Vocals, founder of The Huron Carole Benefit Concert Series

Recording artist to some, celebrated actor and author to others, philanthropist to most – Tom Jackson is extraordinarily passionate about creating change. A bass-baritone voice for food banks, the disenfranchised, the traumatized, an Ambassador for the Canadian Red Cross and recent recipient of the Order of the Red Cross, he is Canada’s go-to ‘minstrel with a mission’ and renaissance man.

2023 marks Tom’s 36^th year at the helm of this national project, raising awareness and funds for Red Cross Emergency Management in Canada.

As a Companion of the Order of Canada, Juno and Gemini Humanitarian Award winner, eleven-time honorary degree recipient, and a proud bearer of the 2014 Governor General’s Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Achievement, Tom is noted for his ability to mobilize others into action – often leading with a hug.

Read more about Tom here: tomjackson.ca/biography/

“I am of the opinion that art is the single most powerful vehicle for change in the history of the human race.”

Guest Artist

Canadian singer and composer Loreena McKennitt has garnered domestic and international acclaim not only for her distinctive artistry, but for her philanthropy and the independence with which she has managed her career.

Having sold more than 14 million records worldwide, she has released eight studio recordings, three seasonal recordings, three live recordings, a live in-concert DVD, and two DVD documentaries.

She has performed worldwide, and amongst her many career highlights has performed for Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Majesty King Charles. She has received double platinum album awards and multiple gold and platinum awards around the world, and is a Juno award winner and a Grammy nominee.

Ms. McKennitt has been awarded the Order of Canada, the Order of Manitoba, and four honorary doctorates. In 2013 she was appointed to the rank of Knight of the National Order of Arts and Letters by the Republic of France, was recently inducted into the Canadian Songwriter’s Hall of Fame, and is the Honorary Colonel of the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Photo credit: Richard Haughton

Guest Artist

Motivated and hungry for new experiences, Ms. Measha Brueggergosman’s career effortlessly embraces the broadest array of performance platforms and musical styles and genres.

Measha began her career predominantly committed to the art of the song recital and has presented innovative programs at Carnegie Hall, Washington’s Kennedy Center, London’s Wigmore Hall, both the Konzerthaus and Musikverein in Vienna, Madrid’s Teatro Real, as well as at the Schwarzenberg, Edinburgh, Verbier and Bergen Festivals with celebrated collaborative pianists Justus Zeyen, Roger Vignoles, Julius Drake, and Simon Lepper.

On the opera stage, her recent highlights include the roles of Giulietta and Antonia in Les contes d’Hoffmann, Elettra in Idomeneo, Jenny in Weill’s Mahagonny, Emilia Marty in Janáček’s Věc Makropulos, Hannah in Miroslav Srnka’s Make No Noise, and Sister Rose in Jake Heggie’s Dead Man Walking. On the concert platform last season, she returned to Carnegie Hall with the New World Symphony, performed Elettra in Idomeneo at Opera Atelier, Toronto, and gave a recital at the Barbican Center, London.

She has also recently worked with the Orchestre de Paris, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony and New World Symphony Orchestras and conductors such as Daniel Barenboim, Michael Tilson Thomas, Franz Welser-Möst, Sir Andrew Davis, Gustavo Dudamel and Daniel Harding. Her first recording for Deutsche Grammophon, Surprise, includes works by Schoenberg, Satie and Bolcom and is one of the most highly regarded debut albums of recent years. Her subsequent disc Night and Dreams, which features songs by Mozart, Brahms, Strauss, Schubert, Debussy, Duparc and Fauré won several awards and her recording of the Wesendonck Lieder with Franz Welser-Möst and the Cleveland Orchestra earned her a Grammy nomination.

Off the stage, Measha is just as active: she recently released her memoir “Something Is Always On Fire” published by Harper Collins, she appears regularly on primetime TV (most recently advocating on behalf of contemporary Canadian literature); and leading Canadian children across the country in song, in celebration of the nationwide campaign for music education.

