Residence with British- based organization The Mixed Museum, which works to preserve and share the social history of racial mixing in Britain of Black and ethnic minorities for future generations.
Saskia worked as a special consultant on the Broadway hit “Come From Away”, to ensure the Celtic roots and traditions were communicated in an authentic way through the score. Her current personal projects include Steáfán & Saskia, MEDUSA, 2ish, Cáirdeas, Marsala and the Imports, Sultans of String, Quinte Symphony, and Upbeat! Downtown Peterborough El Sistema programme.

**KEVIN LALIBERTE**
GUITAR

In 1999, guitarist Kevin toured the world with guitarist and recording artist Jesse Cook. A highlight of his five-year tenure with Jesse include an appearance on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, backing up Charlotte Church. Kevin has released 5 solo albums of his unique brand of original instrumental music, blending the sounds of flamenco, bossa-nova, pop and jazz with the romance of the Spanish guitar. His music has been used in film (Unforgettable – 2017) and TV (numerous). In addition to his role as co-founder and co-composer of the three-time JUNO- nominated world music group Sultans of String, Kevin has also been the long-time guitarist and songwriting collaborator with Latin vocalist and recording artist Amanda Martinez, touring Canada, the USA, Mexico, and appearing at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Kevin also produced and mixed her latest two albums Recuerdo and Libre.

**DREW BIRSTON**
BASS

Drew is a versatile bassist, composer, producer and singer/songwriter living in Toronto. He has been contributing to the Canadian music scene for over 25 years and has toured the world with a variety of different artists including Amanda Martinez, Justin Hines, Chantal Kreviazuk, The Leslie Spit Treeo, and Sarah Slean. He released “Orca Songs”, his critically acclaimed solo album collection of 10 original songs in 2016. Along his musical journey, Drew has enjoyed recording and extensive touring throughout Canada, the US, the UK, Asia, and Mexico. Highlights include playing at Madison Square Garden, UK’s Celtic Connections Festival, and the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Drew also met the love of his life, Amanda Martinez, in the city and has the joy of raising their three children together and sharing the gift of music. Composing is also underway for a sophomore solo album.

**REBECCA CAMPBELL**
VOCALS

Rebecca is an acclaimed and prolific singer and sometime songwriter. She sings myriad styles, in countless settings, up front and back up. She plays percussion, guitar, melodica, and accordion. But mostly she sings. Born in Toronto in 1963, Rebecca has been making music, and helping others to do the same since her teens. Bred in the Maritimes and Ottawa, and educated in Montreal, she has been based in Toronto since the late-nineties. She has performed with countless individuals and ensembles, most notable among them: Jane Siberry, Ian Tamblyn, Lynn Miles, The Special Interest Group, Fat Man Waving, Bec and Rusty, Three Sheets To The Wind, Justin Haynes, Stephen Fearing, Jim Cuddy, Dan Hill, Parachute Club, Sultans of String, Bruce Cockburn, Emmylou Harris, Ani DiFranco, Alanis Morissette, Daniel Lanois, Fred Eaglesmith, Luther Wright, The Skydiggers, and the list goes on… on stages across Canada, the USA, Europe, South Africa, South Korea, Hawaii, and the Caribbean. Rebecca’s voice has graced both the big and small screen, and she has sung on over 100 recordings.

**AVIVA CHERNICK**
VOCALS

As an award-winning singer, and teacher of voice and meditation, Aviva Chernick brings movement, song, and story to each and every offering. Aviva sings in Hebrew, Ladino, and English, and her soulful, soaring vocal sound arises from a training and aesthetic that desires to be unencumbered by any particular style. She was the first Canadian to be awarded a Virginia Folk Life apprenticeship to continue study with ‘American National Treasure’ and Sephardic musician Flory Jagoda whose music she celebrates in La Serena. As a founding member and lead singer of the Canadian World Music group Jaffa Road, and while leading her own ensembles, Aviva has toured across Canada, the United States, Israel, Brazil, and most recently, as a guest of the Canadian Ambassador to the UAE at Expo in Dubai. Aviva is also trained in the Cantorial Arts and as a meditation teacher through the Institute for Jewish Spirituality. She leads the meditation and singing community in Toronto called neySHEV.

