Ostara Project & Eliana Cuevas with The Angel Falls Orchestra
The Ostara Project & Eliana Cuevas with Angel Falls Orchestra
May 2, 2025
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Photo credit: Shayne Gray
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).
1. What a Moonlit Night (Composers: A. Voloshchenko and V. Ovchynnikov, Arranger: Jodi Proznick)
2. 2601 (Comp. Allison Au)
3. Dreams and Olive Trees (Comp. Amanda Tosoff)
4. Rajalakshmi (Comp. Shruti Ramani)
5. Little Bird (Comp. Kim Zombik)
6. Storms and Oceans (Comp. Jodi Proznick)
7. Voyage San Retour/Papa (Comp. Rachel Therrien)
8. Avec Le Temps (Comp. Léo Ferré)
9. Raven Haven (Comp. Valérie Lacombe )
Eliana Cuevas
1. El Manantial (Eliana Cuevas / Arr. Jeremy Ledbetter)
2. Nacerá (Eliana Cuevas / Arr. Jeremy Ledbetter)
3. Seré Libre (Eliana Cuevas / Arr. Jeremy Ledbetter)
4. Lamento (Eliana Cuevas / Arr. Jeremy Ledbetter)
5. Arde (Eliana Cuevas / Arr. Jeremy Ledbetter)
6. Caballo Viejo (Simón Díaz / Arr. Jeremy Ledbetter)
7. Como Llora una Estrella (Alejandro Carrillo / Arr. Jeremy Ledbetter)
8. Llegó (Eliana Cuevas / Arr. Jeremy Ledbetter)
About The Ostara Project & Eliana Cuevas
Seré Libre, the new album from acclaimed Venezuelan-Canadian artist Eliana Cuevas, is a stunning creation with the Angel Falls Orchestra, named after the world’s tallest waterfall, located in Auyán-tepui, Canaima National Park, Venezuela. “I created this orchestra, as it was the one missing piece to realize my dream of fusing the incredibly rich traditions of Venezuelan folk rhythms and classical music.”
The album explores loss, the deaths of Cuevas’ father and grandfather, her mission to continue the centuries old folk music traditions they taught her, and dreams for a better future in Venezuela. Cuevas’ homeland is a nation that is home to some of the richest folk music in the Americas, but has tragically also seen devastating poverty, hunger, and political crises in recent decades.
“We also wanted to make a point of choosing songs that accentuate Afro-Venezuelan rhythms,” explains award-winning arranger, producer, and conductor Jeremy Ledbetter. “To combine those with the European classical format has allowed Eliana to share with the world the cultural richness of her country.”
The Ostara Project embodies hope and growth by showcasing the strength and creativity of Canadian women in jazz. Ostara artists are all top-tier musicians, composers, and bandleaders who reflect the geographical, cultural, and creative diversity of Canada’s musical landscape. Led by award-winning jazz musicians Jodi Proznick and Amanda Tosoff, the Ostara Project includes Rachel Therrien, Allison Au, and Valérie Lacombe, and will feature guest vocalists Kim Zombik and Shruti Ramani. Individually, they are outstanding artists: collectively, they are a force.
In a genre and industry where women are severely underrepresented, the Ostara Project is a powerful example of perseverance, community, and creativity. New growth rising, stretching to claim space, propelled by joy.
For Canadians, the arrival of spring is momentous: the air is fresh and full of possibility as tender green shoots reach up towards the light and the cycle of rebirth and renewal begins again. The Ostara Project, named for the Germanic goddess of the spring equinox, embodies hope and growth by showcasing the strength and creativity of Canadian women in jazz.
Ostara’s self-titled debut album (Cellar Live, 2022) received a Juno Award nomination in 2023. Two upcoming albums— Roots (instrumental) and Wings (vocal)—feature original compositions that celebrate the cultural, ethnic, and familial backgrounds of Ostara artists plus an impressive roster of guests: Shruti Ramani, Emilie- Claire Barlow, Laila Biali, Dawn Pemberton, and Terri-Lynn Williams-Davidson.
Eliana Cuevas’ journey as an artist began in the vibrant streets of Venezuela, where music flowed through the air like an electric current. Growing up surrounded by the rich traditions of Afro-Venezuelan rhythms and folk songs passed down through generations, Eliana was captivated by the sounds that defined her homeland. As a young girl, she would sing alongside her grandfather, who introduced her to timeless Venezuelan songs that told stories of love, heartbreak, and resilience. These early experiences would go on to shape the course of her life and career.
In her late teens, Eliana moved to Canada, seeking new opportunities but carrying the music of her homeland deep within her soul. Toronto became her new stage, and the city’s multicultural landscape gave her the perfect backdrop to experiment with blending the sounds of her roots with new influences. She began performing in the local Latin music scene, quickly building a reputation for her compelling voice and her ability to seamlessly merge traditional Venezuelan music with jazz, classical, and world music elements.
As Eliana’s career evolved, she became known for her fearlessness in pushing musical boundaries. Each of her six albums leading up to Seré Libre explored different facets of her sound, but it was her seventh project, released in 2023, that would mark the pinnacle of her artistic journey.
Seré Libre was more than an album; it was a bold statement of creative freedom. The dream behind Seré Libre was to bring together the rhythmic complexity of Afro-Venezuelan music and the grandeur of classical orchestration. To realize this
Photo credit: Shayne Gray
The Ostara Project
Eliana Cuevas
“It’s
— tanznetz
“[Akinmusire is]…arguably the most technically gi ed trumpeter of his generation"
New York Times
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. Ahead of today’s show, we chatted with her about her inspiration, favourite Toronto things, and making space for the now.
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.
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.
Photo credit: Shayne Gray
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