Measha Brueggergosman champions the education and involvement of new audiences and holds several honorary doctorates and ambassadorial titles with international charities.

Photo credit: Mathieu Savidant

Guest Artists (remote)

From a young age, both Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy have had music in their lives so it’s no surprise that it was their passion for the fiddle that first brought them together. The duo married in 2002, and in the years following have welcomed their 7 children – Mary Frances, Michael, Clare, Julia, Alec, Sadie, & Maria — who have joined them on their tours, some of which also being a part of the show with their own exceptonal talents.

Both Natalie and Donnell have strong beliefs that the farm they uphold is a key component of their children’s education and “running the farm is a great counterpoint to life on the road” as Leahy puts it.

As Canada’s leading duo of Celtic music, MacMaster and Leahy have surpassed many milestones together and achieved a wealth of accomplishments and awards from JUNO’s and the East Coast Music Awards to their very own anticipated Christmas tour, as well as honorary doctorates from Trent University and various other honorary degrees, and a Road Gold Award from the Canadian Independent
Music Association.

Their synergy was brilliantly showcased on the pairs first recorded collaboration, 2015’s Bob Ezrin produced album One, a crowning achievement complementing combined album sales of over one million.

Since then, the couple have released two more records, including their most recent album, Canvas, which was released earlier this year. MacMaster explains their journey in the creation of Canvas as “indulging in full musical freedom, throwing patterns of the past aside. With a few challenges along the way, it was a delight from beginning to end”.

With Yo-Yo Ma, Alison Krauss, Bela Fleck, Shania Twain, Michael MacDonald, and The Chietians as collaborators, to name a few, they have captivated audiences stretching from Sydney, Nova Scotia to Sydney, Australia.

Guest Artist, Vocals

A successful singer-songwriter, actress, model, and television host, Beverley Mahood is a dynamic entertainer, highly recognized, musically, for her multiple solo albums, and also for her work with David Foster with the award winning trio, “Lace”.

As an artist, Beverley’s career highlights include, CCMA/JUNO Award recognition, several TV shows including Pick A Puppy and Breakfast Television (Vancouver), movie roles, song-writing credits (Celine Dion, Little River Band) and time as a celebrity model for Bootlegger. Recently Beverley has added Producer to her resume with her work for the emerging artist, Dayna Reid.

She has performed exclusive performances for the G8 World Leaders, Canadian/USA Military, United Nations and even a performance for the Royal Family. Add this to a commitment to community which has been recognized with her receiving the “Slaight Music” Humanitarian Award and the significance of Beverley’s career to date is clear.

Close to Beverley’s heart is her 25 + year relationship supporting Canada’s Food Banks through her work with Tom Jackson, his Huron Carole Tour and also with Corus Feeds Kids. Beverley’s duet with Randy Bachman, “Taking Care of Christmas” has been a Canadian, top selling Christmas song for 10 + years with proceeds going to the Food Banks. Beverley has also Co-hosted Saskatchewan’s CTV Telemiracle for 25 years and helped develop the Pink Mitten Campaign (Breast Cancer Research), as its Celebrity Spokesperson.

Says Beverley “My time with these significant causes has given me an opportunity to witness the support, joy and miracles that come from the relentless work of those involved, and the meaningful results of the effort. It’s an extraordinary privilege!”

Born in Belfast, Beverley is a proud Canadian ~ “I can’t wink, I can’t whistle … but I love my hockey”

Percussion, Vocals, Guest Artist

Singer / Songwriter / Percussionist Shannon Gaye, described as “the slender singer with the big soulful voice,” cuts a powerful presence on stage.   From the most delicate melodies to sky high, roof-raising licks, Shannon is in full command of her voice.  With Soul and R&B at its core, Shannon’s original material  incorporates jazz harmony, reggae grooves, blues riffs and hip hop elements.

