JULIAN AUSTIN, singer
A dedicated Family person, Lion Julian Joined the Malvern Onyx Lions Club in its Charter year. He served as tail twister, Membership chair and eventually President, 2009-2011.
He joined the A-711 Cabinet as Zone chair for 58B in 2014, served a full term and was elected as the region chair for region 58 the following year. A Recipient of the International President’s Leadership Medal 2019, and 2024. Several Certificates of recognition from International Presidents over the last several years. A-711 District Governor’s certificate of recognition, Extension and Retention awards.
A graduate of Advance Lions Leadership Institute (ALLI). Faculty Development Institute (FDI) and Lions Certified Instructors Program (LCIP). Lions University Bachelor. Master’s and Doctorate Programs. Certified Guiding Lion and Life Coach to Seniors Living with Chronic Conditions.
As an Olympian he represented Canada in the Sport of Field Hockey, and also competed in the World Cup of Hockey and two Pan American Games, helping the national team to win Gold and Silver Medals in those games. He retired from the sport after taking part in the Olympic Games of 1984. His contribution to Canadian athletics has earned him two Sports Excellence Awards from the Government of Canada: in 1983, presented by the late former Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau, another in 1984 after the ’84 Olympic Games, presented by former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney. His favorite saying is “If I can help somebody as I pass along, then my living shall not be in vain.”
Lions are People Helping People Everywhere.
Fostering Lionism Through Education.
We Serve.
DEEPANI de ALWIS, piano and voice
Canadian born Sri Lankan pianist / singer Deepani de Alwis returned to Canada after her musical studies in Italy and Scotland. She received the National Gold medal from the Royal Conservatory of Music for LRCM in Piano Performance in 2015. Deepani teaches and performs both her arts. Her interests include animal rights and welfare, travel, and visual arts. Her latest passion has extended her musical interest to an involvement with Recording, Producing , Editing, Mixing & Mastering arts.
FRIENDS Band
FRIENDS are a group of close-knit part-time musicians, with individual musical talents, founded on mutual respect of each others’ skills and concentrating on reviving the pop music, ballads, and standards of yesteryear.
Kevin David, vocals and guitar
Tony Mohamed, lead guitar
Roshan Janaiudeen, rhythm guitar
Mohan Amarasinghe, keyboard and vocals
Dirk Steinwall, drums (absent from today’s performance)
GILLIAN HOWARD, oboe
Gillian Howard enjoys a varied career on oboe, English horn, and historical winds, performing a wide range of orchestral, choral, and chamber music. This year, she has appeared with Tafelmusik, Opera Atelier, Esprit Orchestra, Toronto Bach Festival, and the Shaw Festival. Gillian has been principal oboe of the Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra since 2010, and also teaches oboe at York University and woodwind pedagogy the University of Toronto. An avid choral singer, Gillian has been a member of the Gallery Choir of the Church of St. Mary Magdalene for over 25 years, and sings sacred music, old and new, with Schola Magdalena. By day, Gillian is the parish administrative assistant of Holy Wisdom, and is thankful for CHW’s ministry to the community.
ANGELA LI, piano
Angela is a Grade 12 IB student at St. Robert CHS and a dedicated classical pianist who has been playing since the age of 5. Studying under Deepani de Alwis, she has achieved First Class Honours in RCM Level 10 Piano and performed in the North York Music Festival. Currently, she is pursuing an ARCT diploma. Beyond the piano, Angela enjoys reading and has a keen interest in math and computer science.
ELISA ROSE, soprano
Elisa Rose is a Canadian soprano, recording artist, songwriter and performer from Toronto. and has been releasing opera, crossover, and pop music for over 20 years. Her repertoire has given her the opportunity to grace many stages while performing to many sold out audiences.
Elisa has released 3 albums and 11 singles with multiple songs being played across radio globally. She continues to write and record new original music and perform for audiences everywhere.
Along with her successful recordings that are available on all major platforms. Elisa has had countless media appearances and has shared the stage with artists such as The Tenors, Mediterranean guitarist Pavlo, Mississauga’s award-winning musician Matt Zaddy, Viva Trio, and more. Her music has the perfect blend of orchestral purity with modern pop tones and melody.
CHARLES SARGEANT, singer
Charles’ love for music started at young age.
However, he finally embarked on that journey in 1985. He became a choir member of Saint Clements Riverdale Church. After the closure of Saint Clements, he attended Christ Church, Scarborough, and became a member of the choir there. He has also been a member of the choir of the former St. Peter’s Anglican Church. Charles has performed with the Black History and Barbados Independence Choir, and has performed solos at various churches. Currently, Charles is a member of the Christ Church Scarborough choir.
