By Nina Zhuang Visual fine artist Laura Beaton’s first and defining memory of art was from her childhood. On a trip to Toronto’s Chinatown with her family, she found an antique tea wagon with Chinese brush painting. So many years later, she continues to revere and paint in this highly technical and serene style. […]
By Nina Zhuang To residents of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), Hamilton, and even Barrie, Unique Framing Gallery is an institution. The Varley Markham Art Gallery, local artists, and others all line up at this business for all their framing needs. And behind this indispensable shop is a man by the name of Levon […]
By Nina Zhuang Markham John Loree, lead vocalist and guitarist of Pulse In Tempo, likens the process of making music to mead-making. The initial writing and compositional stage, which he refers to as the fermenting, is about establishing a stable base. The second step incorporates new ideas and flavours from improvisation. And after the mead […]
By Nina Zhuang Toby Ho’s first teachers were himself, some guitar magazines, instructional books, recordings and YouTube videos. With some music theory background from the piano, he began to play by ear and gradually built his way up. It may seem like an unconventional beginning for some, but Ho saw it as a modern way […]
By Nina Zhuang Tracy McGlynn’s exuberant, positive energy is so contagious that I couldn’t stop smiling and laughing throughout the interview. It’s no surprise that her energy is infused into Maggie the Muskie: The Lost Glasses, her jolly children’s picture book debut. Inspired by a trip with her family up north to the lake, […]
By Mark De Leon Dean Aivaliotis is a talented pianist, performer and producer based in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) who found his passion for music at the age of 5. Growing up Dean would take piano lessons, but it wasn’t until High School that his real journey began. Over the years, he has performed […]
By Ella Wen Mark Athanasiadis is a local drummer, teacher, and member of the Markham Arts Council (MAC). Growing up in a melodic household, he was exposed to many musical influences. He began his musical journey by trying out some of his childhood friends’ drum sets and soon wanted to get one of his own […]
By Nina Zhuang John Pagnotta is a freelance musician from the GTA that specializes in tenor saxophone and flute. He has an affinity for jazz, citing John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, Yusef Lateef as inspirations—but also raves about musicians like Justin Bieber, Bruno Mars, and Dua Lipa. Raised in Little Italy, a Toronto neighbourhood, he attributes […]
By Caroline Watling “You think I need a guitarist? I do this myself!” singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Courtney Bowles responded when asked where her guitarist was at her first performance at Stories, Songs, & Six Strings. Courtney was inspired to pursue her passion for music from a young age. Her parents are music fans and […]
By Caroline Watling “I get it now when people say haters are my motivators,” shares 24 year old Markham based singer Miss B. The sassy vocalist with a smooth voice has always wanted to be a singer. Her first ever memory was singing a Shania Twain song for her family, and her love of music […]