A Journey in Rhythm: Music Across Traditions

Friday, February 13, 2026 | 7:30 pm

Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre
355 Cooper Street, Ottawa (entrance on Lisgar Street)

Join “exuberantly creative” (New York Times) composer-conductor-performer Dinuk Wijeratne for his highly anticipated debut with Thirteen Strings in an evening that promises to transport audiences across continents and cultures.

The centerpiece of this international odyssey is Wijeratne’s electrifying Gajaga Vannama, the work that brought audiences to their feet at its 2019 Manitoba Chamber Orchestra premiere. As the MCO noted, this “tapestry of rollicking Sri Lankan rhythms and Mozartian colour” stands as “one of Canada’s most important in recent history,” showcasing Dinuk’s remarkable ability to bridge Eastern and Western classical traditions.

Shawn Mativetsky—Canada’s leading ambassador of the tabla—joins as special guest. Like Dinuk, Mativetsky is a pioneer in bridging Eastern and Western musical worlds, making him the perfect collaborator for Wijeratne’s exploration of cross-cultural soundscapes. Their partnership reflects Dinuk’s own love affair with the tabla, an instrument that has profoundly shaped his compositional voice.

Curated personally by Wijeratne, the program takes you on a musical journey from the Middle-Eastern rhythms of Kareem Roustom’s Dabke to the folk-inspired intricacies of Bartók’s Danses Paysanes. Along the way, discover Wijeratne’s own Two Pop Songs on Antique Poems, where ancient texts meet contemporary innovation.

Dinuk brandishes his triple-threat talents as composer, conductor, and performer, demonstrating why this JUNO-winning, pioneering artist remains one of Canada’s most sought-after classical musicians today.