Shannon’s middle name “Gaye” was a nod to brilliant musician and social activist Marvin Gaye.   Oddly enough for a young girl growing up in rootsy British Columbia, she has always had an affinity for Soul, Jazz and R&B.   Early musical inspirations include the classics: powerhouse singers Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder, as well as jazz greats Ella Fitzgerald and Anita O’Day.  Present day influences include artists like Alicia Keys, Jill Scott, and H.E.R.  From a songwriting perspective, Shannon finds herself drawn to the poets – great wordsmiths like Joni Mitchell, Citizen Cope, Leonard Cohen, and Ricky Lee Jones.

Under the musical direction of pianist extraordinaire Kristian Alexandrov, Shannon and her stellar band have performed her compelling brand of Acoustic Soul at festivals across the country and have completed seventeen cross-Canada tours.  Shannon has released six original CD’s; a number of her songs have been featured in TV series and films in Canada, the U.S. and the U.K.  Shannon has also logged many hours in the studio on both sides of the glass as an award-winning voice-over artist and voice director.  You may have heard her voice on campaigns for Indigo, Mark’s, Westjet, Telus and Shaw over the years.

Shannon’s thrilled to be joining Tom Jackson and the Huron Carole ensemble once again.

Guest Artist

With Michif roots originating in St. Laurent, Manitoba, Andrea Menard is an accomplished Métis performer, writer and speaker, who is the founder of the Sacred Feminine Learning Lodge. She is a 5-time Gemini-nominated actress, a 16-time music award winner, and was recently named “Métis Artist of the Year” at the SS Indigenous Music Awards.

Andrea is part of a stellar ensemble cast in the hit CTV/CW series, Sullivan’s Crossing, and is known for her award-nominated work in the edgy dramatic series, Blackstone and the supernatural crime thriller, Rabbit Fall. Over her 25 year career, Andrea has written and starred in two critically acclaimed made-for-tv programs, 2 symphony pops concerts, 2 theatrical cabarets, including her latest, Rubaboo, that continues to be produced across Canada, and has released five albums. Her latest musical release, Anskoonamakew lii Shansoon is a giveaway album created to preserve the Michif language.

Andrea dedicates her life and work to empowering both the Indigenous and the Feminine voice through song, story, advocacy, training, and healing, which earned her ACTRA National’s Woman of the Year in 2021. Her TEDx Talk called Silent No More was created to help end violence against women, and her Seeds from the Sacred Feminine Wisdom Cards help raise funds for the Clan Mother’s Healing Village.

photo credit: Friday Eve Photo

Guest Artists

With a style perpetually galvanized by darkness and haunting northern beauty, sisters, Inuksuk Mackay and Tiffany Ayalik, come together to create Inuit style throat singing duo, PIQSIQ. Performing ancient traditional songs and eerie new compositions, they leave their listeners enthralled with their multi-layered, spontaneously composed songs that blend tradition and technology.

With roots in Nunavut, the two grew up in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. After years of forging hard won skill, they developed their own form blended with haunting melodies and otherworldly sounds. Approaching adulthood, they realized throat singing was not only a musical expression, but a radical, political act of cultural revitalization.

As PIQSIQ, they have recorded four studio albums and numerous singles and perform improvisational looping live, creating a dynamic audience experience that changes with every show.  The sisters are thrilled to share their renditions of Christmas classics reimagined through an Inuit experience.

Guitar, Sax, Vocals, Music Director

_Award-winning record producer, musician, songwriter, music director and event producer Tom McKillip is well-known in Canadian music circles: Tom’s lengthy resume includes many years of touring with international legend Ian Tyson OC. McKillip has also acted as Music Director for recording artist / humanitarian / actor Tom Jackson CC for more than a dozen years, assisting on Jackson’s many charitable entertainment initiatives – a highlight being the annual coast-to-coast Huron Carole Christmas tour.

As the CCMA’s 2007 ‘Producer of the Year’, and nine-time BCCMA ‘Producer of the Year’, some of McKillip’s successful production credits appear on albums by multi-award-winning artists Lisa Brokop, One More Girl, and Aaron Pritchett (whose first two albums yielded an unprecedented, dozen top-ten hits).

