Culture at Riverwood

Culture at Riverwood 2025 Season
July 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
August 6, 13, 20
Performances begin at 7:30 pm
MacEwan Barn
4150 Riverwood Park Lane, Mississauga

Culture at Riverwood is back this summer with a slate of concerts set to the beautiful backdrop of the MacEwan Terrace Garden! Whether you're hoping to take in some soothing classical music or hear something fresh and experimental, this year's performers have you covered.

Performers will play inside the MacEwan Barn. Concertgoers are able to take in each show from just outside the Barn. Please bring your own chair as seating will not be provided.

All shows are free to attend, and registration is not required, but please consider making donations to The Riverwood Conservancy, Visual Arts Mississauga, and the Chamber Music Society of Mississauga so we can continue to provide these accessible concerts for years to come.

Please note that in the event of inclement weather, the concert will be moved to Erin Mills United Church, 3010 The Collegeway, Mississauga.

Tadioli Duo
July 2 | 7:30 pm

Praised for their spirited and sensitive performances, violinist Suhashini Arulanandam and cellist Sybil Shanahan have performed together as the Tadioli Duo since 2018. The duo presents thoughtfully curated programs, inspired by their deep well of collective musical interests and personal cultural heritages. In addition to masterworks from the Western Classical repertoire, the duo has sought out works by composers who incorporate folk and popular music traditions such as fiddle from North America and the UK, tango from Argentina and Uruguay, Sri Lankan folk music, and Indian classical music. Their program this season will include one of Canadian composer Janet Danielson’s “Three Spiral Variations on the McAllister Fling” as well as the fiery “Dhipli Zyia” by Romanian-born Greek composer Iannis Xenakis.

inVent Trio
July 9 | 7:30 pm

Anthony Thompson (clarinet), a freelance clarinettist performing with Toronto Symphony, Canadian Opera Company, and top new music ensembles across Canada.

Sophie Lanthier (flute), a dynamic performer dedicated to contemporary flute repertoire, with training from University of Toronto, Glenn Gould School, and Northwestern.

Kevin Harris (bassoon), a versatile bassoonist performing with orchestras across Ontario, member of Blythwood Winds, and creative pop bassoon band DFM.

Tamar Ilana and Dennis Duffin
July 16 | 7:30 pm

Tamar Ilana is an internationally renowned award-winning vocalist in over 20 languages, a mesmerizing flamenco dancer and choreographer and a performing arts curator focused on presenting IBPOC and women/gender diverse artists. Tamar grew up on stage and on the road as the daughter of a touring ethnomusicologist, is of Ashkenazi-Jewish, Saulteaux-Cree, Romanian, and Scottish descent and is a Member of Pasqua First Nation. Tamar has released four albums and been nominated for four Canadian Folk Music Awards with her world music project Ventanas with whom she has also toured across Canada, the US, Colombia, Spain, Portugal, and Ireland.

Dennis Duffin, a Toronto-born flamenco guitarist, grew up immersed in music, learning Flamenco from his father and performing as a teenager. His professional career began with renowned Canadian companies like the Esmeralda Enrique Spanish Dance Company and extended into a seven-year national tour with Fin de Fiesta Flamenco. Currently based in Seville, Dennis performs in Tablaos alongside esteemed artists and participates in international productions, including La Tormenta (Canada), Soledad (Estonia), and Entre Luz y Sombra (Austria). His recordings include the solo album Camino Flamenco (2017) and several collaborative projects. Dennis has performed in over 14 countries worldwide.

Moskitto Bar
July 23 | 7:30 pm

Moskitto Bar is a fresh and unique sound created in the multi-cultural hub of Toronto. Their sound combines a beautiful and original mix of Ukrainian, Balkan, Iraqi, and French Celtic music. The project was initiated by Tangi Ropars when he met newcomers Yura, from Ukraine, and Ahmed, from Iraq. In June 2016, during a gathering in Northern Ontario, they met every day in the woods to share and teach each other their respective melodies and rhythms. As they were playing, the rural Ontario mosquitos, were joyfully feasting on the multicultural group, inspiring their name. Almost two years later, the trio connected with the notable violin player, Fethi Nadjem freshly landed for Algeria, adding his oriental flavour to the sound mix.

Peter Eom
July 30 | 7:30 pm

Hailed for his “flowing, lyrical quality of sound” and “agility, purity of intonation, and sureness of taste” (Süddeutsche Zeitung), cellist Peter Eom (pronounced “aw-m”) has performed as soloist across North America, Asia, and Europe with orchestras including the National Symphony Orchestra, Denver Philharmonic, Phoenix Symphony, and MusicaNova Orchestra. He is also the cellist of the Rolston String Quartet, first prize winner of the 12th Banff International String Quartet Competition, and the genre-defying Toronto ensemble The Happenstancers. He has taught at institutions including Yale, Duke, and the Royal Conservatory in Toronto, and holds degrees from Colburn Conservatory, Northwestern University, and the Royal Conservatory in Toronto.

Venuti String Quartet
August 6 | 7:30 pm

The Venuti String Quartet is made up of some of the most sought after freelance musicians in Toronto. Their members – Rebekah Wolkstein, Drew Jurecka, Shannon Knights, and Amahl Arulanandam – frequently perform with many of the major orchestral ensembles in Toronto, including The Toronto Symphony Orchestra, The Canadian Opera Company, The National Ballet of Canada and Tafelmusik. They are a highly versatile group comfortable performing not only the great classical repertoire but also jazz, contemporary and many other musical genres. Violinist, Drew Jurecka, also composes and arranges for the quartet.

Waleed Kush Afro-Jazz
August 13 | 7:30 pm

Waleed Kush Afro-Jazz is always evolving, just like the artists and landscapes that inspire it. The band lives in a constant state of “becoming,” embracing a spirit of exploration, inclusivity, and accessibility. Their music is a rich blend of African rhythms and American jazz harmonies to create a true cultural melting pot. More than just a band, Waleed Kush-Afro Jazz draws from African values of community and shared knowledge. The group isn’t solely about performing; it’s dedicated to building connections, both within the ensemble and with audiences. Through their music and interaction with audiences, they create a space for healing – for themselves and everyone they reach.

Medusa Quartet
August 20 | 7:30 pm

Get ready to stomp your feet, laugh, cry, and hear sounds you've never heard before with this electrifying chamber-folk band. Wielding forgotten fiddles that could turn classical music scholars to stone, these four folk musicians are reimagining the Western string quartet. Medusa cross-pollinates traditional music from around the world with original music, engaging stories, and their one-of-a-kind stringed instruments to create a “must-see live show!" (Sam Boer, Exclaim!). Medusa is Georgia Hathaway, Lea Kirstein, Marta Sołek, and Saskia Tomkins.