ANNOUNCING OUR 2018 WINNER’S AND PARTICIPANTS

AGES 18-23

Agneya Chikte – WINNER (BAND)

SUNDAY JULY 29TH 2018
LOCATION: Simcoe Park, King St. and Picton St., Niagara-on-the-Lake
STAGE:  Swingin’ Sunday Stage
ACT: Agneya Chikte Band
TIME:  12:30PM
TICKET PRICE: FREE * Bring your own lawn chair
or CLICK HERE

Agneya Chikte is a Toronto based drummer/percussionist who has been performing professionally for 7 years. Known for his stylistic versatility, he moved to Toronto to pursue his Bachelor’s in Music at the prestigious Humber College – School of Creative and Performing Arts, and has been steadily rising through the ranks in the music scene. He studied with some of Canada’s best-known musicians and educators, namely Mark Kelso, Mike Downes, Shirantha Beddage, Alex Dean, and Geoff Young. Currently in his third year, Agneya is studying privately with Larnell Lewis. In his three years at Humber, Agneya has had the honour of receiving the Eddie Sossin Humanity Award, the Suyun Kim Memorial Award, Humber’s 50^th Anniversary Scholarship, Humber’s Student Appreciation Award, and the Sabian Cymbals Award. Agneya performs on drum set and percussion alike, covering a broad range of styles that reflect his wide interest in a variety of music and his natural feel for groove and texture regardless of genre. He has performed across the GTA at stages and venues like the Orangeville Jazz festival, Beaches Jazz Festival, the Rex Hotel Jazz and Blues Bar, Burdock Music Hall, and the Emmet Ray. His trio will feature two of Toronto’s finest young jazz musicians, Jeremy Hucal on piano and Ben Duff on bass.
Website: www.agneyachikte.com / Facebook: @Agneya / Instagram: @agneyachikte  / Email: agneya.chikte@gmail.com

Avery Cantello Blues Band – WINNER (BAND)

SATURDAY JULY 28TH 2018
EVENT: SOUL JAZZ in the VINEYARD
FEATURE: Sharon Musgrave, Mary McKay and the David Restivo Trio
OPENER: Avery Cantello Blues Band
STAGE: The Hare Wine Co.
ADDRESS: 769 Niagara Stone Road (Hwy 55), Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON
TIME: 8:00PM –  11:00PM
TICKET PRICE: $59 + HST (Students:  $30 + HST)
or CLICK HERE

From jazz to raunchy blues, The Avery Cantello Blues band is an incredibly fun and versatile group. Completely made up of Jazz Music Majors around Toronto, studying at Humber, York and the University of Toronto, the band performs revived blues hits dating back to the 1930’s with a new fresh and often comedic sound. The band consists of David Cruz on the guitar, William Dietrich on the bass, Miles Fuller on drums, and Avery Cantello on vocals. The Avery Cantello Blues band has played in and around Toronto at venues such as The Rex Hotel, Gate 403, 120 Diner, The Peterborough Live music festival and continues to perform in the GTA. Avery with her extreme vocal range and flexibility, backed up by this exciting rhythm section is a group to watch out for!
Facebook: AveryCantelloMusic / Youtube: Avery Cantello / Instagram: @averycantellomusic   @Davidcruzguitar / Guitarists Website: www.davidcruzmusic.com 

Elizabeth Pereira – WINNER (SOLO VOCALIST)

SUNDAY JULY 29TH 2018
EVENT: JAZZ in the PARK
LOCATION: Simcoe Park, King St. and Picton St., Niagara-on-the-Lake
STAGE:  Steinway Stage
ACT: Elizabeth Pereira
TIME:  12:00PM
TICKET PRICE: FREE * Bring your own lawn chair
or CLICK HERE

Elizabeth Pereira is a recent graduate of Brock University’s Dramatic Arts and English programs. In her second year of her undergraduate degree she performed with the Niagara Symphony Orchestra as Christoph in “Beethoven Lives Upstairs” under the direction of Virginia Reh. She also performed in the One Acts and Mainstage productions with the dramatic arts department, and in her fourth year she was regularly featured in Brock’s Tuesday at Noon concerts. While completing her English Master’s at Brock University, this year Elizabeth has continued to perform within the Niagara community with local artists and companies including Tenja Hagenberg, Carousel Players, and Chorus Niagara as a Robert Cooper Choral Scholar under the baton of Bob Cooper. She has explored and expand her jazz vocals independently as well as at Essential Collective Theatre’s annual Burlesque night, and also performed in their collaborative Senior Stories project.
Instagram: @elleinprogress

Michael Morabito – WINNER (SOLO INSTRUMENTALIST)

FRIDAY JULY 27TH 2018
FEATURE:  Jim John’s Swing Shift Big Band with Guest Vocalist Christopher Alan Graves & Heather Bambrick
OPENING ACT:  Michael Morabito
EVENT: JAZZ in the CITY – Flagship Event
STAGE: Partridge Hall / FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre
LOCATION: 250 St. Paul St. St. Catharines, ON
TIME: 7:30PM -11:00PM
TICKET PRICE: $59 + HST
or CLICK HERE

