CiTR

Nikkei Canadian settler TEIYA KASAHARA ???? (they/he) is a queer, trans non-binary opera singer and interdisciplinary theatre creator based in Toronto, Canada.
He comes from a background of singing both operatic and concert roles across Turtle Island and Europe such as Mozart’s Queen of the Night, Puccini’s Madame Butterfly, and the soprano solos in Beethoven’s 9th Symphony and Verdi’s Requiem.
They have also premiered new roles like Solana in WHEN THE SUN COMES OUT and the title role in SILENCE set to premiere in 2025 with Nuova Arts. Teiya’s critically acclaimed operatic-play THE QUEEN IN ME recently had a sold-out run at Ottawa’s National Arts Centre, and has played at the Belfast International Festival, Meridian Arts Centre in Ontario, and the Canadian Opera Company.

Teiya is taking part (both) as co-creator and starring as the lead in EURRRR-RID-IS-CEE Fragments which is opening this year’s Indie-Fest taking place at Signals Studio, at the Centre For Digital Media running from Nov 15th – 17th, with the festival itself running until November 23rd.

Teiya is also a co-founder of Amplified Opera, an artistic associate with Confluence Concerts, and a long-time collaborator with re:Naissance Opera. For more information visit their website www.teiyakasahara.com or follow @teiyakasahara.
************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

RAFAEL ZEN (they/them) is a queer and fiery Brazilian-Canadian multimedia artist + sound performer that holds a Master’s degree in Visual Arts - Contemporary Artistic Processes, researching anti-colonial + anti-capitalist poetic practices, and political counterattacks through contemporary art.

They research intersections between new media, performance, and environmental hauntology / speculative environmental composition / performance mediated with/ and through, technology.

They organize Durations, an independent sound art + video art festival that offers an open stage for emerging artists exploring in the fields of new media > sound / video art > live performance.

They also research New Media + Sound Art at Emily Carr University. Recently, they have created artistic projects with partners such as the: City of Vancouver, BC Arts Council, Canada Council for the Arts, Emily Carr University, SUM Gallery, Massy Arts Gallery and the Vancouver International Film Festival.

Alongside fellow media artist KHALIL ALOMAR, their latest project, FOREST / FLUX / FREQUENCY is on exhibit now at SUM Gallery Running until Nov 16 (noon to 6pm) and the show is FREE. For more info visit www.sumgallery.ca To learn more about the artist follow them at @rafaelzzzzzzzen on Instagram