2026 Toronto Guitar Weekend
Featuring David Russell

Classical guitarist David Russell is world renowned for his superb musicianship and inspired artistry, having earned the highest praise from audiences and critics alike. In recognition of his great talent and his international career, he was named a Fellow of The Royal Academy of Music in London in 1997.

David Russell is a GRAMMY award winner for his CD AIRE LATINO in the category of best instrumental soloist in classical music, and was presented with an Honorary Doctorate in Music by the University of Arizona in Tucson in 2014. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Guitar Foundation of America in 2018.

In May 2003 he was bestowed the great honor of being made “adopted son” of Es Migjorn, the town in Minorca where he grew up. Later the town named a street after him, “Avinguda David Russell”. In November 2003 he was given the Medal of Honor of the Conservatory of the Balearics. After winning the grammy award, the town of Nigrán in Spain where he resides, gave him the silver medal of the town in an emotional ceremony.

During his studies at the Royal Academy, David Russell won twice the Julian Bream Guitar Prize. Later he won numerous international competitions, including the Andrés Segovia Competition , the José Ramírez Competition and Spain’s prestigious Francisco Tárrega Competition .

David Russell spends his time touring the world, appearing regularly at prestigious halls in main cities, such as New York, London, Tokyo, Los Angeles, Madrid, Toronto or Rome. Concert-goers everywhere are in awe of his musical genius and inspired by his captivating stage presence. His love of his craft resonates through his flawless and seemingly effortless performance. The attention to detail and provocative lyrical phrasing suggest an innate understanding of what each individual composer was working to achieve, bringing to each piece a sense of adventure.

In May 2005 he received a homage from the music conservatory of Vigo, culminating with the opening of the new Auditorium, to which they gave the name “Auditorio David Russell”. In 2009 David was named honorary member of “Amigos de la Guitarra”, the oldest guitar society in Spain.

A prolific recording artists, his collection includes seventeen CDs with Telarc International.

The New York Times wrote about his performance: “… Mr. Russell made his mastery evident without ever deviating from an approach that places musical values above mere display. It was apparent to the audience throughout the recital that Mr. Russell possesses a talent of extraordinary dimension”.

Canadian-El Salvadoran musician Ramsés Calderón has developed a vibrant career as a classical guitarist, composer, researcher, and educator. Based in Quebec’s Gatineau Region, Calderón has performed throughout the Americas. A recent concert highlight was the world premiere performance of Leo Brouwer’s Sonatina Campestre in 2024. His own compositions have been heard around the world.

With his music, Calderón aims to increase the listener’s sense of consciousness and awareness. He often takes inspiration from his roots in Central America, and creates a unique fusion of classical, traditional, and popular music that reflects the richness of humanity.  His catalogue includes over forty pieces for solo guitar, ten orchestral works, and music for piano, chamber settings, voice, and pre-colonial instruments, and music for film.

Calderón is dedicated to the preservation and dissemination of Latin American music. He has established his own archive with over 1500 works of music from El Salvador, and has a large collection of rare guitar manuscripts. In 2019 Calderón and luthier Frederick Sheppard published El Libro de Oro, a six-volume collection that includes the first study of the technique and pedagogy of Paraguayan composer Agustín Barrios, alongside his complete edited works (Productions D’Oz). In 2023 Calderón published Música para Guitarra: Compositores Salvadoreños Vol. 1, an edited compilation of Salvadoran music compiled from his research. 

An avid collaborator, Calderón has worked with Dúo Cofradía  (Cuba), composer and musicologist Dr. Igor De Gandarias (Guatemala), singer Luis Enrique Mejía Godoy (Nicaragua), composer and pianist David McIntyre (Canada), musicologist Dr. Pauline Minevich (Canada), dancer Robin Poitras (Canada), and filmmakers Sarah Abbott and Ann Veral (Canada), among many others. Ramsés Calderón is a direct disciple of the Agustín Barrios guitar tradition and immersed himself in seven years of study with Barrios scholars Julio Cortés Andrino, Dr. Roberto Bracamonte, José Cándido Morales, Cecilio Orellana, and Víctor Urrutia. He is currently working with maestro Antonio Rodríguez Delgado studying his three books: La Biblia del Músico, Los Secretos de la Guitarra Clásica, and La Huella Indeleble del Sonido.

Christ Habib has begun an exciting and promising career, and is becoming well known as an incredibly passionate musician who displays perseverance, discipline, and enthusiasm. 

He has distinguished himself on several occasions, with stand-out appearances in numerous national and international competitions, such as first prize in classical guitar at the National Music Festival (FCMF) in 2019. 

Christ was recently named one of Canada’s Top 30 Classical Musicians Under 30 (2020). In October, 2020 he made his debut with the National Arts Centre Orchestra, with renowned conductor Alexander Shelley in a performance of Canadian composer Jacques Hétu’s Concerto for Guitar and Strings, Op.56. 

