2023 Riverdale Share Performers

Julian is a Toronto-based, award-winning singer-songwriter, independent artist, radio host of Julian Taylor’s jukebox, and the owner of record label ‘Howling Turtle’.
Co-founding the alt-rock band Staggered Crossing in 1996 lead first to the Julian Taylor Band, and then to his highly successful solo work.
He was awarded Solo Artist of the year at the Canadian Folk Music Awards and has been nominated for: two Juno’s – indigenous artist of the year and contemporary roots album of the year; two Canadian Folk Music Awards – one for English Songwriter of the year; Country Music of Ontario Awards – Roots Artist of the year; Five Native American Music Awards and the Polaris Music Prize. He also performed at both the 2002 and 2010 winter Olympics.
During a brief break from commercial music in 2007 Julian took a bartending gig at the Dora Keogh and started the highly popular open stage night, Riverboat Mondays. It became a regular drop-in spot for well-known Canadian artists like Kim Mitchell, Big Sugar, Ron Hynes, and international bands passing through Toronto on tour.

Warren Bain and Matt Bernard are a writing/directing/performing duo from Toronto and 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 us host again this year! bainandbernard.com

Julie Michels possesses a huge voice with amazing control, both in range of volume, expression and wonderful tonal effects which she uses like an instrument.” (Bob Scott, The Examiner). She has performed at jazz clubs throughout Europe, but has recently focused on North American venues including the Toronto Jazz Festival, Ottawa Jazz Festival, Merrickville Jazz Festival, Haitian International Jazz Festival, as well as stages throughout Canada and the United States. In 2017, she performed in Egypt at the Jazz Tales Festival in Cairo, and in 2018 in Alexandria with the Cairo Symphony Orchestra. Her next CD is set to be recorded in New York, a re-interpretation of the songs of Lyle Lovett. juliemichels.com

This iconic musician, singer-songwriter and broadcaster found his roots back in the sixties as a founding member of the Capitol Records’ group, Edward Bear. A house band gig at Toronto’s famed Albert’s Hall led him to host his own nation-wide TV show, Stormy Monday. Through the eighties, Danny starred in CBC radio’s hit series the Hum Line and Basic Black before settling in for the next 20+ years as the radio host of JAZZ.FM91’s Saturday night blues show BLUZ.FM. His original recordings include A friend In The Blues, Guitarchaeology, True, Big Town Boy and Cities in Blue. You can catch him playing regular gigs at Smoke Show and Castro’s Lounge.

Fergus is a versatile singer, songwriter, composer and multi-instrumentalist prominent in the folk, pop and reggae fields for over fifty years. Forty of those spent with legendary Jamaican musician Jo Jo Bennett as the core members of the popular reggae band The Sattalites, earning 6 studio albums, two Juno Awards and a host of national and international awards. Five of the original members continue to play since the passing of Jo Jo in 2021. Fergus has released several albums over his career including his latest Neighbourhoods; Jazz Lovers Society- Vol. 2; and A Better Tomorrow.

As a singer songwriter with five solo albums and multiple single releases, Kathryn Rose is known for her artful brand of cinematic pop. She’s sung on over 100 albums for countless other artists. In the studio and live, she’s worked with Sarah McLachlan, Barenaked Ladies, Ian Thomas, Patti Labelle, Sir Tom Jones, Ron Sexsmith, Anne Murray, Martin Fry of ABC, Susan Aglukark, and more. The video for Kathryn’s 2023 original single “Getting Along”, a pandemic duet featuring Julian Taylor, did very well on the film festival circuit, winning international Music Video Awards. From her start as a teen actor in TV, film, and stage, to her long music career, Kathryn Rose is an all-around music industry vet. With covers of her songs by other artists, song placements in film and TV, performing with symphonies across North America, backup and session singing to the stars, voiceover, vocal coaching, and single motherhood thrown in the mix, her long artistic career has been an exercise in reinvention, and resilience.