Mike Morabito is a young alto saxophonist bursting into the music scene of Hamilton and the Niagara Region. Mike was born and raised in Welland, Ontario and it was here that he discovered his love for music. Upon entering high school Mike started playing the saxophone and spent his high school years playing in a variety of ensembles from the concert band to the award winning Notre Dame Jazz Band. It was in high school that he started playing his first professional gigs and decided to attend Mohawk College to pursue his craft. Mike attended Mohawk and studied privately with Adrean Farrugia, Michael Stuart and Darcy Hepner. He has since completed the Applied Music program at Mohawk with honours and is currently enrolled in the Bachelors of Music program at Humber College. Mike has also played many festivals around Ontario such as the TD Niagara Jazz Fest, the TD Oakville Jazz Fest, TD Brantford Jazz Fest, Twilight Jazz Fest and Toronto Undergrad Jazz Fest. He spends his time tirelessly working at growing as a musician and striving to achieve his goal of inspiring others the same way he is inspired by his favourite musicians.
Instragram: @mike.morabito / Facebook: @Michael.Morabito / Email: m.morabito22@gmail.com

Chloë Rabideau – RUNNER UP (SOLO VOCALIST)

SUNDAY JULY 29TH 2018
EVENT: JAZZ in the PARK
LOCATION: Simcoe Park, King St. and Picton St., Niagara-on-the-Lake
STAGE:  Steinway Stage
ACT: Chloe Rabideau
TIME:  11:45AM
TICKET PRICE: FREE * Bring your own lawn chair
or CLICK HERE

Chloë Rabideau is a 20-year-old singer-songwriter from St. Catharines, ON. She started performing at a young age of 3, busking for ice-cream money with her karaoke machine on the docks of a local beach hot-spot. She has since then developed her song-writing and performing abilities, gigging all over the Niagara region, solo, and with various bands. In 2015, She released her first EP of original songs, with funding help from FACTOR and Ontario Arts Council. In the past few years, Chloë has been less active in the performing realm; while recovering from a vocal nodule removal surgery, she has been writing up a storm and learning about production and healthy vocal technique, working with producers and teachers in Niagara and Toronto. She is currently in the studio, excited to be finishing up a series of singles to be released throughout the summer 2018.
Facebook: uknowchlo   / Youtube: StarScarf / Instagram: @uknowchlo  

Cynthia Fay – RUNNER UP (BAND)

SUNDAY JULY 22ND 2018
EVENT: WORLD MUSIC on the BEACH
ACT:  Cynthia Fay Band
STAGE:  PAVILION Stage
ADDRESS: 1 Lakeport Road, Port Dalhousie, St. Catharines, ON
TIME:  11:45AM
TICKET PRICE:  FREE * Bring your own lawn chair
or CLICK HERE

Cynthia Fay is a soul/folk/RnB/Jazz influenced singer & songwriter from Sarnia Ontario that will be performing as a trio with fellow Sarnian & talented saxophone playing musician Chris Molyneaux, and  Stouffville-based pianist/guitarist/composer, Stephen Halsey. They have performed for various events in and around Toronto and Sarnia with the full band “Cynthia Fay and Friends”, and as a trio. The trio have all come together and met through the Bachelor of Music program in Humber College. They have played together at the Sarnia Artwalk last month, are are happy to be playing at the Niagara Jazz Festival as a Band this year. Last year Cynthia entered in the Solo category and Stephen accompanied Cynthia Fay in her performance of her original tune, “I Just Wanna Know You” at the Hare Winery for Soul Jazz night, placing first as a soloist. This year after traveling and being inspired by incredible musicians they had the pleasure of experiencing in New York, they will be playing as a trio a couple of their favorite Jazz tunes with their in the moment- honest- music loving energy.
Facebook: @CynthiaFayMusic  / Instagram: @CynthiaFaygm / Soundcloud:  soundcloud.com/cynthia-fay-marhue / Youtube: Cynthia
Facebook: @StephenHalsey / Instagram: @Stephenandthemusic / Youtube: Stephanandthemusic
Facebook: @ChrisMolyneauxMusic

Evan Dim – RUNNER UP (SOLO INSTRUMENTALIST)

THURSDAY JULY19TH 2018
EVENT: TWILIGHT JAZZ in the CLUBS: Part ONE
FEATURE:  DUNCAN HOPKINS TRIO
OPENING ACT: Evan Dim
STAGE:  The Warehouse Concert Hall
ADDRESS: 11 Geneva St, St. Catharines, ON
TIME:  9:00PM – Midnight
TICKET PRICE:  $29 + HST ($15 + HST for students)
OR CLICK HERE

Recently, Evan was 1 of 4 guitarists in the world accepted to the 3rd best music school in the world, the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, for a Bachelors of Music with Honours in performance. Evan is a professional multi-instrumentalist, recording artist, teacher, and performing musician. He has been performing music from the age of 8 and started teaching professionally at the age of 13. Evan has won consecutive 1st places in regional and provincial guitar competitions. Evan holds first class honors in advanced rudiments theory and grade 10 practical guitar from the Royal Conservatory of Toronto. During his classical studies he has studied with the best international guitarists and teachers coming all over the globe from Peru to Scotland. He is the youngest guitarist to be commissioned to perform with the Niagara Youth Symphony Orchestra.
Instagram: @evan_dim  / Youtube: Evan Dim

