Matt is one half of the Toronto writing/directing/performing duo Bain and Bernard They are Canada’s premier artists for writing short biographies about themselves. From their humble beginnings to what they’re currently doing, including future projects, their short biographies have it all! They’ve even written short bios for well and lesser known celebrities, who have yet to receive or read them. If you’d like a personalized short biography of your very own, visit bainandbernard.com today! Also, thank you for letting me host again this year!
Michael Brennan
Cape Breton born and raised, Michael Brennan is considered the voice of REAL country music in Toronto. Possessing a deep, rich voice that’s been compared to Waylon Jennings and Roy Orbison, Brennan writes honest, working man songs full of characters who’ve loved and lost more often than they’ve won. A Music Nova Scotia Award nominee, two of Brennan’s albums have been named as one of the top 10 albums of the year by Country Music News. He has toured from Ontario to the Maritimes with his bandmate and Riverdale neighbour Steve Briggs. His Sunday matinee at the Artful Dodger with Steve, John Adames and John Switzer has been running for 25 years, one of the longest running matinees in Toronto.
Jen Schaffer and the Shiners hail from Toronto, Montreal, Welland and the UK! They are purveyors of original soulful folkrock music with lush harmonies and heavy bass. Jen Schaffer is the lead singer, songwriter and acoustic guitarist. She came to music via a stint as a public defender in the Appalachian foothills of Ohio, where she gained a love of alt-country music and a heightened social conscience. Her self-penned works, speak of love, struggle and injustice and are sharply focused through the lens of her own life journey. The Shiners are Simon Law, the band’s drummer, keyboardist, background vocalist and producer, who is also a Grammy winning songwriter of Soul II Soul’s Back to Life and original member of that band; John Teshima plays guitar, both electric and acoustic – he also plays keyboards and adds background harmonies; Hideki Kumagai on bass and Dorothy Hwang on keyboards and mandolin as well as background harmonies. The band’s new single Homes For the Holiday was released on December 1, 2025 and can be heard/accessed at the band’s website – jenschafferandtheshiners.ca. Highlights of the band’s fifteen year plus journey includes playing at the Mariposa Folk Festival, played on and interviewed by the CBC, especially in Jen’s hometown of Montreal, and kudos (“Excellent job”) from Fred Tackett of Little Feat for the band’s version of his tune, Fool Yourself, recorded on their debut EP – Angel Ridge.
Mia Sheard and Jen Forster
Mia Sheard is a Riverdale-based singer and psychotherapist. She has released four albums of her own material, and has been touring as a singer with Classic Albums Live for the past 18 years. Mia is thrilled to be returning to Riverdale Share this year, this time accompanied by musician and good friend, Jennifer Foster, and backed by Riverdale Share’s kickass house band!
Jennifer is a Toronto singer-songwriter known for her diverse musical sensibilities. Her new album “Powerline” offers a fresh batch of acoustic-based folk-pop songs. Jennifer has three previous recordings and her last album received a JUNO nomination along with Michael Phillip Wojewoda for Producer of the Year. She has worked with the likes of Carole Pope, Lori Cullen, the Rheostatics, Moe Berg and The Pursuit of Happiness, Kevin Hearn of BNL, Melanie Doane, and many more. As a veteran performer Jennifer’s varied career has also included work in TV and film, appearing alongside Catherine O’Hara for five seasons as a member of the “Jazzagals” on the Emmy award-winning “Schitt’s Creek”. Jennifer’s current and past work is supported by the Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council, and the Toronto Arts Council.
Hermina George
After being crowned Miss Isidore in her native Dominica, Hermina came to Canada in 1990 to perform with the Dominica Swing-Stars. The following year she returned to perform with the Midnight Groovers and decided to make Canada her home. She studied vocal training for three years at the new Conservatory of Music and won first place for vocals in 1999 and 2000 and second place in 2001.
Hermina sang with the Trinidadian band Shandu, eRatic Band and Band Levitasyn before she took on the role of lead singer in Dream Band in 2010. In 2015 Circle 5 was born and she has toured with them, reggae performer Lazo and the Juno award winning band The Sattalites ever since. She has 8 cd’s out and is in studio working on her 9th. Hermina was also first runner up for Madam Wob Canada 2017 (a competition and title for a national dress of Dominica). This is her first time on the Riverdale Share stage.