Born in Vienna to artistic parents and raised in Canada, Micah Barnes cut his teeth in the cabarets and jazz clubs of Toronto while still a teenager, before touring the world as a member of the Pop A Cappella vocal group The Nylons. Micah recently signed to Alma Records/ Universal Music Canada and is currently working on a new album paying tribute to classic Pop songs of the 60’s including some Nylons chestnuts for release spring 2024. Micah is also one of Canada’s top Vocal, Performance and Career Strategy coaches through his Singer’s Playground Studio. His coaching credentials include 2020 Grammy Nominated artist JP Saxe (Arista Records), Emmy Award winning Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black), Andrew Lloyd Webber’s hit CBC TV show How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria and Season Two & Three of “Canada’s Got Talent”.

Thom Allison

Thom Allison is a Canadian Screen Award winner for the role of “Pree” in Killjoys. BROADWAY: Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. STRATFORD FESTIVAL:  Romeo and Juliet, Into the Woods. SHAW FESTIVAL: Ragtime, Guys and Dolls, A Little Night Music. Some other credits include: Miss Saigon, The Who’s Tommy and Rent (Mirvish), Cabaret (Theatre Calgary), Evita (Theatre Calgary/Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre) and The Drowsy Chaperone (The Citadel, National Arts Centre, Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre). DIRECTING: Rent, Norther Tracks: A Canadian Mixtape, Up Close and Musical, You Can’t Stop The Beat (Stratford Festival), Million Dollar Quartet (Theatre Calgary),Seussical; Mary Poppins (Young People’s Theatre); TV/Film:  Coroner, Canada’s Drag Race, Frankie Drake Mysteries, Hudson & Rex, Murdoch Mysteries, Kim’s Convenience.  UPCOMING: La Cage Aux Folles (Stratford Festival)

Sing Along Tim is delighted to be making his Riverdale Share debut. He will be performing a song from his most recent album “Brand New World of Pants”, which was released earlier this year.  He will be joined on stage with bandmate from The Pacifiers,  Lori Nancy Kalamanski and friend Suzy Wilde. He has toured Canada and played at the Glastonbury Festival in the UK. His “Booger Song” was a winner in the International Songwriting Competition and Folkmusic Ontario’s Stingray Songs From The Heart.  During the pandemic, Sing Along Tim and Lori Nancy Kalamanski created “Sing Along Tim’s Home-made House Concerts”. This thrice weekly, live-streamed shows that brought music, arts, games and fun to young families around the world.  It was featured by the Social Distancing Festival and Toronto’s East End Arts.  Career highlight to date, was sharing songs and a stage with Bram Morrison of Sharon, Lois & Bram at Mariposa Folk Festival.

Will Meadows

Will Meadows was a child prodigy and has been performing since the age of six. Raised in a musical family, his parents were friendly with some of Canada’s finest, and he was able to soak up the influence of such acts as Prairie Oyster, Pat Temple and Willie P. Bennett from a very young age. A member of the Canadian Bluegrass Hall of Fame, he is highly proficient on mandolin, guitar, banjo, bass and pedal steel.

Teddy Hawkins

Currently celebrating 50 years in the music biz. Singer, drummer, recording artiste, raconteur, bon vivant. Good ol country, rockabilly, jazz, blues and Hawaiian music! Currently with Thelonious Hank, Danny Marks Combo, The Hulagoons, Root Down Organ Trio. 

Teddy Hawkins 2023 Web Cropped

Isey Schaffer-Hooper

Isey Schaffer-Hooper is a dancer and performance artist based in Tkaronto, Treaty 13 Territory. Her post-secondary studies began with Anthropology at Concordia University, before pursuing professional dance training at École de Danse Contemporaine de Montréal, and finishing her training at The School of Toronto Dance Theatre, now Dance Arts Institute of Canada. She is deeply interested in somatic healing and therapy, and is currently exploring the relationship between musicians and dancers. During her training, she performed works by Peggy Baker, Tilman O’Donnell, Mateo Galindo Torres, and Tia Kushniruk. She has been nominated for the Hnatyshyn Foundation Developing artist Grant, as well as the Winchester Prize of the School of Toronto Dance Theatre. Since her graduation in May 2023, she has worked as a life and movement model for the 3D design students at Seneca College, and performed in collaboration with sound artist and sculptor Shemona.

