Meridian Arts Centre
George Weston Recital Hall
Hiromi’s Sonicwonder
April 5, 2025 Lead
Photo credit: Mitsuru Nishimura
TO Live would like to acknowledge Tkaronto (TKahr-on-dOnH), which is a Mohawk word meaning “the place in the water where the trees are standing.”
We live and work on the traditional territory of Haudenosaunee (HODE-en-ohshow-nee)-speaking nations, including the Wendat, Seneca, and Mohawk. Haudenosaunee-speaking nations have been here since time immemorial, and were more recently joined by the Mississaugas of the Credit.
This place has many Indigenous ports, including where the Humber and Rouge rivers meet other waterways such as Lake Ontario. Ancient longhouses, typical Haudenosaunee housing structures, have been found along both rivers and in the north of Toronto as well (near modern-day York University). This territory is covered by the Dish with One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant, an agreement between the Haudenosaunee (Six Nations) Confederacy and the Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) and allied nations to peaceably share and care for the lands and the relationships around the Great Lakes.
What this means is that by living and working here, we all have a responsibility to the environment and to each other, to treat each other and the environment with peace and respect. This means we have responsibilities to honour, renew, and consistently uphold the values and relationships outlined in the ancient agreements.
Today, Toronto is home to Indigenous peoples and settlers from around the world. Let us all come together in an atmosphere of respect and peace to do Good Work together with Good Minds. Let’s start building stronger and healthier relationships with each other, and the spaces which we inhabit in Tkaronto, Ontari:io (on-dahr-EE-yo), Kanata (Gan-AH-dah).
Let’s hold our minds together in kindness.
Nia:wen. Thank you.
©Dawn T Maracle
Welcome letter from TO Live
Welcome,
TO Live is excited to welcome back internationally celebrated, Grammy Award-winning virtuoso pianist and composer Hiromi to the George Weston Recital Hall stage.
Since Hiromi’s debut album Another Mind (2003), the world-renowned pianist’s sound has evolved with every release, erasing the lines between jazz and classical, composition and improvisation. Now she changes tack again with her heaviest, funkiest album yet: Sonicwonderland. Whether performing solo or with her ensemble, Hiromi consistently redefines the possibilities of piano performance, leaving a lasting impact on both the jazz and classical music worlds.
Hiromi’s return to the George Weston Recital Hall highlights the venue’s legacy as a home for world-class performances. Ensuring that this legacy continues, TO Live recently announced a historic $2.275 million donation from the Weston Group of Companies,— funding essential renovations that will preserve the hall as a premier venue for live performance in Toronto.
The transformative gift will play a pivotal role in ensuring the hall’s continued success and vitality. Named in honour of George Weston (1864-1924)—founder of George Weston Limited, a Canadian family business now in its fourth generation—the recital hall has been a cornerstone of Toronto’s cultural landscape since its grand opening with legendary soprano Dame Kiri Te Kanawa in November 1993.
At TO Live we are dedicated to offering fresh, thought-provoking, and uniquely enriching experiences. TO Live’s goal is not simply to follow established paths, but to break new ground—identifying areas that need our support and investing in the programs and resources that truly uplift our artistic community.
Through TO Live initiatives like Making Space and explorations, we provide vital resources to create, experiment, and grow in a nurturing environment. Making Space offers Toronto’s artistic community affordable spaces for rehearsals, creative residencies, workshops, meetings, and research, while explorations is an annual grant program awarding $7,000 each to Toronto-based artists to explore new directions in their practice. These programs fill crucial gaps in our sector, fostering a robust and sustainable ecosystem where creativity and innovation at all levels—from new voices to established leaders—can thrive.
Thank you for being part of this journey with us. We look forward to sharing these extraordinary performances and continuing to build a diverse, vibrant, and engaged audience in Toronto. Enjoy the show.
Clyde Wagner President & CEO TO Live
About Hiromi’s Sonicwonder
Hiromi describes the hard-hitting nine-song album Sonicwonderland as “a new journey of adventure,” one that began in her imagination. As motifs, phrases, and timbres blossomed in her mind, she began thinking about players who could help her realize this specific sound. “Making a record is like making a movie, and I’m the director looking for the perfect actor for each role.” For her new quartet, Hiromi’s Sonicwonder, she cast bassist Hadrien Feraud, drummer Gene Coye, and trumpet player Adam O'Farill.
“Whenever I play shows or make an album, I feel like it’s a journey to find the people who can feel a deep connection to what I'm doing right now,” concludes Hiromi. “Hopefully, with Sonicwonderland, I can connect to fans that listened to my music before and to new listeners, too.”