Erika Raum
Erika Raum is a three time Grammy Award nominated chamber musician, and winner of the Joseph Szigeti International Violin Competition in Budapest. She has performed concertos with orchestras across the country and abroad, including the Toronto, Winnipeg, Vancouver, Calgary and National Arts Centre symphony orchestras. She is on faculty at the Glenn Gould School at the Royal Conservatory as well as the University of Toronto. She lives in Riverdale with composer Omar Daniel, and their children, Rosie, and triplets Roxanne, Oskar, and Eero.
TRAINWRECK is East Toronto’s favourite party band, and recent winner of the Judge’s Choice at Govfest 2023 Battle of the Bands. Fronted by Rick Miller, TRAINWRECK’s been rolling between Montreal and Toronto for over a decade, playing bars, festivals, private parties, fundraisers, corporate and community events. We aim to delight and surprise with every song – a ‘wrecking’ good time! Featuring Miller (vocals, guitar & harmonica), Pete Gray (keys), Don Macdonald (bass, guitar & banjo), Tait Sala (bass), Mark Franco (drums), Robin Vaughan (lead guitar & tenor sax), Stephanie Baptist (vocals & percussion), Karen Dalton (alto sax), Victoria Wickett (trumpet), and Emerson Berglund (trombone).
The Daniel-Raums
Oskar and Eero are thrilled to be appearing at Riverdale Share once again. The Daniel-Raum family band started during the pandemic when Rosie, Oskar, and Eero joined their parents and sister Roxanne to put on front porch concerts, which became a highlight of the summer for family and neighbours alike. Oskar and Eero are multi-instrumentalists and play in many styles from classical to blues. They study at the Taylor Academy (RCM) and Humber College respectively. During the last couple of years, Oskar and Eero were excited to be engaged for several street parties, the Frankland BooBash, the Toronto BluesFest, Summer Music in the Garden, as well as regular appearances at the Artful Dodger Pub under the mentorship of the magnificent Steve Briggs from Kitchen Music Studios.
Jamie Shannon is a filmmaker, puppeteer, and full-time weirdo behind Nanalan’ and Mr. Meaty. He builds creatures with feelings, stories with heart, and worlds that are just the right amount of strange. Through his company Puppet Island, Jamie explores the messy, hilarious, and occasionally profound business of being human—one fuzzy face at a time. His work blends puppets, philosophy, and pure silliness into something that might just make you cry and giggle at the same time.
Showcasing our youngest ballerinas at Riverdale Share, we are so proud to be a part of this important concert. Artists’ Play delivers fun, high quality training in dance and circus for all ages in the Riverdale, Leslieville communities. Whether you want recreational or a more professional stream we have it all. Our sister company SkyDancers Entertainment provides entertainment across the GTA at weddings, corporate events and works closely with the Toronto Botanical Gardens to provide seasonal full length productions.
Christina Hutt
Rooted in the forest where song and silence meet, Christina Hutt’s voice rises with the ache and beauty of the wild. A singer-songwriter and creator of The Spirit of Patsy Cline, Christina moves effortlessly between her own soul-stirring originals and the timeless songs of a legend. Her music carries the spirit of truth, heartache, and healing—bridging eras, genres, and generations. Whether with her band or in still, intimate spaces, she invites listeners into a world where country, folk, and soul meet reverence and raw emotion.
Teya Carlson
Teya is a 17-year-old singer/songwriter and student at Rosedale Heights School of the Arts in Toronto. She received her first guitar at the age of 5 and has been creating music ever since. She has performed both as a solo artist and as a band member and she left a lasting impression on both the audience and Sarah Burke, of Toronto radio station Indie 88, when she performed at the El Mocambo at the age of 13.Together with the support of a group of esteemed and experienced musicians, songwriters and producers, six of her original songs have been transformed from their original acoustic to a big sound, and are now streaming on Spotify/Apple Music. Critics have affectionately called Teya the “Doogie Howser of music”. Her upcoming album is about to drop so stay tuned for more from Teya Carlson.
