We are so looking forward to this Discoveries - as always there is a terrific variety and we pretty well guarantee you’ll be impressed with the talent we’ve assembled – do hope you’ll consider lending your support to these newcomers.
Now in its seventh year Discoveries owes a great deal to Hugh’s Room which continues to partner with us as we showcase yet another very eclectic group of artists, most of whom are just beginning their creative journeys. The concept is a simple one, (none of these artists is yet able to fill the room on their own, although we have confidence that each one will get to that point) bring four talents together, give each 30 minutes on stage and have each one bring out their fans, family and friends. Suddenly you have a full room and everyone present cheers on their artist and in the process discovers new talent to support in the future.
David Krystal is singing. He’s singing because he’s happy. He’s happy because after writing original music for TV and film successfully for years he has returned to his singer, songwriting and performing roots. The resulting album ‘View from the inside’ is a soulful, sexy, wistful groove, reminiscent of the likes of Jack Johnson, Van Morrison, Chris Martin, and even Joan Armatrading.
It is impossible to talk about Krystal as an artist without first mentioning his parents who he refers to as “the best parents in the world”, and to whom the album is dedicated. His house is filled with beautiful sculptures and oil paintings created by his mother, and the loss of both of his parents in recent years is really what got him back to songwriting. Looking for an outlet for his pain and loss, wishing to honor them as a grateful son, and also seeing the future and hope in his daughters Lydia and Abby, were the inspiration for the first album in the triptych series ‘songs of hope and sorrow’.
Krystal is making the return to playing live after a long absence. He was born in London,England and has been a professional musician since leaving university when he answered an ad in the U.K. music paper Melody Maker and joined his first band. After a gig opening for a larger act G.T. Moore and the Reggae Guitars, G.T. approached him and asked if he’d consider going on the road with them. A whirlwind European tour followed with Krystal playing keyboards. The drummer Steve Holley went on to play with Paul McCartney and Wings, and Krystal followed his girlfriend to Canada, determined to make it on his own. He played some gigs at places like the Dream Factory and the Jarvis House until a friendship with director Jeremiah Chechik (Benny and Joon, The Avengers) landed him his first commercial jingle and for many years he didn’t look back. He formed his own company Krystal Music and Sound Design and has enjoyed a varied success from writing the infamous ‘always got time for Tim Horton’s’ jingle, to flying to the Czech Republic to direct the Prague Symphony Orchestra record his score for ‘Top of the Food Chain’ a feature film starring Campbell Scott. From composing the music for Michael Ondaatje’s ‘Love Clinic’, to winning a Marketing Award for Best Original Music for a Fuji Film commercial he wrote.
Like I said before. David Krystal is singing. And we’re listening…
Canadian pianist Anastasia Rizikov is a remarkably poised and precocious twelve year old who is already showing signs of being “one to watch”. She is currently performing numerous solo concerts in major US cities such as Detroit, Chicago, Binghamton, New York City, New Jersey City, and Washington, and returns to these cities every fall for solo performances. Anastasia recently gave two performances of Kabalevsky’s Piano Concerto No. 3 with the International Symphony Orchestra conducted by Robert Debbaut in Sarnia, Ontario, and in Port Huron, Michigan. In 2009, she performed as guest soloist with the Northwest Chicago Symphony Orchestra conducted by Michael Holian and in 2010 with the Plymouth Symphony Orchestra in Michigan conducted by Nan Washburn, in performances of Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Minor. She also performed the string quartet arrangement of the Chopin in Binghamton, NY, under the leadership of Steinway artist John Covelli. Closer to her Toronto home, Anastasia has performed Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 1 with the Toronto Sinfonietta, conducted by Matthew Jaskiewicz; and made concert appearances in London and Toronto.
Anastasia is currently on the international competition circuit, winning many awards in the process. In May 2011, she captured first prize in the Rotary International Piano Competition in Palma de Mallorca, Spain – choosing to enter the more challenging Category A (up to 28 year old) – the youngest person in the competition’s 18 years to do so – and winning over players twice her age! She will return to Spain for a series of solo recitals, as well as a concerto performance with Balearic Symphony Orchestra. In 2010, Anastasia won first place in the Thousand Islands International Piano Competition for Young People (Cape Vincent, USA). She also won first place at American Protégé 2010 International Piano and Strings Competition and performed in New York City’s Carnegie Hall. She had already performed at Carnegie Hall when, in 2009, Anastasia became the first place winner at the Bradshaw & Buono International Piano Competition. In 2008, representing Canada, Anastasia performed with great success in the Kremlin at the international festival “Moscow Meets Friends”, organized by Vladimir Spivakov’s International Charity Foundation; she was awarded the Festival’s medal and diploma. Also in 2008, Anastasia had the honour of performing at the fourth “Young Stars of the Young Century” Gala Concert organized by Vladimir Spivakov’s Charity Foundation, which took place in the Toronto Centre for The Arts. In 2006, Anastasia became the first place winner at The Vladimir Horowitz International Young Pianists Competition in Kiev, Ukraine, again, representing Canada. She was also given a special award for Best Artistic Performance and, at age seven, made her orchestral debut, performing Polunin’s Concertino in A minor with the National Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine, conducted by Mykola Diadiura.
