ADI BRAUN is a singer/songwriter with a long list of cabaret, concert and theatre successes to her credit. She has performed in major jazz and concert venues in Canada, the United States, and Europe. In the fall of 2023 Adi released her sixth critically-acclaimed CD, “Night and Day – The Cole Porter Songbook”, which which had its premiere with full orchestra at the Rose Theatre, Brampton in February, 2025. Her other recordings include “Moderne Frau (Modern Woman)”, a tribute to the music of Weimar Berlin; “Canadian Scenes I”, featuring some of her own compositions; “Live at the Metropolitan Room” from New York City; “The Rules of the Game”, and “Delishious”.

After beginning her career in classical music, Adi started “singing sideways” in the late ‘90s and returned to her first love, which she calls “cabarazz”, drawing on aspects from both cabaret and jazz. Adi has received andbeen nominated for numerous awards, including “Best Major Jazz Vocalist of the Year” by New York’s Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs, and two Juno album short-lists. Her repertoire ranges from the Great American songbook, to European cabaret, to contemporary songs by Canadian legend’s Shirley Eikhard and Gordon Lightfoot, among others.

In addition to performing, Adi is a sought-after German Diction and Lieder coach, has co-hosted “Classical Mornings” on the New Classical FM, and frequently speaks on topics related to Weimar Cabaret.

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JUDITH YAN - BIOGRAPHY

Equally at home in symphony, opera, and ballet, JudithYan has held Staff Conductor positions with the San Francisco Opera, Canadian Opera Company, and National Ballet of Canada.

A dedicated advocate for new works, she has conducted numerous world premieres, including An American Dream (Perla/Murphy) for Seattle Opera, Dracula (Pastor/Kilar) for West Australian Ballet, February(Kaminsky/Moore), and Ours (Estacio/Chafe)for Opera on the Avalon, where she serves as Music Director and Principal Conductor.

Recent performances include Don Giovanni and Suor Angelica with Opera Omaha, Madama Butterfly with NewOrleans Opera, The Rape of Lucretia with San Francisco Opera(Merola), La Bayadère and Swan Lake with theKorean National Ballet, and Don Quixote with the Hong KongBallet. Since 2021, Yan has maintained a close association with the SaskatoonSymphony Orchestra, leading nine programs featuring repertoire ranging from Tchaikovsky, Beethoven, and Dvořák to Gipps, Richter, and Copland.

In the 2025–26 season, Yan will make her London Coliseumdebut with the English National Ballet and lead Giselle anda Gala Concert with the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet. The season also includes a concert production of Tosca, orchestral programs featuring Rachmaninov and Tchaikovsky, and Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater with the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra in Canada. She returns to the Jacobs School of Music for a mixed program of works by Janes, Balanchine, and Taylor, and makes her Opera Grand Rapids debut conducting Madama Butterfly.

Yan’s performance of Sasha Jane’s The Nutcracker was featured in a PBS documentary and was broadcasted nationwide this winter.

JUDITH YAN'S PLAYLIST

- ADI BRAUN / MODERNE FRAU (ALBUM)

- RICHARD WAGNER / TRISTAN & ISOLDE / LIEBESTOD

- RICHARD STRAUSS / FOUR LAST SONGS

- NINA SIMONE / STARS

- ERICH WOFLGANG KORNGOLD / GLUECKWUNSCH

- ROBBIE BURNS / A RED, RED ROSE

JUDITH YAN WEBSITE

www.judithyan.com

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MUSIC FOR THIS EPISODE:

AMBE (Chronos Vocal Ensemble / Jordan Van Biert, cond.)

Composer: Andrew Balfour /www.instagram.com/andrewbalfour_

PIXABAY Royalty Free Music

SWAN LAKE (Tchaikovsky / Saskatoon Symphony / Erin Brophey / Judith Yan)

ADI BRAUN is a singer/songwriter with a long list of cabaret, concert and theatre successes to her credit. She has performed in major jazz and concert venues in Canada, the United States, and Europe. In the fall of 2023 Adi released her sixth critically-acclaimed CD, “Night and Day – The Cole Porter Songbook”, which which had its premiere with full orchestra at the Rose Theatre, Brampton in February, 2025. Her other recordings include “Moderne Frau (Modern Woman)”, a tribute to the music of Weimar Berlin; “Canadian Scenes I”, featuring some of her own compositions; “Live at the Metropolitan Room” from New York City; “The Rules of the Game”, and “Delishious”.

After beginning her career in classical music, Adi started “singing sideways” in the late ‘90s and returned to her first love, which she calls “cabarazz”, drawing on aspects from both cabaret and jazz. Adi has received andbeen nominated for numerous awards, including “Best Major Jazz Vocalist of the Year” by New York’s Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs, and two Juno album short-lists. Her repertoire ranges from the Great American songbook, to European cabaret, to contemporary songs by Canadian legend’s Shirley Eikhard and Gordon Lightfoot, among others.