Litt Dance Collective (LDC) was founded in 2020 by multidisciplinary artist Christina Litt Belch. LDC aims to create works focused on the symbiotic connection between music and dance. As a choreographer, dance artist, and composer, Christina aims to merge these two art forms to explore storytelling through movement and sound. LDC’s work investigates the use of comedy to explore deep emotional stories with levity and has been presented at the Sherbrooke Festival of Contemporary Dance, Hamilton Fringe Festival, and Frog in Hand Seasonal Activities. Current LDC collaborators include Jianna Neufeld and Nidhi Baadkar.
Anne Lederman
Fiddle/singer/composer/storyteller/multi-instrumentalist, Anne has done ground-breaking musical work over 40 years, reviving Canadian traditions (including Manitoba Métis music) and creating new ones. A founding member of Muddy York (Canadian Trad), The Flying Bulgar Klezmer Band, Fiddlesong (original), Eh?! (fiddle-based) and Kalimbas-at-Work (Cameroon-Canadian), she has five CDs under her own name and over 50 with other artists/ensembles.
Bowmore Public School Intermediate Choir
Made up of students in grades 7 and 8 who love making music together, the choir meets once a week and is open to all interested students. This wonderful group of students performs at the Remembrance Day assembly, our annual Talent Show called Bowmapalooza and is also submitting a song to the CBC Music Class Challenge. The choir is directed by Marisa Prince and Raffi Sekdorian and we are thrilled to be a part of Riverdale Share again this year!
Suzy Wilde is a composer, lyricist, music director, live musician, and Posh Spice impersonator (depending on the day). Her musical After the Rain (co-written by Rose Napoli/co-produced by MSC and Tarragon Theatre) premiered last season, and heads to the NAC in 2026. Her musical Predictable Holiday Rom-Com: The Musical ( co-written by George Reinblatt) premiered last month at Second City.
After performing around the world for the past four years, Tess is thrilled to be back home in Toronto. Recent credits: Lead Vocalist in “Voices” (Royal Caribbean: Wonder of the Seas), Josie in “Anne and Gilbert” (PEI), Ash in “Sing! On Tour “(Universal Studios Beijing), Holly in “Predictable Holiday Rom Com the Musical” (The Second City Toronto)
Nikki Samonte
Nikki Brianne Samonte is a Toronto-based actor and singer. As a Filipina-born artist, Nikki has been in the industry since the age of 8 and has worked across tv, film, and theatre, notably in The Lion King (Disney & Base Entertainment, Singapore). She recently appeared as Heather in Predictable Holiday Rom-Com: The Musical at Second City in Toronto.
Babz Johnston is a Dora nominated performer, writer, director, choreographer, and “Ginger Spice” in Wannabe: A Spice Girls Tribute. Recent credits: her one-woman show “Songs by a Wannabe” (Next Stage Theatre Festival.), Come from Away (standby Beulah, Bonnie, Diane, Janice/ Mirvish); Dr. Silver (Vera in Outside the March/MSC) and Amber in Predictable Holiday Rom-Com: The Musical ( Second City, Toronto).
A multifaceted artist, A Braatz works as an actor, singer, musician, writer, director, producer. He has performed on stages and screens across Europe and North America. Braatz believes storytelling unites us, sparking our shared humanity and driving progress through creativity. “Every story is our story,” he says, reflecting his commitment to invigorating the spirit of commonality through art. Al played Sam in Predictable Holiday Rom-Com: The Musical last month at Second City in Toronto.
Kenton is thrilled to be ringing in the holiday season at Riverdale Share. Selected credits: Canada’s Got Talent (MEM Inc.), Evil Dead: The Musical (Starvox Ent./Jeffrey Latimier Ent.), Curious K Explores the Paleozoic (Patron’s Pick – T.O Fringe/Best Theatre for Young Audiences – Broadwayworld), Cabaret/Juno & the Paycock (Shaw Festival), Murdoch Mysteries (CBC), The Greatest (Amazon/MGM), I B.S (Edmonton International Film Festival), Predictable Holiday Rom-Com: The Musical (Second City)
Sproai
In case you are wondering, it’s pronounced “Spree”. Spraoi is a collection of musicians who create a unique blend of traditional Irish/Canadian and European sounds. The band is brought together through the sessions at Noonan’s Irish Pub on a Thursday night. Their alter ego the “Cabbagetown Ceili Band”play wedding ceilis and dances. Spraoi continues to bring the best of the Irish tradition to Canadian audiences.
