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Côte d’Ivoire, West Africa | Manitoba, Canada

Weaving in influences from her African heritage, la chanson française, and American gospel, Kelly Bado’s music crosses cultural barriers to bring people together in joy and hope. Her striking vocals and uplifting melodies were recognized with a 2021 WCMA Francophone and Global Artist of the Year Award. With lyrics inspired by love, celebration and social equality, Kelly is committed to the vision of an inclusive world where we come together as citizens of this vast planetary village - each contributing our unique strengths to the common experience.

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Violinist Jessica Linnebach has distinguished herself among the next generation of Canadian classical artists being lauded on concert stages nationally and around the world. Since her soloist debut at the age of seven, Jessica has appeared with major orchestras throughout North America, Europe and Asia.   Jessica has been a member of the National Arts Centre Orchestra (NACO) since 2003 and was named their Associate Concertmaster in April 2010.

Acknowledging the importance of versatility in today’s world, Jessica has developed a reputation as one of those rare artists who has successfully built a multi-faceted career that encompasses solo, chamber and orchestral performances. A passionate chamber musician, Jessica was a founding member of the Zukerman ChamberPlayers, a string quintet led by Pinchas Zukerman. During the 8 years they performed together, they toured extensively to international acclaim appearing throughout North America, South America the Middle East, Europe, and Asia.  Their recording of the Mozart Viola Quintet in G minor was nominated for a Juno Award and its fifth release, Quintets by Mozart and Dvorak, is on the Altara Label. Chamber music collaborations have included some of the most illustrious artists of a generation - Emanuel Ax, Yefim Bronfman, James Ehnes, Leon Fleisher, Lynn Harrell, Yo-Yo Ma, Jon Kimura Parker, Itzhak Perlman, Gil Shaham, and Michael Tree.

In 2014, Jessica and three of her NACO colleagues formed the Ironwood String Quartet, and they are frequent performers at various chamber music series and festivals, including the WolfGANG and MFASA series, as well as the Pontiac Enchanté, Ritornello, and Classical Unbound festivals.

As her schedule permits, she is also a solo artist in demand across North America. Over the past couple of years she performed with orchestras in the United States, as well as in Canada, including the Edmonton and Thunder Bay Symphonies, and the National Arts Centre Orchestra.

Jessica is also the Artistic Director of the ‘Classical Unbound Festival’, a chamber music festival in Prince Edward County.

Accepted to the world-renowned Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia at the age of ten, Jessica remains one of the youngest ever Bachelor of Music graduates in the history of the school. While there, Jessica’s primary teachers were Aaron Rosand, Jaime Laredo and Ida Kavafian. At eighteen, she received her Master of Music degree from the Manhattan School of Music in New York City where she studied with Pinchas Zukerman and Patinka Kopec.

Jessica Linnebach plays a circa 1840 Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume (Guarnerius del Gésu 1737) violin.  Her bows are crafted by Ron Forrester and Michael Vann.

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Dancer, choreographer and teacher, Siôned is a vibrant member of the Canadian dance community. Siôned Watkins brings over 20 years of professional dance experience to her movement teachings. After graduating from Les Atelier de danse de Montréal, she began dancing for various Montréal dance companies including 10 years of international touring with Danièle Desnoyers' company, Le Carré Des Lombes. After studying and training in a myriad of movement methodologies, Siôned was introduced to Gyrokinesis® in 2007 during a residency in Banff with Dana Gingras and thus began her journey to becoming a certified and licensed Gyrotonic® and Gyrokinesis® instructor. Also an Active Isolated Stretching (AIS) practitioner, Siôned is dedicated to sharing these modalities with professionals, teachers and students alike. She has taught at École De Danse De Montréal, UQAM, Concordia University, Université d'Ottawa, School of Dance and Ottawa Dance Directive. Siôned is the Dance Education Associate and Teaching Artist for the National Arts Centre.

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Esther América Caron is a former professional dancer for Montreal's renowned Les Grands Ballets Canadiens. She has been teaching dance for almost two decades. She is on the faculty of the esteemed dance establishment 'The School of Dance' in Ottawa where she teaches ballet and Spanish dance to all ages and levels.  Esther graduated from L'École Supérieure du Ballet du Québec and has received many honours, prizes and special distinctions. She was also a soloist with Les Ballets Contemporains de Montréal and Ballet West of Montréal and a member of a Spanish dance and flamenco company, Alegria d'España. She received a certification as an associate of the Cecchetti Society of Canada. Since 2007, following the birth of her first child, Esther has been sharing her love of dance with other parents. She successfully introduced the Ottawa-Gatineau region to Babywearing Latin Dance and Babywearing Ballet classes. She has five children who all love to dance with her.

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