Meridian
George Weston Recital Hall
Béla Fleck, Edmar Castañeda & Antonio Sánchez
BEATrio
Postlude performance by Padideh Ahrarnejad and Ali Massoudi
April 25, 2026
Lead partner
About TO Live
TO Live is one of Canada’s largest multi-arts organizations, operating three iconic venues: Meridian Hall, St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, and Meridian Arts Centre. In addition, TO Live presents a full range of performing arts, theatrical, and concert events at these venues in both downtown and uptown Toronto. With these two hubs of creativity and content creation, TO Live has a unique place and perspective to activate creative spaces by inspiring local and international artists, connecting audiences, stimulating new ideas, and elevating artistic potential, becoming a catalyst for creative expression that is reflective of Toronto’s diversity. In 2026, TO Live marks 10 years as an organization—a decade of building a better city through the arts.
TO Live would like to acknowledge Tkaronto (TKahr-on-dOnH), which is a Mohawk word meaning “the place in the water where the trees are standing.”
We live and work on the traditional territory of Haudenosaunee (HODE-en-ohshow-nee)-speaking nations, including the Wendat, Seneca, and Mohawk. Haudenosaunee-speaking nations have been here since time immemorial, and were more recently joined by the Mississaugas of the Credit.
This place has many Indigenous ports, including where the Humber and Rouge rivers meet other waterways such as Lake Ontario. Ancient longhouses, typical Haudenosaunee housing structures, have been found along both rivers and in the north of Toronto as well (near modern-day York University). This territory is covered by the Dish with One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant, an agreement between the Haudenosaunee (Six Nations) Confederacy and the Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) and allied nations to peaceably share and care for the lands and the relationships around the Great Lakes.
What this means is that by living and working here, we all have a responsibility to the environment and to each other, to treat each other and the environment with peace and respect. This means we have responsibilities to honour, renew, and consistently uphold the values and relationships outlined in the ancient agreements.
Today, Toronto is home to Indigenous peoples and settlers from around the world. Let us all come together in an atmosphere of respect and peace to do Good Work together with Good Minds. Let’s start building stronger and healthier relationships with each other, and the spaces which we inhabit in Tkaronto, Ontari:io (on-dahr-EE-yo), Kanata (Gan-AH-dah).
Let’s hold our minds together in kindness.
Nia:wen. Thank you.
©Dawn T Maracle
Welcome letter from TO Live
Welcome to the George Weston Recital Hall and thank you for joining us for BEATrio.
At TO Live, we are proud to present artists who push boundaries, bridge traditions, and create meaningful connections through music. Your attendance helps make spaces like this glorious hall thrive as places of creativity, discovery, and connection.
Banjo innovator Béla Fleck, harp virtuoso Edmar Castañeda, and acclaimed drummer Antonio Sánchez unite as BEATrio. Together, they bring decades of artistry and a shared passion for expanding the possibilities of their instruments. Winner of 19 Grammy Awards, Fleck’s genre-defying approach has reimagined the banjo in contemporary music; Castañeda has transformed the Colombian harp into a vibrant, rhythmic, and harmonically rich instrument; and Sánchez’s expressive, narrative-driven drumming makes him one of today’s most distinctive musical voices.
Tonight’s performance is an invitation to experience the power of collaboration where diverse musical voices meet to create something entirely new. We hope you feel inspired, energized, and moved by what unfolds on stage this evening.
Following the performance, please join us in the lobby for a free performance by Padideh Ahrarnejad and Ali Massoudi.
Finally, as part of Sound Break, TO Live’s free lunchtime concert series spotlighting local and Canadian artists, we also invite you to experience the Nat Beja Trio, and their electrifying take on Romani jazz, in the lobby on April 30 at 12 pm.
Enjoy the performances.