Santa Claus and the Elves
In 31 years, Santa hasn’t missed a Riverdale Share Concert and we’ve already confirmed that he will be here again this year! He claims it’s his very favourite event and he always makes time to drop into the Big Carro,to stock up on organic food he can’t find at the North Pole, Treasure Island Toys for any missing items, and Cinespace to make sure they are working on new Christmas movies! Its not too late to send him a note at Dear Santa.
The Riverdale Share Band
Tom is back once again with the goal of providing new arrangements for each act. “It’s a pleasure to be a part of such a wonderful creative team, not to mention the fantastically high calibre of each of the musicians involved”. Tom has 3 solo CDs of orchestrated instrumentals including a new collection titled “Better Leighton than Never!”
Steve has played in the Riverdale Share band for many years and joined the artistic team in 2004. He is an accomplished freelance guitar player and founding member of the western swing band the Bebop Cowboys Swing-a-Billy Orchestra. As a music instructor, he is the Director of Kitchen Music Studios in Riverdale with his partner Kristin, in addition to teaching at Seneca@York. He has been featured as “Best Guitar Instructor” in Toronto Life Magazine and has released two instructional CDs.
Rhythm Section
Russ Bosswell - Bass
Russ Boswell has toured extensively with David Wilcox, Corey Hart, Colm Wilkinson, Seals and Crofts, Ian Thomas, Marc Jordan, The Parachute Club, Holly Cole and many more. He can be heard on numerous recordings including: Serena Ryder, David Wilcox, Corey Hart, Charlie Major, The Rankin Family, Russell deCarle, Harry Manx, Colm Wilkinson to name a few. Theatre credits include Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Hair!, Rent, Hairspray, Dirty Dancing, Rock of Ages and Kinky Boots.
Rob Gusevs - Piano
Rob Gusevs has had the opportunity to play keyboards in a variety of musical settings over the course of the last 5 decades including live work, studio recording and theatre work. Having spent time on the road and recorded with artists as diverse as Kelly Jay (remember Crowbar),Shawne Jackson, Domenic Troiano, BB Gabor, The Arrows, Bruce Cockburn,Banda Brava, Manteca, The Men from U.N.C.L.E, Long John Baldry, The Last Waltz, David Clayton-Thomas,and shared the stage with others like Tom Scott,Dave Valentin,Tito Puente, Paul Butterfield, Wavey Gravy(of Woodstock fame), Hennie Becker, and members Bill Payne and Ritchie Hayward of Little Feat he’s had a bit of a mashup of influences from R&R to R&B with more than a spattering of Pop, Latin and a few left turns to boot. Being involved in the pit with a number of Mirvish productions ranging from Tommy, Mama Mia, We Will Rock You, The Rat Pack and Dirty Dancing, as well as having recorded with a number of artists over the last half century, has brought him to this point and looking forward to more fun making music.
Veteran drummer John Adames has graced stages everywhere from the Rex Hotel here in Toronto to Broadway NYC. Adames, who has played with the likes of The Bebop Cowboys and Canadian Country Music Hall of Famers Prairie Oyster has had his share of memorable experiences in the music industry, including the time he was playing in a band named Rough Trade between 1978 and 1979.
Danny is a multi-platinum, award-winning record producer, recording engineer and guitar player. He has produced over fifty albums, including Great Big Sea, Ian Tyson, Colm Wilkinson, Sophie Milman, Jane Bunnett and Spirit of the West, that have garnered 4 Juno Awards and seven EMCAs. As a guitarist he has performed with Murray McLauchlan, Kate and Anna McGarrigle, Sylvia Tyson and The Great Speckled Bird, and The Romaniacs.
Wendell Ferguson
Wendell Ferguson’s never worked a day in his life. He just plays the guitar. He’s won “Guitar Player of the Year” six years in a row at the Canadian Country Music Awards. His CD; “Wendell Live: The $#!T Hits the Fans” was nominated for the CCMA Album of the Year. His “Menage a Moi” won the 2010 Canadian Folk Music Award for Solo Instrumental. In 2014, Wendell was inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame.