In addition to performing, Adi is a sought-after German Diction and Lieder coach, has co-hosted “Classical Mornings” on the New Classical FM, and frequently speaks on topics related to Weimar Cabaret.

LOREENA McKENNITT'S inimitable ‘eclectic Celtic’ music has earned her critical acclaim worldwide and a fan base spanning 15 countries across four continents. The Canadian singer and composer has sold over 14 million albums, won two Juno Awards, garnered two GRAMMY® nominations, and has performed for heads of state and in some of the world’s most historic venues. She was inducted into the Canadian Songwriter’s Hall of Fame in 2023, and into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 2025.

Ms. McKennitt’s recording career spans more than three decades, with a catalogue that includes eight studio recordings, three seasonal recordings, three live albums, a livein-concert DVD and two DVD documentaries. Her albums have garnered critical acclaim worldwide and gold, platinum and multi-platinum awards in 15 countries across four continents including Canada, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, France, Spain, Italy, Turkey, and Greece.

These successes have led her to stages across North America, Europe, the Middle East and Southeast Asia. Ms. McKennitt has composed music for a wide range of films, and has enjoyed countless requests for the use of her recordings in major Hollywood films and TV productions. She is a strong advocate for the protection of intellectual property, and has appeared before The House of Commons Standing Committee on Cultural Heritage to support long-delayed copyright reform for artists.

LOREENA'S PLAYLISTY FOR UPLIFTMENT:

Cuban Music

BBC Radio 3 Classical

Elton John / Mad Man Across The Water

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan

LOREENA'S PHILANTHROPIC WORK:

The Cook-Rees Memorial Fund For Water Search and SafetyHome | The Falstaff Family Centre

The Stolen Child Project

LOREENA'S WEBSITE:

Home - Loreena McKennitt

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MUSIC FOR THIS EPISODE:

AMBE (Chronos Vocal Ensemble / Jordan Van Biert, cond.)

Composer: Andrew Balfour /www.instagram.com/andrewbalfour_

PIXABAY Royalty Free Music

ADI BRAUN is a singer/songwriter with a long list of cabaret, concert and theatre successes to her credit. She has performed in major jazz and concert venues in Canada, the United States, and Europe. In the fall of 2023 Adi released her sixth critically-acclaimed CD, “Night and Day – The Cole Porter Songbook”, which which had its premiere with full orchestra at the Rose Theatre, Brampton in February, 2025. Her other recordings include “Moderne Frau (Modern Woman)”, a tribute to the music of Weimar Berlin; “Canadian Scenes I”, featuring some of her own compositions; “Live at the Metropolitan Room” from New York City; “The Rules of the Game”, and “Delishious”.

After beginning her career in classical music, Adi started “singing sideways” in the late ‘90s and returned to her first love, which she calls “cabarazz”, drawing on aspects from both cabaret and jazz. Adi has received andbeen nominated for numerous awards, including “Best Major Jazz Vocalist of the Year” by New York’s Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs, and two Juno album short-lists. Her repertoire ranges from the Great American songbook, to European cabaret, to contemporary songs by Canadian legend’s Shirley Eikhard and Gordon Lightfoot, among others.

In addition to performing, Adi is a sought-after German Diction and Lieder coach, has co-hosted “Classical Mornings” on the New Classical FM, and frequently speaks on topics related to Weimar Cabaret.

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BRAD BARKER

- musician and broadcaster

- was the music director and host of many shows on JAZZFM91 including the afternoon drive show for 25 years- stepped away from those full-time roles in July of 2025

- he continues to host a show on the station and work on other projects with them as well- he is a bass player, who graduated from St. Francis Xavier University (Antigonish, N.S.) with a degree in jazz studies

- has been a member of Canadian rock band The Pursuit of Happiness for 35 years- toured and recorded with Juno-award winning artist Melanie Doane

- feels honoured that he has been able to turn his passion, into a professional life focused on music and the musicians that make it.- loves his long-time Toronto neighbourhood in Greektown and his partner of 30 plus years, artist and designer Caroline Brown.

Brad Barker is the host of THE MAGIC HOUR on Jazz FM 91.1

Brad Barker and Jeff Babko return for new weekend show The Magic HourBrad Barker is a member of the band THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS

(2) Facebook==========

Brad's Playlist

BEATLES: Rubber Soul

PAT METHENY: Phase Dance

MILES DAVIS: Milestones (album)

THE NEW RADICALS: You Give What You Get

STEVIE WONDER: The Talking Book (album)

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MUSIC FOR THIS EPISODE:

AMBE (Chronos Vocal Ensemble / Jordan Van Biert, cond.)

Composer: Andrew Balfour /www.instagram.com/andrewbalfour_

PIXABAY Royalty Free Music