For more than a decade Tom acted as M.D. of the CCMA’s annually televised awards show.  His involvement with that production had him handling pre-production activities, budgets, special musical arrangements and working closely with scores of musicians and artists including Michelle Wright, Paul Brandt, Jann Arden, Gord Bamford, Brett Kissel and Tom Cochrane – in the process, cementing Tom’s reputation within the Canadian music industry as a skilled, versatile, and talented leader of large entertainment projects.

During the 2010 CCMA’s, Tom teamed up with Juno award-winning producer Kevin Churko, CMT and the Canadian Forces Band to produce and film a video tribute to the Canadian Forces called “Standing Strong and True”, which aired in November 2010 on CMT and has received over 7 million views to date on Facebook and YouTube. A writer on the song, Tom also coordinated the music production and filming of the entire project, which featured a large cast of notable country artists.

On the ninetieth anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge in 2007, McKillip was brought on board as Music Director for the re-dedication of the Vimy Monument in France. The moving performance on the monument by the Canadian Forces Band – featuring Inuit artist Susan Aglukark OC – inspired Tom to develop a musical initiative to honor Canada’s rich military history.  In 2014 McKillip’s company was awarded $1.2 million through a Canadian Heritage funding program, designed to commemorate Canadian military contributions. One of the project’s centerpieces was the production of a documentary featured on CBC’s The National, showcasing Ian Tyson performing his classic “Four Strong Winds” with a 40-piece military band and a poignant interview with Ian Hanomansing.  Ian Tyson – “Four Strong Winds” on CBC’s ‘The National’

In 2018 Tom created a unique recording project in partnership with the CCMA Hall of Fame, Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association and Creative BC. ‘Then and Now – Volume 1’ is a compilation album of duets, pairing up iconic Hall of Fame inductees such as Ian Tyson, Sylvia Tyson, Russell deCarle and Murray McLauchlan with current country stars including Jess Moskaluke, Brett Kissel and Aaron Pritchett. The album was released at the 2018 CCMA’s and plans are underway for ‘Then and Now – Volume 2’.

Drummer

Flavio Cirillo is a Canadian based Professional Drummer, hailing & residing from Vancouver BC. He has been a professional drummer since his early twenties to present day, playing with some of Canadas elite artists such as Dallas Smith, Jann Arden, Bif Naked, Hannah Georgas, Terri Clark, & Hail The Villain just too mention a few. When Flavio is not touring, he maintains a very busy schedule as a studio drummer working along side some of the industry’s top producers and engineers such as Bob Rock, Mike Fraser, Randy Staub and countless others.

Flavio has a deep passion and connection to music and as well as a “drummer first”, Flavio also enjoys working in other areas behind the scenes, such as being the current Musical Director for Dallas Smith, as well as producing and engineering from his home studio. Flavio is also a proud husband and father. When he’s not in studio or out on the road you can find him at home enjoying time with his family playing sports and music and watching movies together!

Flavio Cirillo is on Instagram and YouTube.

Keyboards, Vocals

Born and raised in Sofia, Bulgaria, Kristian is an accomplished pianist, drummer, composer & producer who has made Canada his home since 1995.

Growing up in a family of musicians, music was revered and celebrated. At six years of age, Kristian was accepted into the prestigious L. Pipkov School of Music where he completed twelve years of intense training as a pianist and percussionist. Kristian’s extensive training and passion for performance enabled him to tour across much of Europe by the age of nineteen.

Onstage Kristian has worked alongside some tremendous Canadian and International artists, including: kd Lang, The Tenors, Senator Tommy Banks, Measha Brueggergosman, Jackie & Kim Richardson, Wycliffe Gordon, James Ehnes, All Star Brass, Order of Canada Big Band, Lauren Spencer-Smith and Tate McRae. Kristian is a long-standing musical director for acclaimed trumpeter Jens Lindemann, Youth Singers of Calgary and Acoustic Soul artist Shannon Gaye. Kristian is also a frequent pianist for the pops program of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.