In 2019, he finished 12 years of studying at the Conservatoire de Musique de Gatineau under the tutelage of Patrick Roux, graduating with a Master’s Degree and the Prize in Chamber Music. He has also studied with many Masters through the Boston International Guitar Academy and the Domaine Forget International Academy.  Christ is also a member of the successful Canadian Guitar Quartet, which tours extensively throughout Canada and the US.

Croatian-Canadian mezzo-soprano, Maria Milenic, who has been praised for her “rich, full sound” (LudwigVan Toronto) is excited to make her Toronto Guitar Society debut. Originally from Newmarket, Maria has established a strong musical presence in Toronto, and she recently made her way out West to sing in Calgary Opera’s Young Artist Studio as an official McPhee artist. Her upcoming season includes the role of Cio Cio San’s Mother in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, Mother/Grandmother in Barab’s Little Red Riding Hood, and Sandman in Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel. 

A University of Toronto graduate, she also holds an Advanced Artist Diploma in Voice and Opera studies from the Glenn Gould School. Maria excels in contemporary opera, and she was a featured artist in the 21C Festival. Other notable roles include Mrs. Splinters in Copland’s The Tender Land, and Mercedes in Bizet’s Carmen, among others.

In 2024, Maria won first-place in the OMFA provincials in the open voice category for singers under 28 in Ontario. She has been a featured soloist with several orchestras and ensembles, and is part of a voice-guitar duo entitled MileBib, with Christ Habib; they enjoy performing early music, as well as Slavic art-song, which reflects her Serbian-Croatian heritage.

Madeline Hall (b. 2002) is a Canadian guitarist and composer based in New York City. Named on CBC’s 2023 list of “30 under 30 top Canadian classical musicians”, Madeline is described as a “tremendously authoritative and powerful performer” (CBC Radio).  Madeline is currently pursuing a Master of Music degree at the Juilliard School, studying under Sharon Isbin, and received her Bachelor of Music degree from Western University in London under the tutelage of Wilma van Berkel.

Madeline regularly performs in concert as a soloist and chamber musician across the US and Canada.  In May 2025, Madeline concertized in South Africa and taught a masterclass/workshop at the University of Pretoria. She has won numerous prizes in competitions, including the Quebec International Music Competition, the Grand Metropolitan International Music Competition, Boston GuitarFest, and the Kiwanis Festival of London. She is a three-time first prize winner of the Ontario Music Festivals Association provincials. Also an accomplished jazz guitarist, Madeline has appeared as a featured artist on Toronto’s Jazz FM.91.

One of Canada’s leading young classical guitarists, Luis Angel Medina is a distinguished performer, educator, and guitar researcher, known for his deep musicality, technical mastery, and exquisite sound. Founder of the Vancouver Classical Guitar Festival, he has performed worldwide, including prestigious venues like the Vancouver Playhouse, the Pyatt Hall, and Koerner Hall. Luis collaborates with esteemed musicians and has appeared as a soloist with orchestras across Canada. He is currently teaching at Capilano University, adjudicating at local music festivals, holding community workshops, and being invited to teach at some of Canada’s leading institutions. Pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts at the University of Toronto, his research focuses on contemporary Mexican composer Julio Cesar Oliva and his relationship to the guitar. Luis’s passion for music, his leadership in the Canadian community, and commitment to nurturing young talent, solidifies his role as a leading figure in Canada’s classical guitar community.

Having studied classical guitar in four countries, Navid Niknejad holds a Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) from the University of Toronto, studying under Dr. Jeffrey McFadden

Dr. Niknejad’s career began in his native Iran. He holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Tehran, studied at the Conservatory of Amsterdam, and holds a Master of Music from California State University, studying with Martha Masters. He has participated in masterclasses with Álvaro Pierri, Judicaël Perroy, Marcin Dylla, Zoran Dukić, and Pavel Steidl, among others.

Dr. Niknejad has performed in various chamber music settings, and has taught in every country he has lived in. He served as a Teaching Assistant at the U of T, coached guitar ensembles, performance classes, and academic courses. He continues to teach students of all ages and skill levels. 

Bahar Ossareh is an Iranian-Canadian classical guitarist praised for her warm tone, expression and innovative programs. Described as “charming and soulful” by Maestro David Russell and “a player of tremendous expressive range” by William Beauvais, she is an emerging voice in the classical music scene.

Her global repertoire features works from Canada, the US, Australia, Turkey, Spain, Greece and Latin America, while passionately promoting Persian guitar music. A soloist and chamber musician, Bahar has performed across North America with groups such as The Guitar Society of Toronto, Cathedral Bluffs Symphony Orchestra, Miami Guitar Festival and Austin Classical Guitar.

She holds a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Toronto and has earned top awards, including the Eaton and Eli Kassner Fellowships. Her recent album, Variations (2025), showcases rare theme and variations, including the premier of her original work. Bahar is also an artist-instructor with Tonebase, inspiring guitarists worldwide.

Dr. Daniel Ramjattan has become an ambassador for the classical guitar in Canada, having premiered and recorded dozens of chamber and solo works for guitar. He has given recitals in Vienna, Austria, Italy, Germany, the United States, Trinidad and Tobago, Japan, and across Canada.