**KEN WHITELEY**
GUITAR, VOCALS

Ken Whiteley is a Canadian roots music legend. His musical journey has taken him from jug band, folk and swing to blues, gospel and children’s music. Among numerous accolades, he has won a Canadian Folk Music Award, Genie Award for Best Original Song in a Canadian film, and Lifetime achievement awards from the Ontario Council of Folk Festivals and Mariposa Folk Festival. Ken has been nominated for 7 Juno awards and 13 Maple Blues Awards. Ken’s live performances showcase his outstanding musicianship on guitars and mandolin, award winning original songs and his powerful vocals, called “a cross between Pete Seeger and Tony Bennett on 11!” Whether leading his own group, solo or collaborating with peers at blues, folk, children’s festivals and concerts of all sizes, his “deep knowledge and infectious passion” guarantee good times for all. As a producer of over 125 recording projects, Ken’s productions have garnered 10 Canadian Gold and Platinum records, 4 American Gold records, 22 Juno and 2 Grammy nominations, and sold over 8 million copies.

**ALBERTO SUÁREZ**
PERCUSSION

Alberto Suárez was born in Matanzas, Cuba – a city famous for its rich musical history and rumba rhythms. Alberto began to play percussion at the age of 13, and completed formal years of training at both the Matanzas provincial music school and the National Conservatory of Music in Cuba’s capital, Havana. Alberto worked in the acclaimed International Orchestra, directed by Carlos Tarafa. Since his arrival in Canada, Alberto has taken part in international percussion festivals, and has brought a new perspective to Toronto’s Latin music community. Besides being CaneFire’s resident percussionist, he has also performed with Nick Ali, Ruben Vasquez, Jane Bunnett, Proyecto Charanguero, Hilario Duran, Alexis Baro, Luis Mario Ochoa, and Julie Leahy. Alberto has also performed with the world-renowned pioneer of the steel pan in the Jazz world, Andy Narell, as well as performed & recorded with Calypso Legend David Rudder, Jesse Cook, Tipical Toronto, Sultans of String, and many more.

**ANNE KEILLOR**
TECH DIRECTOR

Anne Keillor is a Toronto-based freelance sound technician with 30 years of concert, live radio broadcast and livestream sound experience. She has worked in a variety of venues from small clubs to 1000-seat theatres, as well as numerous concerts in large churches and outdoor festivals. Anne has been the house technician at Hugh’s Room, Toronto’s premier folk music venue, since its inception in 2001. At Hugh’s Room she has mixed for diverse, internationally renowned musicians, including Jane Siberry, Richie Havens, Ian Tyson, The Strawbs, Jane Bunnett, Marc Jordan, Ian Thomas, Odetta, Gordon Lightfoot, and Carol Welsman. Anne has also worked for various series, including University of Toronto’s Hart House, Jazz at Oscar’s, Arbor Room, Timothy Eaton Memorial Church, Carol Welsman, Global Café World Music Festival, Mariposa and Edmonton Folk Festivals, Meadowvale Theatre, Christos Hatzis’s Mystical Visitations for Maryem Tollar’s ensemble in 5.1 surround sound and countless others. She is now enjoying working regularly with Sultans of String.

HOLIDAY TRUFFLES RECIPE

INGREDIENTS:

8 ounces semisweet or bittersweet chocolate (a cacao content of about 60% works best)
1/2 cup cream (for chocolate with 70% cacao, increase the cream by about a tablespoon or two)
1 tablespoon butter (optional)
1 tablespoon rum, or other liquor (for holiday spirit -try creme de Menthe. Bailey’s is also good (use 2 tbsp and reduce cream by 1 tbsp)
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder for coating the truffles (or use chopped nuts or melted and tempered chocolate)

DIRECTIONS:

Chop the chocolate into fairly even, small pieces. Do not use chocolate chips. Heat the cream in a saucepan over medium heat until it begins to boil. Remove from heat. Add the chopped chocolate to the cream. For an extra smooth truffle, add butter. Add any liquor here, too. Wait a minute or two until most of the chocolate and butter is melted.

Transfer to a mixing bowl. Whisk until smooth. Once the chocolate is mostly melted, quickly but gently transfer the mixture to a bowl so that you can form your emulsion in a cooler environment.

Whisk the mixture vigorously until it’s thick and smooth, scraping the bottom and sides of the bowl and incorporating all the cream and chocolate. If you have one, an immersion blender helps make sure the emulsion is stable. A well-emulsified ganache should look like chocolate pudding: thick, smooth, and glossy. Leave it in a cool spot to firm up for atleast 4 hours, ideally overnight.

Once the ganache has set into a uniformly firm mass, scoop out small balls with a melon baller or spoon. Roll each one briefly in the palms of your hands. Chill the truffles briefly, for about 15 minutes, while you prepare whatever you’d like toroll or enrobe them in.

Roll the truffles in cocoa powder, shaking off any excess cocoa. You can also roll them inchopped nuts or enrobe them in melted and tempered chocolate.