Clyde Wagner President & CEO TO Live
About BEATrio
Banjo. Drums. Harp. Huh? To be sure, the new all-star trio of Béla Fleck, harpist Edmar Castañeda and drummer Antonio Sánchez features instrumentation that might safely be called uncommon. Unless, of course, you’re already familiar with 19-time Grammy-winner Fleck — the genreblurring virtuoso who has done more to expand the possibilities of the banjo than any other player in the instrument’s history. From his bluegrass beginnings through his otherworldly Flecktones, his duo with Chick Corea and his reimagining of Rhapsody in Blue, Fleck’s work never fails to surprise. What doesn’t surprise is the impeccable caliber of his collaborators — and this new trio includes two of the most gifted musicians of their generation. The harpist, Castañeda, hails from Bogotá, Colombia, and has led his own bands in addition to sharing projects with such masters as Hiromi, Paquito D’Rivera and Grégoire Maret. 5-time Grammy-winner Sánchez grew up in Mexico City and built a reputation as one of the great jazz drummers through his work with guitarist Pat Metheny. He’s also been a visionary bandleader, helming progressive groups like Bad Hombre, and collaborated with Chick Corea, Gary Burton, Charlie Haden, Michael Brecker and other giants. His Golden Globe-nominated drum-set score for Alejandro González Iñárritu’s 2014 film Birdman earned him renown far outside the jazz world. Playing original repertoire, much of it collaboratively written, this trio embarks nightly on fearless explorations that audiences will find irresistible — rich with strong melodies, gorgeous harmony and grooves that twist and turn while feeling fantastic.
Photo credit: Poprock
Biographies
Nineteen-time Grammy-winner Béla Fleck—the world’s premier banjo virtuoso and a celebrated musical adventurer—has both explored his instrument’s complex global history and unlocked the breadth of its possibilities. For over 30 years, he has led Béla Fleck & The Flecktones, the groundbreaking quartet inspired by jazz, funk, bluegrass, and beyond. He has written and performed three banjo concertos and traced the African origins of the banjo with the award-winning 2009 documentary Throw Down Your Heart. Collaborators include Abigail Washburn, the Brooklyn Rider String Quartet, Chris Thile, The Blind Boys of Alabama, McCoy Tyner, Zakir Hussain, Edgar Meyer, and Rakesh Chaurasia.
Edmar Castañeda
Edmar Castañeda is a Colombian-born harp virtuoso who has transformed how the world hears the harp. Since moving to the U.S. in 1994, he has built a groundbreaking career that fuses jazz with Latin, folk, and classical influences. A Latin Grammy nominee for best Latin jazz album (Family), Castañeda has collaborated with artists such as Sting, Wynton Marsalis, Béla Fleck, John Scofield, and Paquito D’Rivera, and was featured as a performer and music consultant for Disney’s Encanto.
Renowned for his dazzling technique and rhythmic intensity, Castañeda brings unmatched energy and emotion to every performance. His latest release, Viento Sur (2023), features an international ensemble that reflects his expansive musical vision. Praised by NPR and The New York Times for his innovation and virtuosity, Castañeda continues to push the boundaries of jazz and inspire audiences worldwide.
Antonio Sánchez is a four-time Grammy Award–winning drummer and composer from Mexico City. A classically trained pianist and graduate of Berklee College of Music and the New England Conservatory, Sánchez has become one of the most sought-after drummers in modern jazz. After moving to New York in 1999, he spent nearly two decades collaborating with Pat Metheny, recording nine albums together, and has
Béla Fleck
Antonio Sánchez
also performed with Chick Corea, Gary Burton, Michael Brecker, Charlie Haden, and Toots Thielemans.
Sánchez gained international acclaim for his score to Alejandro González Iñárritu’s Birdman, which earned four Academy Awards and won him a Grammy. Known for his fearless creativity and genre-crossing spirit, he has released more than a dozen albums as a leader, including The Meridian Suite, Lines in the Sand, and SHIFT (Bad Hombre Vol. II) —a bold project featuring artists such as Trent Reznor, Dave Matthews, and Meshell Ndegeocello.
