From Bartók to Mozart: Flute, Improvisation, and Symphony ^2025-2026

Timothy Hutchins, Principal Flute of the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal (OSM) since 1978, secured this role weeks before his McGill University M.Mus recital. Hailed as “one of the most hypnotically attractive flute players alive” (Montreal Gazette), he was born in Winchester, UK, to a music-loving family. His father, a British naval officer, and loving, supportive mother nurtured his passion. Voyaging by sea from New South Wales to Nova Scotia, young Tim began flute at six under his father’s guidance, soon performing with local groups. He attended summer music camps in Quebec, Germany, Austria, and Italy, and studied one year at the Guildhall School in London, earning the Silver Medal for top flute diploma marks. He graduated from Dalhousie and McGill Universities on scholarships. Offered principal flute positions with the New York Philharmonic, Boston, and Pittsburgh Symphonies—where he served in 2003–2004—Hutchins remained with the OSM, recording over 70 albums, including the Ibert Flute Concerto under Charles Dutoit and the Rodrigo Concerto with the CBC Vancouver Orchestra under Mario Bernardi. His live solo performances captivate global audiences, praised for “absolute mastery… delicacy, agility, and ample projection” (El Mercurio, Santiago). A warm, respected pedagogue and juror, recently at the 2025 Kobe International Flute Competition, he has taught at McGill and international institutions and leads masterclasses worldwide.

Hailed as a “virtuoso, intensely soulful » by the New York Times and « spellbinding » by the New Yorker. Syrian-born, Brooklyn-based genre-bending composer, clarinetist and improvisor Kinan Azmeh has been touring the globe with great acclaim. He has collaborated with Yo-Yo Ma, Daniel Barenboim, John McLaughlin, The New York Phailharmonic among others.

Kinan is the winner of  Germany’s OpusKlassik Award in 2019 for his solo album Uneven Sky, and is featured on the Grammy winning album Sing Me Home by the Silkroad Ensemble in 2017.

He is a graduate of The Juilliard School, the Damascus High Institute of Music, and Damascus University’s School of Electrical Engineering, Kinan holds a doctorate in music from the City University of New York.

His opera, Songs For Days To Come, fully sung in Arabic, was premeired in Germany in June 2022 to a great success. Kinan serves on the United States National Council For the Arts.

Sri Lankan-born Canadian Dinuk Wijeratne is a JUNO and multi-award-winning composer, conductor, and pianist described by the New York Times as « exuberantly creative » and by the Toronto Star as « an artist who reflects a positive vision of our cultural future. » His boundary-crossing work spans symphony orchestras, string quartets, tabla players, and DJs, performing at venues from the Berlin Philharmonie to the North Sea Jazz Festival.

Dinuk made his Carnegie Hall debut in 2004 as a composer, conductor, and pianist performing with Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble, returning in 2009 alongside tabla legend Zakir Hussain. He has performed at prestigious venues worldwide, including Kennedy Center, Opéra Bastille, and Lincoln Center.

After studying composition at the Royal Northern College of Music (UK), he joined Oscar-winner John Corigliano’s studio at Juilliard, followed by conducting studies at Mannes College and doctoral work at the University of Toronto.

Dinuk is the only artist to serve as both Conductor-in-Residence and Composer-in-Residence of a Canadian orchestra (Symphony Nova Scotia). His accolades include the Canada Council Jean-Marie Beaudet award, NS Established Artist Award, and the Sir John Manduell Prize. As a passionate educator and Creativity Consultant, he helps emerging classical artists navigate today’s complex music industry.