Welcome to one dimension of my life.
Musician: composer, pianist, violinist, singer, songwriter.

Daryn Jones is your cultural tour guide as he talks to well-known Canadians about living in America. Irreverent and insightful, probing everyday life, culture and politics from both sides of the border.

Curtis Thompson is a classical guitarist, music educator, and recording artist based in Moorhead, MN. He specializes in early 20th-century repertoire and performs across classical, jazz, and musical theater styles. Thompson has taught at Idaho State University and developed guitar curricula for collegiate and public school programs.

In 2025, he studied with Pepe, Celino, and Lito Romero at the Celedonio Romero Guitar Institute, where he performed Concerto Andaluz by Rodrigo. He holds music degrees from Idaho State University and Northern Arizona University and has performed in masterclasses with Scott Tennant and Vladimir Gorbach.

Thompson is active in the Midwest performance scene and regularly appears with orchestras, jazz bands, and theater productions. His debut album Tonada features works by Ponce, Barrios, and Villa-Lobos.

We perform the many 🎷🪗🪘🪕🎻📯🎸🥁🎺 musics of the world 🗺, bring new 🎶 works to life, and imagine new narratives of humanity through music.

As Canada’s national public broadcaster, CBC Radio aims to provide a wide range of programming that informs, enlightens and entertains Canadians. Our programming is predominantly and distinctively Canadian, reflects all regions of the country and actively contributes to the exchange of cultural expression. 

http://cbc.ca/podcasting

Chris Castro is a composer, double bassist, theorist, and educator residing in Southern California. He is a recipient of the 2023 Fromm Music Foundation Commission from Harvard University and Chamber Music America's 2021 Classical Commissioning Award. His music has been described as "on par with Varèse" (anonymous CMA juror) and “at once celebratory and solemn” (San Francisco Classical Voice). His music draws from the rich tradition of Western Art Music, from Johannes Ockeghem's Missa Prolationum to John Coltrane's Ascension. As a new music advocate, Chris serves on the artistic advisory board for the Left Coast Chamber Ensemble, New Mexico Contemporary Ensemble, and will be premiering two solo double bass works written for him by Phil Acimovic and Linda Catlin Smith in the fall of 2024. Chris holds degrees from the Juilliard School (double bass and composition) and a PhD from the University of California, Davis in composition and music theory. He lectures for the Los Angeles Philharmonic's Upbeat Live series. He is an Assistant Professor of Composition at Chapman University. 

