Maryem Tollar, the acclaimed Egyptian-Canadian vocalist, is known for her diverse world music performances. Notable for her appearances on CBC’s “Little Mosque on the Prairie” theme and A.R. Rahman’s Bollywood hit “Mayya Mayya,” she’s also collaborated with renowned groups like Tafelmusik and the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. Tollar tours internationally and has received prestigious awards like the Johanna Metcalf Prize for Performing Arts in 2019.

Ernie Tollar, an internationally recognized musician and composer, has been a fixture in Toronto’s jazz and world music scene since 1980. He’s performed at prestigious festivals worldwide and is a member of various Toronto musical groups, showcasing his talent across genres like traditional Arabic, Indian, and Armenian jazz. In 2022, Ernie authored an étude book for woodwind players exploring global music traditions.

Originally from Edmonton, Simon Williams is a Toronto-based composer, producer, synthesist and pianist. Williams grew up studying classical piano before apprenticing under Joel Gray in the Littlebirds program. Since then, he has played in Edmonton, Calgary, Victoria, and Toronto, notably at Massey Hall and Koerner Hall. Most recently, Simon was a fellow in the 2023 Intercultural and Creative Music Fellowship, which culminated in the creation of the band Carmine, and the release of their EP; Something is Awake. Simon is currently a Bachelor of Music student at Humber in Toronto.

Following his graduation from the Berklee College of Music, George Crotty immersed himself in New York’s jazz and world music scenes, joining several ensembles such as the Brooklyn Raga Massive and the Detroit-based National Arab Orchestra, in addition to collaborating with Paquito D’Rivera, Anat Cohen, Simon Shaheen, and Darol Anger. Crotty leads The George Crotty Trio, whose latest album, Chronotope, showcases the Canadian cellist’s expressive fluidity and modal orientation. Crotty also served as cello chair on the North American tour of the Broadway musical, The Band’s Visit.