Matt Lagan – RUNNER UP (BAND)

AGES 13-17

4 Beats Behind – WINNER (BAND)

FRIDAY JULY 27TH 2018
EVENT: TWILIGHT JAZZ in the CLUBS:  Part FOUR
FEATURE:  HEILLIG MANOUEVRE
OPENING ACT: 4 Beats Behind
STAGE:  Mahtay Café and Lounge
ADDRESS: 241 St. Paul Street, St. Catharines, ON
TIME: 9:00PM – Midnight
TICKET PRICE: $29 + HST ($15 for students)
OR CLICK HERE

We are a group of young folk who want to put the FUN in FUNKY! Niagara based jazz-funk sextet.
facebook.com/4BeatsBehind

Sydney Bergevin – WINNER (SOLO VOCALIST)

SUNDAY JULY 29TH 2018
EVENT: JAZZ in the PARK
LOCATION: Simcoe Park, King St. and Picton St., Niagara-on-the-Lake
STAGE:  Swingin’ Sunday Stage
ACT: Sydney Bergevin
TIME:  12:15PM
TICKET PRICE: FREE * Bring your own lawn chair
or CLICK HERE

Sydney Bergevin is a dynamic young performer from Fonthill, ON who has been exciting audiences for a number of years in concerts, musicals and guest appearances with several groups throughout Niagara, Hamilton and Toronto.  She is the winner of the 2017 Jazz for the Ages contest at the TD Niagara Jazz Festival (in her category of voices from 13 to 17), opened up the Jazz Festival in Niagara and performed at the music of the Charlie Brown Christmas at the First Ontario Performing Arts Center in St. Catharines, ON. Sydney has performed with a number of artists including Peter Shea and Juliet Dunn, Mark Inneo (drummer for the Canadian Tenors), Liberty Silver and Eddy Bullen, Clark Johnston and numerous others.  She recorded an album of songs from the American Songbook in Orlando, Florida when she was between 14 and 15, and has recorded four original songs.  Sydney has performed as Audrey in “Little Shop of Horrors , Rizzo in “Grease”, Tracy in “Hairspray” as well as many other musical theatre performances.
Website: sydneybergevin.com / Youtube: Sydney Bergevin 

Disciples of Mountain – RUNNER UP (BAND)

12 AND UNDER

Carolina Marhue – WINNER (SOLO VOCALIST)

FINALISTS

Bryan Dowd – SOLO INSTRUMENTALIST

Bryan is currently enrolled at Fanshawe College for Music Industry Arts and going into his second year.  Bryan has played drums for almost 9 years, but only just started getting into jazz music in the past couple of years.  He’s thrilled to have this opportunity of playing in the festival this year in the Jazz 4 The Ages Youth Competition!
Instagram: @bryan_dowd

Dawson Chamberlain – SOLO INSTRUMENTALIST

Dawson is an 18 y/o guitarist, originally hailing from Pelham, Ontario. Becoming interested in music at a young age, he picked up the instrument and began to teach himself. Quickly forming bands of various styles with friends as well as joining the Notre Dame Jazz Bands, Dawson started to perform in many settings throughout Niagara. He remained self-taught until his first year studying Jazz at the University of Toronto under the instruction of many Juno award winning jazz musicians such as, David Occhipinti, Jim Lewis and Mike Murley. Dawson is excited for this opportunity to play with great musicians and meet young jazz musicians like himself.

Joel Lewczynski – SOLO INSTRUMENTALIST

Joel Lewczynski is a multi-instrumentalist from St. Catharines, Ontario. His dreams of becoming a professional musician began at the young age of 8 and since then have become a reality. Having just graduated with honours from the Bachelor of Music program from Humber College, Lewczynski Continues to spread his love of music by performing   multiple groups and as a solo act all around the GTA. Some of his Projects include: drummer for “Back In The Daze” (Niagara based classic rock cover band), lead guitarist for “It’s All Been Done” (Niagara’s Barenaked Ladies tribute band), lead guitarist for “Celebrating Genesis” (A Genesis tribute show happening this August 24/25th). Some notable past projects include: drummer for the “Honeyrunners” (2016-2018, Toronto based band), Guitarist for “Jesus Christ Superstar In Concert” (2018 in Toronto), Guitarist for an original musical at the SHAW festival theatre (2017).  You can check out some of Lewczynski’s original music on his bandcamp page which will be released later this summer on all streaming services (Apple Music, iTunes, Spotify, etc…) Please contact jlewczynski.music@gmail.com for more information on upcoming shows or any inquiries and pricing for hiring him for one of your events.
Instagram: @joellewczynski / Facebook: Joel Lewczynski / Bandcamp: jlewczynskimusic.bandcamp.com / Email: jlewczynski.music@gmail.com