Website: https://www.chriscastrocomposer.com

Contact: crcastro36@gmail.com

Selected list of works:
Babel for flute(s), contrabass clarinet, piano, viola, cello, chorus, and storyteller (2026)
Dispositio for alto flute, English horn, piano, electric guitar, viola, and double bass (2025)
Four Partsongs from Babel for SSAATTBB Chorus (2025)
Lines II - Missa Sine Nomine for Trombone, Electric Guitar, Accordion, Violin, and Contrabass (2025)
Missa Brevis for Bass Clarinet and Double Bass (2024)
Tumba for Alto Flute, Cello, and Well-Tempered Clavier (2024)
Lines for Flute(s), Percussion, Harp, Viola, & Cello (2024)
Forms & Doubles for Flute(s) and Viola (2024)
Two Partsongs for Treble Voices (2024)
Canções dos Desassossego (Songs of Disquiet) for Soprano and String Quartet (2023)
Á la tienne! for Speaking Pianist (2023)
Eight Pops & A Center Pop for Contralto, Viola, Cello, and Organ (2023)
Snow White & Rose Red for Storyteller and Orchestra (2023)
Two Songs & Two Doubles for Voice and Well-Tempered Clavier (2023)
Miroirs Obscurcis for Well-Tempered Clavier (2023)
1722 for Open Instrumentation (2022)
Fauxbourdon After Ellington for Open Instrumentation (2022)
Two Songs for the OPP (from Brooklyn Narcissus) for Soprano and Chamber Ensemble (2022)
Clock-a-clay for Piano Trio (2021)
Beethausenstro - Castockhoven for Two Pianos (2020)
La for Alto Flute, Bass Clarinet, and Viola (2019)
Brooklyn Narcissus II for Soprano and Chamber Orchestra (2019)
Coyote Goes To The Sky & Birds Of Fortune: Two Stories for Storyteller, Flute, Cello, and Percussion (2019)
Sing High for Violin and Orchestra (2018)
Easy & Sad for Seven players (2018)
Choruses IV for String Quartet (2017)
IV - I for Two Pianos (2017)
Choruses III for Chamber Orchestra (2017)
Music for the short-film 'Postmodern Love' (2017)
A Drinking Song for SATB Choir (2017)
Brooklyn Narcissus I for Solo Soprano (2017)
Sing Low for Trombone and Ensemble (2017)
Choruses II for Violin and Piano (2016)
Ruines for Flute and Chamber Ensemble (2016)
Cavatine for Orchestra (2016)
Nocturne for Flute, Clarinet, Cello (2015)
Scherzo for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet (2015)
Cavatine for Solo Cello (2015)
Variations on an Original Theme for Clarinet, Violin, and Piano (2015)
Choruses I for String Quartet (2015)
Storm Fear for Mezzo-soprano and Piano (2014)
Poseidon's Steeds for Women's Choir and Organ (2014)
Movement for Piano (2014)
Etude for Percussion and Electronics (2013)
Fantasy on a Theme of James Bassi (backwards) for Flute, Clarinet, Violin, Viola, and Cello (2013)
Maw for String Quartet (2012)
Brooklyn Hymn-Variations for Saxophone Ensemble (2012)
Song of Quietness for SATB Chorus (2012)
Hymn and Fuguin' Tune for Cello Duo (2011)
When Jesus Wept (After Billings) for Brass Quintet (2011)
Monolith (A Symphonic Sketch) for Orchestra (2010)
Kyrie for SATB Chorus (2010)
Burn Like Roman Candles for Big Band (2009)
Suite for Double Bass (2008)
Nothing for String Quartet (2008)
Essay for Orchestra (2007)

At the heart of the Trio is Silviu Ciulei, a guitar virtuoso who captures the passion of flamenco with the precision of a classical guitarist. He began classical training at an early age, soon winning prizes in national and international competitions, first in Europe and more recently in the United States. A family holiday in Spain first awakened his interest in Flamenco, and soon after, he moved to Cardiz, Andalusia--the heartland of Flamenco--and began several years of intense study. This experience led Silviu to form Tequila, the first of his Flemenco Nuevo ensembles, which gained national attention in his native Romania. Silviu is currently working towards his Phd in classical guitar performance under the tutelage of Bruce Holzman, Director of the Guitar Program at Florida State University, and competing in competitions around the U.S. 

David Cobb is the bassist for the Trio. He began his musical journey in the middle school brass section but soon was lured by the sound of strings and began teaching himself guitar and electric bass. This expanded his classical background into the American styles centered around these instruments: blues, rock, soul and jazz. David studied composition and classical guitar at the University of South Carolina and performed and recorded with numerous artists and ensembles, including J’Ouvert Steel Band, Israeli composer Ayala Asherov and P Funk keyboardist Danny Bedrosian’s bands Som’n Fierce and Secret Army. David fuses the feel of soul with a wealth of Latin American and Caribbean rhythms and the melodic sensibilities of Western Asia.

Rounding out the rhythm section, percussionist Ramin Yazdanpanah draws upon the sounds of the Outback, Silk Road and Caribbean. He plays the soulful and passionate rhythms of his Cuban-Iranian heritage on cajon, dumbek and a variety of other percussion instruments while showcasing his mastery of the didjeridoo. Ramin has performed and recorded with numerous artists in numerous musical genres, from classical, jazz and folk, to funk, Latin, and hip-hop.

The unique cultural and musical backgrounds of Silviu, David and Ramin create the high-energy and daring music of the Maharajah Flamenco Trio


Davin Rosenberg is following