Canadian Asian Ensemble

About

The artist

The Canadian Asian Ensemble (CAE) is a Toronto-based multicultural world music collective operating under the Canadian Asian Music Society (CAMS). Founded by acclaimed Ney player and composer Kianoush Khalilian, the ensemble brings together accomplished musicians from diverse Asian and Canadian traditions to create original works exploring the relationship between music, nature, and human connection. CAE emphasizes cultural dialogue across communities, including collaborations between Asian and Indigenous artists in Canada. The ensemble features an acoustic instrumentation bridging classical Asian traditions (including the Persian ney, setar, oud, daf, and tombak) with Western strings such as the viola and viola da gamba. CAE has performed at major cultural festivals and venues across Canada, including Toronto's Lavazza IncluCity Festival at the Distillery Historic District, the Rogers Trinity Theatre, and the Joseph-Rouleau Hall in Montreal. Through its contemporary interpretations of traditional musical heritages, CAE presents a shared artistic journey highlighting cultural diversity and mutual understanding.