Horns
John McLeod - Trumpet
John MacLeod has led a distinguished career spanning 40 years on the Canadian music scene. His first major national and international exposure was as a soloist with Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass, beginning in 1983. His playing can be heard on many Boss Brass albums including 2 Grammy Award winners. As a composer and arranger he has scored music for everything from string quartets up to full symphonic orchestra. His big band arrangements can be found in the repertoires of professional and student groups all over Canada, the U.S.A. Europe and Asia. He has also completed several orchestral projects which he has conducted at Roy Thompson Hall and the famous Carnegie Hall in New York City. John’s big band The Rex Hotel Orchestra has recorded 3 CDs; their debut album OUR FIRST SET was awarded a Juno for the best jazz album of year 2011. John is also active as an educator, teaching at both U of T, and Humber College.
Sean O'Connor - Saxophone
Recognized Canadian saxophonist Sean O’Connor has been sharing the stages in Toronto for some 30 years. A graduate from both York University and Humber College in jazz performance, he currently performs and teaches in the Toronto area and divides his time between Canada and Europe, working with various artists in France. As a freelancer, he has worked with such artists as: Cecil Taylor, Kenny Wheeler, Sam Rivers, Don Bryon, Joe Lovano, Pat La Barbera, Ray Anderson, Trey Anastasio, Ron Sexsmith, Phil Nimmons, Molly Johnson, The Drifters.
Gord Myers - Trombone
Gord has made his living as a freelance trombonist and teacher since 1975. He has worked in numerous theatre orchestras including such productions as Crazy For You, Ragtime, The Lion King, The Producers and Dirty Dancing as well as R&B bands, recording sessions and Jazz Festival stages. He has also enjoyed stints with the Charlottetown and Shaw Festival orchestras. Gord teaches at York University and has enjoyed being a member of the Riverdale Share horn section for many years.
Strings
Anne Lederman - Violin
Fiddle/singer/composer/storyteller/multi-instrumentalist, Anne has done ground-breaking musical work over 40 years, reviving Canadian traditions (including Manitoba Métis music) and creating new ones. A founding member of Muddy York (Canadian Trad), The Flying Bulgar Klezmer Band, Fiddlesong (original), Eh?! (fiddle-based) and Kalimbas-at-Work (Cameroon-Canadian), she has five CDs under her own name and over 50 with other artists/ensembles.
Erika Raum - Violin
Erika Raum is a three time Grammy Award nominated chamber musician, and winner of the Joseph Szigeti International Violin Competition in Budapest. She has performed concertos with orchestras across the country and abroad, including the Toronto, Winnipeg, Vancouver, Calgary and National Arts Centre symphony orchestras. She is on faculty at the Glenn Gould School at the Royal Conservatory as well as the University of Toronto. She lives in Riverdale with composer Omar Daniel, and their children, Rosie, and triplets Roxanne, Oskar, and Eero.
Best known as the concertmaster of the Canadian Opera Company Orchestra, Marie Bérard is also a sought-after chamber musician, recording artist and teacher.
She is a member Trio Arkel and of the Grammy nominated ARC ensemble and is a regular performer at numerous chamber music festivals such as the Mainly Mozart festival in San Diego, California and the Bravo International Chamber Music Festival. Marie is on faculty at UofT, the Glenn Gould School and the Taylor Academy as well as with the National Youth Orchestra. She plays a 1767 Pietro Landolfi violin.
Violin - Solana Frebold
Solana Frebold began her violin studies at age three in her hometown, Banff, Alberta. In 2019, she graduated from the Advanced Performance Program at Mount Royal University where she studied with Joan Barrett. She is now a recent graduate from McGill University, achieving her undergraduate degree with Axel Strauss. This fall, Solana will pursue an artist diploma at The Royal Conservatory, Glenn Gould School. She was generously awarded a full scholarship and will study with violinist, Erika Raum. She has had success in local, provincial, and national competitions including first place at the Alberta Music Festival. In 2019, she was awarded first prize in the Frank Simpson Concerto Competition and has been a regular finalist in the Canadian Music Competition. She has been featured in concerts through the Advanced Performance Program, Banff Centre, Calgary’s Stars of the Festival, and Canada’s Rising Stars. An accomplished chamber musician, Solana participated in the Székely/Rolston Young Artists Program, Canadian Music Competition, Alberta Provincial Festival, La Sam’s Outreach Program, and the McGill Chamber Competition.
