Memories: Voices from the Trojan Horse
August 6
Memories: Voices from the Trojan Horse
produced by CYNTHIA GRANT
August 6th
Synopsis
Memories: Voices from the Trojan Horse reunites musicians, performers, and writers from the famous Danforth coffeehouse, the Trojan Horse.
Featuring amazing talents from a time of cultural hybridity when Greek musicians in Toronto embraced Chileans in exile to form the legendary musical group, Compañeros.
This performance will evoke a sense of the magical period of poetry and protest, of a time when the voices of Nobel prize winning poet Pablo Neruda and Greece’s great composer Mikis Theodorakis joined together in a call for global change. In Toronto during the 1970s and early 1980s, the place to find community was at the Trojan Horse, a space founded by Governor General’s Award-winning poet Gwendolyn McEwen and Greek Musician Nikos Tsingos.
Director: CYNTHIA GRANT
Music Director/Vocal/Guitar: MARCELO PUENTE
Vocal/Andean flutes: NANO VALVERDE
Vocal/Guitar: FOTIS TUBANOS
Vocal: HEATHER CHETWYND
Bass: ORIANA BARBATO
Drums: DINO CARAMBELAS
Bouzouki: STEPHANOS HAGISTEFANOU
Second Bouzouki: KEN KAKOULIS
meet the team
Cynthia Grant (she/her)
After performing in Neruda’s The Splendor and Death of Joaquin Murieta, Cynthia founded Nightwood Theatre where she directed and produced for years including Memorias del Manama/Flashbacks of Tomorrow featuring Companeros. Later, she founded Company of Sirens with a focus on Social Justice theatre. She holds a PhD in Education (Cultural Studies) and taught at several Universities and secondary schools.
Marcelo Puento (he/him)
Marcelo was an architectural student at the time of the coup in Chile. He arrived in Canada and reinvented himself through music. He performed music in the Neruda play The Splendour and Death of Joaquin Murieta in Toronto. Soon, he and Ricardo Rivas and Juan Opitz visited the Trojan Horse playing nights there. When the Greek Musicians teamed up with them, Compañeros was born. He continues to be known for his original songs, playing Free Times Cafe and other venues.
Nano Valverde (he/him)
Nano Valverde is a Chilean born musician/composer. He has composed for a variety of film, dance and stage performances playing in Toronto, New York and Banff. He founded Ayekan Ensemble and composed a multimedia performance Reading Galeano inspired by texts of Eduardo Galeano and Agua/Water. His project Wake Up about the life and tragic death of Honduran activist Berta Caceres was presented in October.
Fotis Tubanos(he/him)
Fotis Tubanos has a passion for history which has taken him to several countries in Latin America and Greece, of course.In Greece, he is well known among Greek researchers and many know him as Mr. Greek National Geographic. He has played guitar and sang in various Bouats in Corinth and Athens and later continued with musical groups, and collaborated with many singers in Greece. He is a talented guitar player and singer who has been on the Danforth for decades.
Heather Chetwynd (she/her)
Heather Chetwynd started singing in support of social justice movements in the mid 70s. Shortly after that she met Marcelo Puente and began to sing with the Chilean band Lallantu. A few years later, the Trojan Horse collaboration began and she sang there regularly with Marcelo as a duo and in other groupings until 1982 at which point she moved to Latin America for 7 years. Upon her return, she reconnected with Marcelo and they recorded their CD called “Vida”.
Oriana Barbato (she/her)
Oriana Barbato is a versatile bassist who has made a mark on the Toronto music scene. With a rich tapestry of musical influences, she seamlessly blends genres such Latin funk, punk rock, reggae, and South American folk. Her adaptability has enabled her to perform on stages throughout North and Central America, Asia, and Europe, sharing the spotlight with artists such as Takilo, La Troba Kung Fu, Qawwali master Shahid Ali Khan, and Juno award-winning Bif Naked.
Dino Carambelas (he/him)
Dino Carambelas was born in Athens, Greece. He studied music at the National Conservatory of Athens and the Concordia University in Montreal.Dino was percussionist with the Athens Radio Symphony, recorded for EMI, Capitol Records, Odeon and Philips with major recording artists and performed as a Drummer and Percussionist with George Dalaras, Stelio Kazandzithi, Yiani Markopoulo, Christo Nikolopoulo, Manoli Hioti, ext.He toured Europe, Australia, Asia and North America with Mariza Koh.
Ken Kakoulis (he/him)
Kyriacos (Ken) Kakoullis began his musical journey in 1975 by starting Galaxy Orchestra. Over the decades Ken and Galaxy have performed in countless events in Toronto , but also across Canada, USA, Venezuela and Cuba. He has also accompanied many notable Greek stars. Ken and Galaxy Orchestra have performed at the Taste of Danforth for 22 consecutive years. Ken has recorded 4 instrumental CD’s, A Christmas CD and A Galaxy CD. Ken is also a bouzouki maker and restorer, in addition to playing. OOOPA!!