CBC Radio, WholeNote and Musicurate Magazine, and podcasts like “Conversations with Musicians” have featured his debut studio album, “Inspirations: New Works for Solo Guitar,” which streams on all major platforms.

In addition to his active Youtube channel, he was recently featured on the Siccas Guitars platform in Karlsruhe, Germany. Daniel became the head of classical guitar at Wilfrid Laurier University in 2020 at the age of 28 and joined the RCM’s Oscar Peterson School in 2024. His research on music performance anxiety in guitarists during his Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Toronto led him to give dozens of guest lectures on the topic in Canada, the US, and the West Indies.

Patrick Roux was born in Marseille, France, in 1962 and came to Canada in 1967. He began studying music at the Conservatoire de Musique du Québec in Hull under Jean Vallières, where he was unanimously awarded first prize in 1984. He has studied with masters such as David Russell, Manuel Barrueco, Leo Brouwer, Hubert Käppel and Roberto Aussel. Roux has won awards in prestigious competitions, and has often been an invited soloist with the Orchestre de Chambre de Hull and the Quatuor Morency. He has played for the Queen of Jordan, the Princess of Holland and the Governor General of Canada.

Patrick created a complete original repertoire for his group Contretemps/Go, and in March 1996 they released their first CD. He founded the Canadian Guitar Quartet, which made their concert debut in 1999. He is a tenured professor of guitar at the Conservatoire de Musique du Québec in Hull and teaches at the Faculty of Music at the University of Ottawa. During the summer, he teaches at the Music Academy of the Domaine Forget. Since 1990, his passion has been composition, and his works have been published by Les Productions d’OZ.

A member of the executive of the Guitar Society for over 25 years, Jack Silver has had a passion for the classical guitar for half a century, ever since he first heard Eli Kassner playing on the recordings of the folk duo Malka and Joso. His love for the instrument led to studies with Alexandre Lagoya in Quebec, John Williams in Spain, and Ben Verdery in New York. Winner of a Premier Prix d’Interpretation from the Conservatoire National de Region de Nice, where he studied under the duo Ako Ito and Henri Dorigny, he performed professionally for many years, including a tour of Serbia with his friend Uros Dojcinovic.

Director of DOREMI’s landmark series of restorations of historically priceless classical guitar recordings, he recently co-authored Eli Kassner’s autobiography and is currently working with Miguel Coelho on a biography and box set of recordings of the great Brazilian singer-guitarist Olga Praguer Coelho.

Named one of CBC Music’s “30 hot Canadian classical musicians under 30” in 2020, pianist Jean-Luc Therrien was praised by La Scena Musicale for his “frank playing” and for “not hesitating to go off the beaten track to reveal his personal reading of certain passages – a very refreshing performance.”

A finalist and prizewinner in numerous competitions, Jean-Luc has earned recognition at the NTD International Piano Competition in New York, the Mauro Paolo Monopoli Prize in Italy, and the Canadian Music Competition Stepping Stone, among others. 

In recent years, Jean-Luc has built an active career as both soloist and chamber musician on national and international stages. He is equally committed to education, giving masterclasses and serving as an adjudicator for organizations such as the Ontario Music Festivals Association and Debut Atlantic.

To date, Jean-Luc has released two albums, one of which was named to CBC’s list of “Canada’s Top 21 Classical Albums of 2021.”

Daniel Turner is an award winning Canadian guitarist, arranger and educator. He has a Master’s in Guitar Performance from the University of Toronto, a Bachelors of Musical Arts in Guitar Performance from the University of Windsor, and is now working towards his Doctorate in Musical Arts in Guitar Performance at U of T with Dr. Jeffrey McFadden. His dissertation tackles the difficult issue of guitar fingerings, and he will create a guide modelled after those of fingering for the violin and piano. 

As a soloist, Daniel has performed for the Guitar Society of Toronto, with the Windsor Symphony Orchestra, and placed in International Guitar Competitions. In addition to his work as a soloist, Daniel is also active in several duos, for which he often creates original arrangements. His duo with opera singer Amelia Daigle has performed in France, Spain, and Germany and has also given concerts for Western University and the University of Windsor.

A Canada-based Japanese percussionist and carillonneur, Naoko Tsujita (M. Mus) has a diverse career that has led her to perform in cities in Canada, the US, Austria, South Korea, and Japan.

Recognized for her expressive artistry and versatility, she was a finalist in the South Japan Music Competition and winner of the University of Toronto Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition. Beyond her marimba artistry, Naoko performs internationally as a carillonneur, serving as the inaugural carillonneur at Yorkminster Park Baptist Church. As a composer and arranger, she earned first prize in the GCNA Arrangements and Transcriptions Competition (2020) and the Special Jury Mention at the Perpignan Carillon Composition Contest (2019), the first in the competition’s history. Her piece Echoes from the Sea, inspired by hidden Christian chants from her home island, received the Ontario Arts Council Music Creation Project Grant (2024) and was premiered and released by Daniel Ramjattan in August 2025.