Photo credit: Jamie Soja
Backstage with… Béla Fleck
With a distinguished career that includes 18 Grammys and 30-plus years leading Béla Fleck & The Flecktones, banjo legend Béla Fleck is on a new adventure. He’s co-leading the boundary-breaking acoustic group BEATrio that combines three unlikely instruments: the banjo, harp, and drums.
Joining Fleck are Colombian harp virtuoso Edmar Castañeda and Grammy-winning Mexican drummer Antonio Sánchez, who together as BEATrio are creating an exciting new sound that moves effortlessly between jazz, Latin, folk, and classical.
Formed in New York just a couple of years ago, the group has been touring North America and Europe and is getting ready to perform in Toronto for the first time. Ahead of their stop at Meridian Arts Centre, we spoke with Fleck about the magic of the banjo, unexpected influences, and what’s on his playlist.
What first drew you to the banjo, and what keeps you coming back?
I first heard Earl Scruggs play the banjo on the Beverly Hillbillies TV show. It’s a silly show, but for me the banjo in it was quite serious. It jumped out at me and literally shook me. From then on, I was a banjo person, although it took many years for me to actually get one.
When I finally did get a banjo, I moved very quickly and in three years, I was a professional touring musician. Growing up in New York City, I found that I wanted to play the instrument in different ways than Earl Scruggs. I was also very influenced by my teacher Tony Trischka, Bill Keith, and the traditional players.
How do you balance honouring the banjo’s history with the urge to push it forward?
I feel like the banjo has always pushed forward, from the very beginning of its existence and certainly during its time in the Americas. So, to honour it, you must continue to push forward. At the same time, it’s wonderful to explore the traditions that are so deep and rich.
What’s a surprising influence on your work that people wouldn’t expect?
The Beatles, Joni Mitchell, and James Taylor all had a big impact on me.
What song do you currently have on repeat?
Anything from the Celtic band Dallahan.
How is BeaTrio different from a typical jazz trio?
BeatTrio is rather unusual, come to think of it! It’s made up of banjo, harp, and drums, so that’s weird. The harp covers the bass accompaniment and solos, while the banjo supports solos and plays melodies. Antonio Sánchez on drums creates a beautiful magic carpet for us to ride and listens and responds constantly. So certain things about it are quite jazzy, but the instrumentation and the way we get our results are very different. There’s a lot of powerful rhythm going on at all times.
Tell us about the setlist you have planned for Toronto. We are playing music from our album called BeaTrio, which is music that was written by all three of us. Every day we play it differently—it takes a character of the place we’re playing, and it’s very specific to the audience too.
Why is it important for organizations like TO Live to invest in and amplify artists today?
Artists get to express emotion and feelings for everyone, not just themselves. It can be very cathartic for people who don’t play instruments or sing to be in a shared experience with other audience members experiencing an artistic performance. When we support the arts, we support the best parts of humanity.
Photo credit: Jamie Soja
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Major partners
Anonymous (1)
Canada Council for the Arts
City of Toronto
Government of Canada
Government of Ontario
Greenwin Inc.
Meridian Credit Union
Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund
Major program supporters
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Armenian General Benevolent Union
The Azrieli Foundation
The Barry and Laurie Green Family
Charitable Trust
Donette Chin-Loy Chang
IATSE Local 58 Charitable Fund
The Jamie Golombek Fund at the Jewish Foundation of Greater Toronto
The Lewitt Family Foundation
Meridian Credit Union
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Venue sponsors and partners
Arterra Wines Canada
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In-kind supporters
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Recognition list as of December 31, 2025.