Photo credit: Mitsuru Nishimura
Creative credits and biography
Piano and keyboards
Hiromi
Trumpet
Adam O'Farill
Bass
Tyler Emond
Drums
Gene Coye
Hiromi
Born in Hamamatsu, Japan, Hiromi began studying piano when she was six years old. When she was 17, Chick Corea invited her to play with him at a Tokyo concert. She attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, where she was mentored by jazz legend Ahmad Jamal. A prolific artist, Sonicwonderland is Hiromi’s 12th studio full-length and second album of 2023; earlier that year she recorded the soundtrack to Blue Giant, an animated feature film based on the popular manga.
Hiromi is a perennial favourite on DownBeat ’s annual critics and readers poll, and has performed at the world’s finest jazz festivals, including Montreux, Umbria, North Sea, Newport, and Monterey. Her work has been celebrated by media including The New York Times, NPR, NPR Music, and the Washington Post, and she was a featured performer at the Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony in 2021.
Photo credit: Mitsuru Nishimura
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Backstage with... Eliana Cuevas
Hailed as “Canada’s emerging Latin music queen” by 680 News, Eliana Cuevas’ artistry is influenced by the Afro-Venezuelan rhythms and folk songs of her homeland. The award-winning, Toronto-based singer is known for connecting with audiences through the rhythms of Venezuela, the soaring melodies of classical music, and the intimate stories she tells.
Cuevas’ latest work is Seré Libre. Created with the Angel Falls Orchestra, the album explores loss, the deaths of her father and grandfather, her mission to continue the centuries old folk music traditions they taught her, and dreams for a better future in Venezuela.
This spring, Cuevas will showcase an epic crossover performance of Seré Libre with a 35-piece orchestra and a Latin jazz rhythm section at the George Weston Recital Hall at Meridian Arts Centre. Ahead of the show, we chatted with her about her inspiration, favourite Toronto things, and making space for the now.
Where do you find inspiration?
I find inspiration everywhere. Sometimes a song can begin with a thought, sometimes it can begin with an emotion. Sometimes, I may decide to sit down to compose a song and do so, but sometimes a song may decide to arrive when I’m busy doing something else…To me, songs are like people, each birth is a different journey and each song has its own personality.
Photo credit: Shayne Gray
What led you to become an artist?
My love for music drew me in and I couldn’t escape it. There just isn’t anything else I love doing quite as much as being an artist, so this is what I’m meant to be.
What’s the importance of the performing arts in your life?
The performing arts are important to me because they allow me to connect with others, and they nurture my soul. Performing live and sharing music with the other musicians onstage and the audience can be truly magical and energizing. I also believe that when we as artists perform, we have the opportunity to make a difference in the world; music can be very healing, and we can make a difference in people’s lives.
What are you making space for in your life?
I’m making space for the now. And in the now, I ensure I spend quality time with my family, and I also strive to take care of my health. I have learned that by doing so I can be more productive, more creative, and happier.
What can’t you live without?
Exercise and good coffee.
What’s your pre-show ritual?
I start with a vocal warmup, then make a tea, prepare the setlist, do my makeup, and get dressed. I sit quietly with my tea for a couple of minutes. Just before getting onstage, I connect with the other musicians I’ll be performing with to pump each other up.
What’s the last show you saw?
Brazilian artist Jovino Santos at Hugh’s Room. It was fantastic!
What’s your favourite thing to do in Toronto?
I love trying out new restaurants from different cuisines around the world. Toronto is so multicultural, and I love it! I also enjoy going for bike rides with my family by the lake during the summer.
ELIANA
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Major partners
Canada Council for the Arts
City of Toronto
Government of Canada
Government of Ontario
Greenwin Inc.