The Daniel-Raums

The Daniel-Raums are thrilled to be returning to Riverdale Share. The 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, drawing crowds of 75 or more. All three have won scholarships at the Provincial Kiwanis Music Festival in classical and pop categories. In fact, the festival featured them at their 100th anniversary gala event at Casa Loma. Recent appearances include the Patsy Cline tribute concert at the Lula Lounge and the 2023 Toronto Blues Festival . They are all long time students at Kitchen Music Studios.

Tim Bovaconti & Patrick Allcock

Tim Bovaconti has been a fixture on the Canadian music scene for decades as a side man, recording artist and producer. He is a multi-instrumentalist but first and foremost known as a guitarist/vocalist. His home studio Tim’s Garage operates in the Toronto area. He has performed and recorded with artists such as Ron Semsmith, Andy Kim and many more. Tim has also backed up artists as diverse as Rodriguez and Leonard Cohen and currently plays lead and rhythm guitar with former Guess Who singer Burton Cummings. He has a new self produced album about to be released titled “Again”.

Patrick is a multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter who has been playing and recording music since the 1980s. Over the years he’s contributed to a number of compilation and tribute albums and has written an original score for an award-winning documentary. Currently, Patrick can be seen and heard on Toronto stages with the Tim Bovaconti Band and is also planning a special showcase performance of songs from his most recent release, ‘Where I Used To Be’. 

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 AP Events provides entertainment across the GTA at weddings, corporate events and works closely with the Toronto Botanical Gardens to provide seasonal full length productions.

Rebecca Campbell is a freelance singer, musician, songwriter, choral arranger, live event producer, arts worker and activist. She plays Stella guitar, percussion, harmonica, and melodica. But mostly, she sings. She is an interpreter and a collaborator, creating music in multiple genres, up front and backup, on stage and behind the scenes. She began her career in Ottawa, and has called Toronto home since 1996. She has performed alongside countless individuals and ensembles for four decades, on stages large and tiny, across Canada, the US, and the world. Her voice has graced the big and small screen, her choral arrangements have been sung by choirs across the world, and she has sung on over 140 recordings.

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 23 years, one of the longest running matinees in Toronto.

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Deanna Petcoff is a Toronto-based musician and songwriter that has been on the scene for almost a decade. She describes her music as “happy songs about sad things”, and prides herself on honest lyricism, and emotionally connected performances. Influenced by artists like Patti Smith, Feist, The Cure and Brittany Howard, she pulls from many genres and actively fights against writing music in a genre-specific way, the goal always being that the music must organically fit the emotional content of the lyrics.

Kristin is Owner and Co-Director (with partner Steve) of Kitchen Music Studios, a small but vibrant music school in Riverdale. When she manages to escape the studio, Kristin is also a singer, performing and recording with local Toronto musicians, and has also been known to lead many a sing-along, especially in the month of December. One of her favourite projects that she has developed recently is a community choir (Kitchen Music Voices), whom she absolutely loves to sing with every Thursday night.

Kristin is a passionate mom to her two adult children, Cameron and Duncan (also veteran Riverdale Share volunteers and performers), who serve as a constant source of joy and inspiration in her life.

The Bain and Bernard Players are a rotating crew full of whimsy and fun. Today you might have the pleasure of seeing Katie, Mike, Rylan, Andrew, Nick, Lindsay, and/or Pickering’s own Jeremy Lapalme!  This is a favourite gig of the Bain and Bernard Players and they look forward to it yearly. A special shout out to their pals, mentors, and guiding lights Bain & Bernard who coincidently wrote this fabulous bio.

Duncan Briggs is a local musician, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist who has played with acts such as Fade Awaays, Cosmic Pawn, Sugar Glass, BBQ Pope, Deanna Petcoff, Mute Choir, Jay Feelbender and more! Not to mention a long time Riverdale Share Go-er! Duncan has been gigging across Canada from coast to coast since his final years of high school. 

Duncan Briggs

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.

