Their 2012 Canadian tour will feature Hayward's "Borromean Rings", and "Arcanum 17", a new multimedia piece by Williams and Charlie Morrow after texts by André Breton.

His formal training includes a B Mus (Honors in Composition, McGill, 2007) and a B Sc (Mathematics, UQAM, 2009), which lead him to an MA (Music Theory, McGill, 2011). As a teacher, his open but structured approach was recognized in 2010 (Schulich School of Music Teaching Award Graduate Teaching Assistant/Course Instructor Category), year during which he also taught rock (Garage Band Camp) and Calculus (Cégep du Vieux-Montréal). He is now creator and director of the Contemporary Improvisation Ensemble of McGill.

His first documented improvising endeavors start in Québec City in the early 2000s. He is then singer and guitarist of noise rock duo KL6 39e (self released, 2003) and member of Soda Pop (Pilé dans plate-bande, compilation Déluge/Alterflow ds-07, 2003), an experimental and cacophonous trio in which he plays prepared acoustic guitar, roaring acoustic bass and an assorted set of loud objects. He later turns to classical upright bass (McGill, 2006), but eventually switches over to cello and forms Duo Bélanger, a telepath duo for solo amplified cello and dance (France Bélanger, 2006-). As a composer, Rémy Bélanger de Beauport’s premiered works include a piano solo (Les ailes de la perruche, 2006), a piece for flugelhorn and tape (Fluggiari, 2007), and some electroacoustic (Musique cohérente, 2008; Literie, 2010). But he says that most of his creative energy goes to — and comes from — the forward drive, the instantaneity of free improv.

One easily recognizes Rémy Bélanger de Beauport’s acoustic or distorted classically — but also rock-influenced cello tones. We have seen him in collaboration with dance (Duo Bélanger, 2006-) and theatre (Théâtre Émergence, 2007), but we hear him mainly in free improvised musical contexts. In the last few years, he has played in Montréal, Québec, Rimouski, Toronto, New York et Berlin, with artists such as Lori Freedman, Jean Derome, Joane Hétu, Diane Labrosse, Michel F Côté, Scott Thompson, Kathy Kennedy, Charity Chan, Gordon Allen, Pierre-Yves Martel, DB Boyko, D. Kimm, to name a few. His most recent projects include Fenaison (Ambiance Magnétiques, AM169, 2007), Quintette de l’Halloween (Coup de Cœur SuperMusique 2008), Chat Perdu (Rencontres de Musiques Spontannées in Rimouski, 2010), guest with Erlenmeyer (Festival International de littérature 2009, Francofolies 2010), and his own Windturbine Project, a solo with wind turbines of the world (Toronto, 2007; Berlin, 2008; Gaspésie 2011). Let us not forget he is also a rock singer, bass player, guitarist and drummer, a trained classical pianist, a dilettante poet, music theorist and mathematician.

As well as working in contemporary music, Léandre has played with some of the great names in jazz and improvisation, such as Derek Bailey, Anthony Braxton, George Lewis, Evan Parker, Irene Schweizer, William Parker, Barre Phillips, Pascal Contet, Steve Lacy, Lauren Newton, Peter Kowald, Urs Leimgruber, Mat Maneri, Roy Campbell, Fred Frith, John Zorn, Mark Naussef, Marilyn Crispell, India Cooke and so many others…

She has written extensively for dance and theater, and has staged a number of multidisciplinary performances. She got the DAAD at Berlin, is welcomed as artist resident at Villa Kujiyama (Kyoto). In 2002, 2004 and 2006, she is Visiting Professor at Mills College, Oakland, CA, Chaire Darius Milhaud, for improvisation and composition. Her work as a composer and a performer, both in solo recitals and a part of ensembles, has put her under the lights of the most prestigious stages of Europe, the Americas and Asia. From 1981 to 2009, Joëlle Léandre has about 150 recordings to her credit.

As a soloist, he has performed from Columbus, Georgia (USA) to Thunder Bay, Ontario; Montreal, Québec to Belo Horizonte (Brazil); Banff, Alberta to Tilburg (The Netherlands). His concerto appearances include: Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra, Atlantic Symphonia, the National Youth Band of Canada, and others. In the summer of 2008, he is recording a CD of John Cage's solo percussion music for Mode Records (New York).

As a chamber musician, he has performed extensively with Motion Ensemble, Ensemble KORE, les Moineaux d'Entendre, la Société de musique contemporaine du Québec, and pianist Brigitte Poulin. In addition, there have been numerous projects with the Quatuor Bozzini, Transmission, Sixtrum, Bradyworks, and others.

As an electronic musician, Gray worked extensively with Merce Cunningham and David Tudor in the early 1990s. This work led to further projects with Composers Inside Electronics and a short residency at the studios of STEIM in Amsterdam.

In the past ten years, Gray has premiered well over 100 new works, mostly solo or chamber music by Canadian composers. In addition, he participated in installations of Rainforest IV and the Collage Juke-Box project, both of which have been presented worldwide. He has also given dozens of clinics on three continents on a variety of subjects. D’Arcy is currently on the faculty of The Dalhousie University Department of Music.

Derek’s music has been described as “inventive”, “rich textured”, “full of colour”, and imbued with “drama and rhythmic vitality”. Tending towards post-minimalist techniques, he creates works with a depth and intensity that often juxtapose moments of extraordinary tranquility. Ecological sound, field recordings, and electronic sound play important roles in many of his compositions.

Commissioned by world renowned artists such as the Kronos Quartet, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Symphony Nova Scotia, the St. Lawrence String Quartet, the Katona Twins, and the National Flute Association, his music has been performed across North America and Europe, and has been heard in prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall, the Guggenheim Museum, and the Walt Disney Concert Hall.

Dr. Charke is Co-director of the annual Acadia New Music Festival ‘Shattering the Silence’, an associate composer of the Canadian Music Centre, and a member of the Canadian League of Composers.

Called, "the most creative vocalist in Canadian free improvisation", by Stuart Broomer, Toronto Life Magazine, Tena tours and records many styles: experimental, Brazilian, jazz, roots, minimalist electronica, Celtic, spoken word and musique concrète. All of which influence her original projects. Her work has been commissioned for European and N. American theatre, film TV and live performance ensembles ranging from 3 to 19 players.

Aside from creative work with diverse artists the world over Palmer is a frequent collaborator with leading Toronto musicians. www.tenapalmer.net

He has performed with the Upstream Orchestra, including a July 2007 performance featuring the Live Animal Trio and Fred Frith, Lisle Ellis, Pierre Tanguay, and Paul Cram which was broadcast on the CBC radio program The Signal. In October of 2007, Tim performed in the suddenlyLISTEN presentation “Roots of the Moment” with Norman Adams and world renowned improvising percussionist Eddie Prevost, and in the fall of 2008 Tim presented “Eight Ball and Door Knob,” a solo concert of new and experimental music. The winter of 2009 spawned Zakugaku, featuring guitarist Geordie Haley and percussionist Doug Cameron. Zakugaku combine free jazz and electronic experimentalism to create a free wheeling sonic experience that is not to be missed.

http://www.myspace.com/timcroftsmusic

Since returning to the Maritimes Geordie has been a featured artist in concert and festival programs by creative music presenters Upstream Music, suddenlyLISTEN, Canadian Music Center, The Motion Ensemble, Jazz East, and the Harvest Jazz Festival.

As an educator Geordie continues his practice at the NSCC Waterfront Campus Music Arts Department, teaching private lessons and instructing ensembles. As a bandleader Geordie’s music can be heard at www.myspace.com/geordiehaley and on CBC Radio 3.