Workshop with the Light of East Ensemble

 

Formed in 2006, London, Ontario-based Light of East Ensemble has an extensive repertoire of music rooted in the many lands of the Near and Middle East, and it performs this enchanting music with passion, sensitivity and respect.

 

LoEE's vibrant repertoire encompasses traditional, folk, Classical Arabic, Sephardic and Greek Rembetika, as well as 20th century urban music from regions like Armenia, Greece(Asia Minor – Smyrni and Konstantinoupoli) and Turkey, and their neighbouring countries, including Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Israel.

 

This award-winning ensemble (Jack Richardson Music Awards, London Music Awards, OCFF Showcase) captivates audiences in a variety of venues –  from small, intimate house concerts to big, bustling outdoor festivals, such as the renowned TD Sunfest in London, Ontario, Mill Race Folk Festival, Huron Multicultural Festival, Guelph & District Multicultural Festival,Straford Summer Music Festival just to name a few.  LoEE also performs in more formal concert settings, such as dates with the International Symphony Orchestra in Canada & the USA. In 2016 the ensemble's second CD provided the music to the theatrical production of "The Arab-Israeli Cookbook" to sold out houses.

 

LoEE has two well-received recordings to its credit: the 2009 debut CD, “Beyond Our Shores”, and the 2015 follow-up, “Live At The Aeolian”.  Both were supported by the Sunfest Committee through CD release concerts at London’s Aeolian Hall, and since their release, they have enjoyed airplay on various CBC Radio programs, including In the Key of C, In Town and Out, Bandwidth and The Bridge.

 

 These timeless rhythms and beautiful melodies of the Middle East are nothing less than mesmerizing, and when coloured with tints of Classical, Jazz, Celtic, Arabic, Greek and Folk, they give Light of East Ensemble a unique, worldly sound.