Bowmore School Choir

The Bowmore Public School Intermediate Choir is made up of students in grades 7 and 8 who love making music together. The choir is open to all interested students and we meet once a week. This wonderful group of students performs at the Remembrance Day assembly, school concerts and our annual Talent Show called Bowmapalooza.  The choir is directed by Marisa Prince and Raffi Sekdorian and we are thrilled to be a part of Riverdale Share this year!
 

Santa Claus and the Elves

In 29 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 Carrot,to stock up on organic food he can’t find at the North Pole,  Canadian Tire, to grab some wax for the runners of his sleigh, 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 keeping this amazing house band busy by 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 says.  He performs with long time recording partner Mark Haines as well as Anne Lederman, Marie Lynn Hammond and with his multi-talented partner Conrad Kipping.  Tom has a solo CD of orchestrated instrumentals titled Leighton Tendencies and a new instrumental collection titled “Leighton LIFE” 

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 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. Russ is a fixture of the Riverdale Share Concert, having missed only two shows in its full 30-year history. 

Patrick Hornsby - Piano

.Patrick lives in Riverdale with his wife Karen and son Dexter.  He works as a teacher for the TDSB and teaches private piano lessons at his home.  He has performed at the Montreal, Ottawa and Halifax jazz festivals and has recorded for CBC Maritimes.

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Bruce is the one constant in all the years of The Share House Band.  At the time of the first Share concert Bruce was a full time member of award winning country band Prairie Oyster, as well as playing with Mary Margaret O’Hara, Corey Hart, Tom Cochrane, Allana Myles and many more.  Bruce now also spends his time running Cherry Jam Rehearsal Studios and PRB his company that provides rental equipment to musicians

Danny Greenspoon - Guitar

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’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.

Kevin Turcotte - Trumpet​

Horns

Kevin Turcotte

Kevin Turcotte has been regarded as one of Canada’s most proficient performers for nearly two decades. He studied music at the prestigious Banff School of Fine Arts and later, at the University of Toronto, where he joined the faculty in the 1990s. He has performed on over 75 recordings and in countless club and concert appearances. He has toured extensively throughout North America as well as with the Dave McMurdo Jazz Orchestra on the band’s 1991 Russian tour, in South America with Time Warp, with Don Byron in Italy. He has had 36 Juno nominations bringing home the coveted prize 5 times, and had one Grammy nomination.

Sean O'Connor - Saxophone

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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.

Grace Wride - Violin

American born violinist, Grace Wride, is a sought after musician known for her versatile skills as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral player. Grace has seen great success in
competitions, receiving prizes at Silver State, Bushell, Music Teachers National Association and Nevada Allstate Command Performance Competition. Some previous performance highlights include recitals in the United States and Canada with performances of works by Vitali, Sarasate, and Mozart alongside The Nevada School of the Arts Chamber Orchestra and Henderson Symphony. Grace was later awarded the Grand Prize with the Barber Violin concerto during the Henderson Symphony Young Artist Concerto Competition. 

Tristan Macaggi - Violin

Italian-born violist Tristan Macaggi began his studies on the violin at the age of 11, and
switched to the viola at age 16 when he began studying with his former teacher, Dmitri Kourka.
In the 2022/2023 season, Tristan will appear in solo and chamber music recitals around Toronto
and will appear in orchestral concerts. He is currently under the tutelage of Steven Dann at the
Glenn Gould School, but has also worked with Krystof Chorzelski, Karen Dreyfus, Pablo Hernan
Benedi, and Richard Lester to name a few. Some recent performance highlights and accolades
include concerts all over Ontario with the National Academy Orchestra of Canada under the
baton of Alain Troudel. Last summer, Tristan participated in the chamber music intensive at the
Domaine Forget, playing works by Kareem Roustom and Robert Schumann alongside
prestigious faculty. Tristan also served as faculty assistant for the Las Vegas Young Artists
Orchestra, and participated in a series of chamber music concerts alongside faculty. In 2019,
Tristan was awarded the Grand Prize in the Henderson Symphony Orchestra Concerto
competition, followed by a performance of the William Walton Viola concerto the subsequent
season.