Meridian
Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund
The Weston group of companies
Major program supporters
Anonymous (1)
Armenian General Benevolent
Un ion
The Barry and Laurie Green Family
Charitable Trust
IATSE Local 58 Charitable Fund
The Lewitt Family Foundation
Miziwe Biik
Meridian
Power Corporation of Canada
TD Bank
Venue sponsors and partners
Arterra Wines Canada
Earth Group
Flow Water
McTamney’s
Muskoka Brewery
Partake Brewing
Pilot Coffee Roasters
In-kind supporters
Cheekbone
Federation of Black Canadians
Sultan of Samosas
TO Live staff and board
Board of directors
Lori DeGraw
Chair
Councillor Lily Cheng
Vice Chair
Councillor Paula Fletcher
Councillor Chris Moise
Robyn Citizen
Brian Astl
Myriam Gafarou
Mustafa Humayun
Terri Jaffe
Gave Lindo
Wasifa Noshin
Sun Young Yoon
Executive management
Clyde Wagner
President & CEO
Isabel Vicente Menanno
Director of the Office of the CEO & Board Relations
Development
Sandra Bellisario
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Madeleine Skoggard
Director of Philanthropy & Sponsorship
Nikita Patel
Senior Manager, Corporate Partnerships & Sponsorships
Halyna Polischuk
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Sahar Alamgir
Assistant Manager, Philanthropy & Sponsorship
Finance and administration
William Milne
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Hayde Boccia
Director of Finance
Michael Johnson
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Mohamed Othman
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Shaun Lee
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Social Media & Web Content
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Tom Kerr
Director of Ticketing Services
Fran Holywell
Holly Merkur-Dance
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Sandie Chui
Manager of Ticketing Services
Annaijah Dacres
Alexander Jackson
Jennifer Norman
Thomas Quinlan
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Brittney Channer
Clayton Batson
Michelle Cruz
Zen Peterson
Box Office Duty Manager
Operations
Matthew Farrell
Vice President of Operations
Edward Delavari
Director of Capital Projects
Luke Belfontaine
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BahramAghakhan
Zane Elliott
Bruce Bennett
Senior Manager, Theatre Systems
and Special Projects
Kevin Anthonipillai
Project Administration Manager
Patron and event services
Sean Tasson
Director of patron and event services
A ndrew Fong
Executive Chef
Juliana Fay
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Jamie Johnson
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Agnessa Voloshina
Saba Resaei
Tera Harnish-Christie
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Yuki Daloste
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Lina Welch
Tara Hitchman
Corey Palmer
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Bruna Pisani
Corrine Engelbrecht
Hugo Ares-Gonzalez
Kizzie St Clair
Patron Services Duty Manager
Jai Bittles
Sous Chef
Facilities
Abiodun Ojekunle
Director of Facilities
Jarryd Fish
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Evan Ramdin
Chief Building Operator
Robert MacLean
Roderick Padasdao
Building Operator
Ehsan Rahman
Ryan Nerona
Marciano Ramos
Junior Building Operator
Eduardo Costales
Matthew Pannel
Handyperson
Omar Nurse
Stage Door Security Supervisor
Colin Dyble
Henry Fernandes
Mohammad Amaan Vohra
Stage Door Security
Mohammed Shaikh
Mohuddin Memon
Pema Lakshey
Reza Moradi
Sangay Lhamo
Tushar Somani
Stage Door Security
Mohamed Zuhair
Maintenance Supervisor
Ahmed Akinpelu
Aturuchi Joshua
Mizrak Mohamed
Roger Alves
Robert Bischoff
Rosalina Silva
Rosa Victoria
Vivian Hije
Maintenance
John Vickery
Housekeeping Supervisor
Adam Sikora
Alicia Surujbally
Andre O’Hare
Elliott Lewis
Harrison Eales-Estrada
Ian Romero
Jacob Jebadoss Asirvatham
Karrie Smith
Lauren Smith
Mabel Liwag
Rhowen Jane Bunda
Housekeeping
Programming
Max Rubino
Director of Programming
Sierra da Silva-Canadien
Indigenous Cultural Curator
Ariana Shaw
Zac Mansfield
Senior Producer
Kafi Pierre
Shannon Murtagh
Producer
John Kiggins
Programming Manager
Ayse Barut
Programming Coordinator
Courtney Voyce
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Alex Whitehead
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Corporate & Private Events
Scott North
Director Corporate & Private Events
Michaela Aguirre
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Thompson Michael
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Naomi Stokes
Communities & Outreach
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Production
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Director of Production
Anthony (TJ) Shamata
Zoë Carpenter
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Manager, Theatre Systems and Special Projects
Armand Baksh-Zarate
Charissa Wilcox
Chris Carlton
Kristopher Weber
Paul Dolan
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Production Manager
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Production Coordinator
Meridian Hall stage crew
IATSE Local 58
Richard Karwat
Head Electrician
Steve McLean
Head Carpenter
Marcus Sirman
Head of Properties
Colton Stang
Lead Sound Technician
Michael Farkas
Lead Video Technician
Peter Cathers
Flyperson
David Baer
Assistant Carpenter
Zsolt Kota
Assistant Sound Operator
Jason Urbanowicz
Assistant Electrician
St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts
stage crew
IATSE Local 58
Wes Allen
Property Master, Bluma Appel
Theatre
Jay Blencowe
Head Carpenter, Bluma Appel
Theatre
Giulia D’Amanzo
Head Electrician, Bluma Appel
Theatre
Keijo Makela
Head Sound Technician, Bluma
Appel Theatre
Benn Hough
Head Technician, Jane Mallet
IATSE Local 822
Susan Batchelor
Wardrobe Head, Bluma Appel Theatre
Meridian Arts Centre stage crew
IATSE Local 58
Aaron Dell
Head Technician, George Weston
Recital Hall
Finn Browne
Head Technician, Greenwin Theatre
Duncan Morgan
Head Technician, Studio Theatre
Ian Parker
Head Technician Lyric Theatre
St. Lawrence Centre
Redevelopment
Leslie Lester
Vice President of STLC
Redevelopment
TO Live staff and board list as of March 2025. For the updated version, please visit tolive.com.
