Special Guests: Jane Bunnett (sax, flute)

Joanna Majoko (vocals)

Elizabeth Rodriguez (violin)

Saturday February 24, 2018 at 8 pm

$20; $10 Student

“Cuban Piano from the XIX centuries to the future!!! Part 2”

Dánae Olano this time is doing a different kind of concert. It will be divided in two parts: the first one is a Solo Performance, playing original compositions along with valuable gems from the Cuban history of piano; a world Olano has been exploring.

The second part is a new project, “The Art of the Trio” Focusing on the various Cuban styles that have been influenced by Jazz. Magdelis Savigne on percussion and Roberto Riveron Mederos on bass are amazing Cuban musicians who have impacted the Canadian scene with their own projects and collaborating with others.

Dana will be joined by special guests Jane Bunnett(sax/flute), Joanna Majoko(singer), Elizabeth Rodriguez(violin) and others.

Dánae Olano García (pianist and composer), has won several awards at festivals and piano contests and is a member of the band Maqueque, directed by Canadian saxophonist and composer Jane Bunnett.

Danae was born on May 6th, 1992 in Havana, Cuba. She began her early musical training in piano at elementary music school Alejandro García Caturla at the age of seven.

In 2008 she continued her studies on piano at the Conservatory of Music Amadeo Roldán in Havana, Cuba. She graduated with Best Bachelor of Arts instrumentalist (piano) and ensemble practitioner in 2011. She then entered the Superior Institute of Arts faculty of music, finalising her studies in 2016 and graduated cum laude.

At the elementary level of music, she participated in four editions of the contest “Alejandro García Caturla”, where she won the Grand Prix, two first prizes and one second prize, as well as acknowledgements for the performance of Cuban music.

She participated in five editions of the contest “Amadeo Roldán” winning the Grand Prix on three occasions, as well as acknowledgements for the performance of Cuban music.

As a university student she participated at the International Contest Musicalia 2013 and National Contest UNEAC 2014 (Union of writers and artists of Cuba) where she was awarded second place in both contests. Performing with the band Maqueque, the group won the Juno Prize 2015 in the category of Best Jazz Album.

In 2012 she made inroads in music for the theatre, arranging and playing music for El Ingenio Theater Company.

She has performed as a soloist in important concert halls of Cuba playing music by Ernesto Lecuona in the García Lorca Theater; Amadeo Roldan Concert Hall; Caturla Concert Hall of the Amadeo Roldan Theater; in the San Felipe Neri Chapel; and Basílica Menor of San Francisco de Asís Convent.

In March 2014 she made her debut with the symphonic orchestra of Havana Mozart Lyceum directed by Professor Jorge Rotter. In 2016, was invited to participate in the First Piano Festival held in Eastern University, Philadelphia, PA.

With Jane Bunnett and Maqueque she has performed on important stages such as Koerner Hall, Blue Note, Birdland, Shenkman Arts Centre, Burlington Performing Arts Centre, Markham Flato Theatre, Kennedy Centre and La Zorra y el Cuervo Club.