TO Live staff and board
Board of directors
Brian Astl
Chair
Robyn Citizen
Brett Hendrie
Michael Herrera
Sammy Lau
Gave Lindo
Wasifa Noshin
Sun Young Yoon
Councillor Lily Cheng
Vice Chair
Councillor Paula Fletcher
Councillor Chris Moise
Executive management
Clyde Wagner
President & CEO
Isabel Vicente Menanno
Director of the Office of the CEO & Board Relations
Philanthropy and sponsorship
Sandra Bellisario
Vice President of Philanthropy & Sponsorship
Madeleine Skoggard
Director of Philanthropy & Sponsorship
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Hugo Ares-Gonzalez
Michelle Alderson
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Hamid Rabbi
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Ryan Nerona
Marciano Ramos
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Eduardo Costales
Everton Holt
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Omar Nurse
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Colin Dyble
Dokun Agbeniui
Henry Fernandes
Mitchell Langley
Mohammad Amaan Vohra
Mohammed Shaikh
Pema Lakshey
Rayyan Shaikh
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Tushar Somani
Stage Door Security
Mohamed Zuhair
Maintenance Supervisor
Ahmed Akinpelu
Aturuchi Joshua
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Roger Alves
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Rosa Victoria
Sibten Vhora
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Vivian Hije
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Alicia Surujbally
Andre O’Hare
Elliott Lewis
Harrison Eales-Estrada
Ian Romero
Jacob Jebadoss Asirvatham
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Lauren Smith
Mabel Liwag
Mary Siroki
Nathan Papp
Patricia Samuel
Housekeeping
Programming
Leslie Lester
Vice President, Executive Producer
Max Rubino
Director of Programming
Ariana Shaw
Zac Mansfield
Senior Producer
Kafi Pierre
Shannon Murtagh
Producer
Spencer Coker
Indigenous Associate Producer
John Kiggins
Programming Manager
Ayse Barut
Programming Coordinator
Corporate and private events
Scott North
Director Corporate & Private Events
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Social Media Specialist
Thompson Michael
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Communities and outreach
Tasneem Vahanvaty
Director of Communities & Outreach
Dani Lantier
Naomi Stokes
Communities & Outreach Coordinator
Rental events
Paul Gagnon
Director of Rental Events
Katie Uchimaru
Bookings Coordinator
Production
Zoë Carpenter
Director of Production
Anthony (TJ) Shamata
Chris Carlton
Senior Production Manager
Peter Suchostawski
Manager, Theatre Systems and Special
Projects
Armand Baksh-Zarate
Charissa Wilcox
Paul Dolan
Susanne Lankin
Morgandy McKinnell
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Emma Pressello
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Meridian Hall stage crew
IATSE Local 58
Richard Karwat
Head Electrician
Steve McLean
Head Carpenter
Marcus Sirman
Head of Properties
Colton Stang
Lead Sound Technician
Michael Farkas
Lead Video Technician
Zsolt Kota
Assistant Sound Operator
Jason Urbanowicz
Assistant Electrician
André Ouimet
Assistant Carpenter
St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts
stage crew
IATSE Local 58
Wes Allen
Property Master, Bluma Appel Theatre
Jackson Sayliss
Head Carpenter, Bluma Appel Theatre
Giulia D’Amanzo
Head Electrician, Bluma Appel Theatre
Benn Hough
Head Technician, Jane Mallet
IATSE Local 822
Susan Batchelor
Wardrobe Head, Bluma Appel Theatre
Meridian Arts Centre stage crew
IATSE Local 58
Aaron Dell
Head Technician, George Weston
Recital Hall
Finn Browne
Head Technician, Greenwin Theatre
Ian Parker
Head Technician Lyric Theatre
TO Live staff and board list as of April 2026. For the updated version, please visit tolive.com.
The TO Live Foundation is committed to creating a future where art engages and inspires all Torontonians. A future where all the creative voices of our diverse communities are heard and celebrated. A future where artists have the support they need to experiment and grow.
Visit tolivefoundation.com to learn more about how our Foundation is committed to building a better city through the arts.