BRUNO SAULLO, JOHN HANSON, and CHARLIE FLORIANO
Bruno Saullo, John Hanson and Charlie Floriano have been long time friends, sharing the passion and joy of writing, performing and recording music. This journey began over 30 years ago where the 3 were key members of the band Vision. Vision was a progressive rock band that recorded 2 albums that are available on all major streaming services including Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/artist/7wwwTlGG5WPdmNZxm3ZJc5?si=kTHfMkLkRpCOfqBbcvkNJA . The 3 musicians continue to collaborate, and are currently working on an album that includes spiritual music that will be available in 2025. You can also find additional videos and songs on Charlie Floriano’s Youtube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@charliefloriano788) that includes solo material as well as collaborations with John, Bruno and other artists.
DECLAN SCOTT, trumpet
Declan is a trumpet player and composer from the Toronto area, and has performed with groups such as the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Canadian Opera Company and the Hannaford Street Silver Band. Declan represented Canada in the G20 Indonesia summit orchestra, and was an Award of Excellence winner in the 2023 National Youth Orchestra. He recently completed his Artist’s Diploma at the Glenn Gould School, and will begin a trial as principal trumpet of the Canadian Opera Company in the fall of 2024.
TRENYCE SWEENEY, steel pan
Trenyce Sweeney is a pannist hailing from Scarborough. She has been playing the steel pan since the age of 3 years old.
Skilled in playing a wide variety of songs and genres, Trenyce can play music to suit all ages. Having a background consisting of Jamaican, Montserration, Trinidadian and Kittitian, the steel pan is a big part of her culture and she aspires to share her love of music by becoming a music teacher one day, so she may teach other kids the joy of music.
Getting her start by playing in a band led by Mr. Albert John – Teacher/Pan maker/Tuner and Arranger, Trenyce became one of his star pupils; skilled in playing by ear, reading music, as well as musical arrangements.
Over the years, she has worked with various organizations such as:
The Jamaican Canadian Association: Research for Stem-Cell
The Congress of Black Women of Canada
The Ajax Welcoming Center for New Immigrants to Canada
TAMMY TAYLOR DEANE, dancer
Tammy started in dance working with a local Caribbean group. Her interests in dance then evolved and she became a part of the Anglican Black History Month dance group. Liturgical dancing became Tammy’s focus in developing her skills further by interpreting gospel music through the expression of dance. Her main goal is to bring others to Christ by hearing the word of God through music and
expression. She once was a choreographer for a dance group that evolved at her previous church.
Tammy has recently started up her own praise dance classes available to both adults and children in the Durham region. Her hope is to encourage and train future worshippers to minister through the expression of dance.
KESHIKA UMASANGARAN, piano
Keshika has played the piano for nearly a decade with Ms. Deepani as her teacher. Starting out at the age of 5, she has come a long way throughout her musical journey and is currently in RCM Level 9. She enjoys participating in a variety of opportunities that showcase her performance skills and enhance her abilities.
JOHN WHITE
John White has been operating sometimes simultaneously in the Music and Music Business industries, wearing many hats, for more than half a century. From the early 70s on the road in Southern Ontario with the rock band Harlequin, his penchant for knowledge brought the new Music programme at Humber College into focus where he won the Duke Ellington Award for Arranging and Composition. Next came stints with the TradeWinds, with whom him he recorded one album at the end of the decade.
The 80s saw lots of live Showband productions for the Taylor- Fotes Agency, morphing into the establishment of Jonwite Productions – a Booking Agency and Management Company, the most notable client being The BamBoo Club for the first 7 years of its existence, and Traffic Jam / Street Beat and Beat Factory Productions were formulated and developed.
1997 through 2022 encapsulated most recent layer of endeavours. Daily performances in the subway as a TTC Musician was what life was all about. The accent was on Arranging and Composition-personal repertoire, development of musical style, and most importantly, the pursuit of Improvisation as the prime medium of expression for Music and for Life.
DANIEL YUE, piano
Daniel Yue is a young pianist at the age of 12. He started his piano journey when he was 8, passed the level 9 exam successfully, and is learning level 10 right now. He won 2nd place four times in the North York Music Festival and Richmond Hill Music and Art Performance Festival. Daniel would like to be a professional pianist in the future and inspire more people with his music. Besides music, Daniel loves to draw, make comics, and write. He already finished writing five short chapter books and is working on a new one. He likes basketball and swimming as well. He is an animal lover, so he has two cats and one rabbit at home.