ORCHESTRA TORONTO
MUSICIANS

VIOLIN I:
Corey Gemmell (cm)
Michele Clemo
Blerina Foto
Victoria Gilerovitch
Yani Hausman
Vivian Koen
Alexander Lam
Grace Morrison
Katie Stephens
Parker Tan

VIOLIN II:
Ines Pagliari (p)
Ho Kwan (Michael) Au
Geral Billinghurst
Ralph Bose
Hei Kan Chow
Saghi Farsijani
Chris Klochek
Michael Lee
David O’Brien
Pia Pace Asciak
Carolyn Rogers
Sana Shepko
Donald Yoon

VIOLA:
Elizabeth Morris (p)
Harikoa Bronsdaughter-George
Daeun (Dannah) Jeong
Veronica Koopmans
Karly Leung
Michael Luxton
Uri Samson
Nora Webster
Heather Whitney

CELLO:
Zuzia Newnham
Lou Bacs
Jamie Hlusko
Sam Horodezky
Claire le Riche
Jane Litherland
Michael Lordly
Norman Rosenblum
Allison (Allie) Scott
Wendy Shih
Matthew Thompson
Daniel Yoo

BASS:
John Wiener
Tomas Casciato
Melissa Cavelti
Eric Mykhalovskiy
Radek Puky
Frank Santopuoli
Jack Schachner

FLUTE:
Esther Choi (p)
Rachel Roe-Wu

OBOE:
Cristina Sewerin (cp)
James Manson

CLARINET:
Noru Gogovita
Danielle Waxer

BASS CLARINET:
Helen Li

BASSOON:
Kristin Day (p)
Dorothy Ward

FRENCH HORN:
Samir Abd-Elmessih (p)
Jessica Lin
Rebecca Davies
Avram Selick

TRUMPET:
Tony Ruan (p)
John McGregor
Donovan Fuller

TROMBONE:
Abellia Chan (p)
Ryan Minten
Alex Allsopp

TUBA:
Steve Vettese

TIMPANI:
Serge Adler (p)

PERCUSSION:
Phoenix Mok-Wong
Keshav Sharma-Jaitly
Daniel Smadja

HARP:
Liane James

PIANO:
Maziar Heidari

(cm) Concertmaster
(p) Principal
(cp) Co Principal

ORCHESTRA TORONTO
BOARD

OF DIRECTORS & STAFF

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Melissa Cavelti, chair
Chris Dassios, co-vice-chair
Trevor Fairlie, co-vice-chair
Alexis Paradis, treasurer
Jennifer Lee, secretary

DIRECTORS
Laurie Brovold
Alexis Choi
Annie Hu
Grace Morrison*
Steve Vettese*
Donna Walrond

*Musicians’ Committee

MUSIC DIRECTOR
Michael Newnham

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Alysha Addetia

ADMINISTRATION
John McGregor, librarian and stage manager
Blerina Foto, personnel manager
Brittany Stout, social media coordinator
Rajvi Dedhia, rehearsal & social media support

VOLUNTEERS
Noreen Willoughby
Hussein Rajabali

GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Paige Dandelé

JOIN ORCHESTRA TORONTO’S
LEGACY CIRCLE

Orchestra Toronto is honoured to recognize the generosity of those who have included us in their estate plans, ensuring that symphonic music continues to flourish for generations to come.
We are especially grateful for the bequests of Yefim Adler and Stanley J. Shortt, whose lasting gifts help support our mission and enrich our community. This page is dedicated to celebrating those who make a meaningful and enduring impact through legacy giving—a testament to the vision, passion, and generosity of our supporters.
You can help shape the future of music in our community. For more information on making a bequest, please contact Alysha Addetia at executive.director@orchestratoronto.ca or 416.358.5685.

Orchestra Toronto is proud to introduce our Legacy Giving Program, designed to honour and recognize individuals who have made a significant impact on our organization. Visit our website to learn more about this program and how you can honour someone special.
**Past Donations:** For his more than half century devotion to Orchestra Toronto and its predecessors, we honour Rick Murrin with the first Legacy Chair - Bass Section. Rick retired from the orchestra at the end of the 2023/24 season at age 92.
Generously donated by Jack Schachner, Melissa Cavelti, Jon Powell, Eric Mykhalovskiy, John Wiener, Tomas Casciato, Radek Puky, Frank Santopuoli, Stephen Bright & Heather Whitney.

Scan for more info or to make a donation.

OUR PROUD SPONSORS

Orchestra Toronto has sponsorship opportunities to suit every budget. Please get in touch so we can work together to create a custom opportunity for you to partner with one of Canada’s premier community ensembles.

Please email executive.director@orchestratoronto.ca for more information.

Seasonal Celebration with Sultans of String | Sunday, December 7, 2025, 3PM