Recent career highlights include performances at the Eilat Chamber Music Festival (Eilat, Israel), Sochi Music Festival (Sochi, Russia), Bulgarian Embassy (Washington DC and New York, NY), Vibrato’s Jazz (Los Angeles, CA), International Trumpet Guild (Grand Rapids, MI), Brassfire at Benaroya Hall (Seattle, WA), and the Order of Canada Big Band at Koerner Hall (Toronto, ON).

On the recording studio front, Kristian is definitely in demand. He’s performed on three Juno-nominated CD’s:  Lauren Spencer-Smith Unplugged Vol.1 (2020), Order of Canada Soloists Sweet Canadiana (2017), and Jens Lindemann and Tommy Banks Legacy Live (2016). He also co-produced and played piano & drums on Shannon Gaye’s Christmas CD Songs of Joy & Peace.

Guitar, Vocals

Originally from St. John’s, Newfoundland, and after seven years in Ontario, Chad Murphy currently resides in Edmonton, AB.  He has spent many years playing with amazing East Coast acts like Mallory Johnson, Brothers In Stereo, Chris Kirby and The Marquee and Mick Davis & Thin Love to name a few. Growing up in a musical city like St. John’s afforded him the opportunity to cut his teeth playing with truly world class musicians both in the studio and on stage to gain invaluable experience in the practical applications of the craft even during his studies at the Memorial University School of Music.

Often called on for work as a sideman and MD he has been able to work in very diverse projects covering everything from R&B to Hard Rock. Diversity is truly the key to a career as a musician, and something which he continues to pursue by constantly pushing himself to grow and learn all he can. During his time in Newfoundland he afforded himself many opportunities to do just that by never backing down from a challenging musical role and immersing himself in whatever the job called for to make sure he could execute it with as much confidence and conviction as possible.

Since his move to Toronto in 2016, Chad quickly established a foothold within the industry as a band leader and guitar player for many more incredible artists including Kelly Prescott, Meghan Patrick, Alan Doyle, Colin James, Terri Clark, and Kyle Cook and has had the opportunity to tour extensively across North America and beyond. 2023 saw his third nomination for CCMA Guitar Player of the Year. Recently Chad joined the touring band for Dallas Smith and regularly shares stages with the most sought-after musicians this country has to offer.

Aside from playing with these talented artists, Chad has been teaching online music lessons for the past 7 years and has thoroughly enjoyed being able to devote more of his time to those pursuits during the interruption to a normally busy schedule to pass on a deep love and understanding of music that he truly enjoys sharing. With over 15-years of experience in this field, it is a constant motivation for him to help people discover their own voice and provide them with all the knowledge and wisdom he has gained from all his musical endeavours.

Bass, Vocals

A man of few words, his bass playing speaks for itself. John has toured with Natalie MacMaster, k.d. lang, Bruce Cockburn, Blackie and The Rodeo Kings, and played on Grammy and Juno award-winning albums by k.d., Bruce, Blackie and TRK, and Colin Linden. He’s a 5-time CCMA bass player of the year recipient, and Hall of Honour inductee.

When asked, he can share BTS tales about performing on Saturday Night Live, Johnny Carson show, The Grammys, and David Letterman.

He lives in Ontario, and on airplanes, yet magically finds time for farming too.

Vocals

The Halifax Camerata Singers is one of Atlantic Canada’s premier chamber choirs.  Founded in 1986 by Artistic Director Emeritus Jeff Joudrey, Camerata has distinguished itself in performances that cover a wide range of periods and styles, and it has an active programme of commissioning choral music from both Canadian and international composers.  The choir often appears in collaboration with chamber ensembles, Symphony Nova Scotia, and other guest musicians, and since 2001 it has been the core choir of the Symphony Nova Scotia Chorus.

Camerata has performed in regional concert series such as Music at the Three Churches, Dartmouth Community concert series, and Prince Edward Island’s Under the Spire Music Festival.  This is the choir’s 37^th and its first with newly appointed Artistic Director, Joel Tranquilla. Rounding out the artistic team are assistant conductor, Amelia McMahon and collaborative pianist, Lynette Wahlstrom.