Nationally, Anastasia is also a first prize winner at both the Canadian Music Competition (CMC) and the Canadian Chopin Competition. The Chopin competition, held every five years, lead to Anastasia’s appearance at a gala winners’ concert at Koerner Hall in Toronto. Annually, Anastasia wins first place at several local competitions in the Greater Toronto Area, including Markham Music Festival, Yips Music Festival, North York Music Festival, Peel Music Festival, Davenport Music Festival, Toronto Music Competition, Kiwanis Music Festival of Greater Toronto, Kiwanis Provincial Music Festival, and the Canadian Music Competition (CMC).
Anastasia has given interviews and performed at Toronto’s Classical 96.3 FM radio station, CBC Television news, Russian MIX TV, and the Ukrainian TV programs Svitohliad and Kontakt. An excerpt of one of her videos was even briefly shown on The Oprah Show during a feature on gifted children. Anastasia studies with award-winning Master of Music Maia Spis, teacher at the Nadia Music Academy in Toronto. She has played in master classes for Anatoly Ryabov (Professor at the Conservatory of Moscow), Oxana Yablonskaya (Professor at the Juilliard School of Music), and has worked with Olga Kern (winner of the 2001 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition). Anastasia began her studies at age five, and since then showed unparalleled dedication to both practice and performance.
Alternative folk artist, Rory Jordan-Stevens, has been hushing crowds around Ontario with his haunting voice, wise songs, and large presence for the past two years. His fourth independent release, The Flowers Are Budding, was finished in the winter of 2011 and is now available for purchase. Many kind words have been spoken about the album. Musician, Ashlea Jonesmith writes, “His self-produced, in…dependently released EP, The Flowers Are Budding, may well be scientific evidence of pure, unadulterated musical genius.” Jesse Cole of Cadence Magazine writes, “It showcases his talent as a musician and singer as well as a rare maturity that is not often found in musicians, especially ones of his age.”
“Rory is one of the most engaging performers I have ever seen, that along with his unique voice and moving songs make him an artist who will carry the torch for a whole new generation of singer songwriters”
Mike Roth, Former head of A&R at Sony Music Canada
As a graduate of Seneca’s Independent Music Program he has had many great opportunities, performing at The Hugh’s Room, The Rivoli, The Cameron House, and The Algonquin Theater. He has been part of two very successful Borrowed Tunes: A Neil Young Tribute shows and can be seen playing here and there.
Jordana Talsky is a classically trained vocalist. As a child she was a member of the Canadian Children’s Opera Chorus and gained extensive performance experience with the Canadian Opera Company, Toronto Symphony, National Ballet of Canada and other organizations. She is currently a member of the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir. Jordana graduated from the Claude Watson Performing Arts Program at Earl Haig Secondary as a voice major and continued training with Professor Carol Gutknecht and Irene Feher of McGill University.
While in Montreal, Jordana branched out of the classical genre, performing with Effusion Acapella (soloist), the Gilbert and Sullivan Savoy Society (soloist), the McGill Vocal Jazz Ensemble (soloist) and the funk band Kokoro. Jazz, particularly vocal jazz, has always been a love, and she became a regular performer at Maggie’s Supper and Jazz Club in London during post-secondary studies at the University of Western Ontario.
Since returning to Toronto Jordana has been performing regularly with some of the city’s finest musicians including Mark Kieswetter, Dave Restivo, Bernie Senensky, Nathan Hiltz, Peter Hill, and Ross MacIntyre to name a few. She also guests with other ensembles and in 2010, she was chosen as one of eleven artists for the Young Center for the Performing Arts Emerging Artists’ Program, where, under the mentorship of acclaimed Canadian musician Suba Sankaran, she co-wrote and co-starred in MARBLE, a multi-disciplinary performance art show that played at the 2010 Collisions Dance Festival.
