Our Mission
The Windwood Music Festival aims to provide a space for artists to explore and implement creative projects that help bridge the gap between communities and classical and contemporary music. We strive to bring music to public spaces in ways that interact and coexist with these spaces and the people who occupy them, thus connecting the threads that build a sense of togetherness among all the elements within a community.
“We believe that artists should be stewards—connecting land, people, and music in a way that is sustainable, accessible, and coming from a place of deep compassion.”
-Maitreyi Muralidharan, co-founder
About Us
The Windwood Music Festival presents a series of creative music performance projects by international artists gathering in Airdrie for a two-week residency. In this residency, musicians explore what it takes to create projects that celebrate sustainability, community, and arts in all its forms; whether that be in exploring local landscapes and drawing inspiration from Airdrie’s natural beauty, or working with produce grown by local farmers to create a meal that inspires a performance. These projects will be presented in public spaces around Airdrie including but not limited to parks, cafes, museums, and farms, and are designed by the participants in order to best present a collaboration between community members or aspects of a community and music.
By involving the community in the process and culmination of innovative music presentations across diverse spaces and demographics that would not regularly see live music, we are giving people a chance to see the threads that connect a space and in turn build a community. We aim to showcase the beauty of connection—between land, between people, between all things—in an increasingly divisive and disjointed world. This festival is a space where artists have the opportunity to live that connection, to see the process unfold and understand what it takes to bring projects to life that can have an impact on the well-being of a community as a whole.
Airdrie, AB
“On one side, the endless rolling prairies. On the other, the magnificent Rocky Mountains. In the far distance, skyscrapers rise from the city. And then, there are the clouds, perched at eye level, so it always feels like you’re floating in the sky. It’s my favorite spot on earth.
Home.
The simple, the profound.
The infinitely precious corner of the world.
Our Castle in the Sky.”
Meet the Team
The Windwood Music Festival is co-founded and directed by Duo Perdendosi, violinist Maitreyi Muralidharan and pianist Tong Wang.
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Co-FounderCritically recognized as “an accomplished violin soloist,” (CVNC) Maitreyi Muralidharan is an east coast based musician and an avid orchestral and chamber performer. They hold a Bachelor's Degree from the Peabody Institute of Music under the tutelage of Herbert Greenberg, a Master’s Degree and Professional Arts Certificate from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts under the tutelage of Kevin Lawrence, and an Artist Diploma from McGill University under the tutelage of Violaine Melancon. Maitreyi was raised in North Carolina where they fostered a love for sharing music in group settings, whether in ensembles or as a teacher. They have also served as concertmaster of the Peabody Symphony Orchestra, Peabody Chamber Orchestra, UNCSA Symphony Orchestra, and was a member of the UNCSA Chrysalis Chamber Music Institute for two years. They have attended summer music festivals in Colorado, New York, Canada, North Carolina, Vermont, and Germany, and have performed as a chamber musician on international stages. As a musician who has dealt with severe injury, Maitreyi has had to find their own paths in the field of classical and contemporary music, and in that process, has grown a deep appreciation and love for connecting with the unconventional. They aim to share this idea of connection with all walks of life—the idea that being a musician is far more than what is understood or seen, and that one of the greatest joys is fostering a sense of community that can happen any time music is made. Outside of being an orchestral and chamber musician, Maitreyi enjoys working with and advising new music ensembles, assisting violinists with injuries to find creative and sustainable playing practices, and farming.
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Co-Founder
Tong Wang is a Canadian artist leading innovative initiatives across areas of performance, research, community engagement, and social entrepreneurship. Her projects explore the role of art in relation to science, technology, identity, culture, health, and social-political issues. As a soloist and chamber musician, Tong has performed with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Red Deer Symphony Orchestra, and various ensembles across North America and Europe. As a multidisciplinary artist, she has written the libretto of a new opera funded by the Canada Council, FRQSC, and SSHRC, “Labyrinth of Tears”, and published an award-winning photo-essay in Carte Blanche. Among her other projects are the creative performances “Song of Praise”, “Ghiblilane”, "Once Upon a Pumpkin", and research lecture recitals on the aesthetic of “cuteness”. Tong recently debuted her recital on social-political issues, “我们Us” in Lunenburg and presented the interactive concerts “We’re Not Really Strangers” and “My Neighbors Totoro and Claude!” at the Verbier Festival. Using diverse mediums, Tong aims to share the power of art to reach across time, languages, borders, and cultures to connect people and kindle a shared understanding.
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William Peltz Smalley is a violinist and violist from Albany, New York, currently pursuing his Master's degree in Violin Performance at McGill University. He completed his Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance under the tutelage of Bayla Keyes at Boston University, where he was a winner of the university's Solo Bach Competition.
An equally passionate solo, chamber, and orchestral musician, Will has performed in Canada, the US, and Europe. Also enthusiastic about new music, this August he will be returning to Switzerland for his second summer as part of the Lucerne Festival Contemporary Orchestra program. Will is currently based in Montreal and performs in orchestras and chamber groups in the area.
Admin
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Marketing Director
Lois Jones, a proud Airdronian for 30 years, is a devoted mother of two, mother-in-law of two, and the delighted grandmother of one beautiful grandson. Among the many titles she's held, "Nana" is her favorite. Lois is thrilled to be part of the Windwood Music Festival team, where she contributes to public awareness, brand recognition, and social media efforts. The festival’s commitment to inclusivity and sincerity deeply resonates with her. She is grateful for the opportunity to be involved and appreciates the patience extended to her as she continues to learn about this Music Festival Event, "It's been an absolute pleasure and Thank You for instilling trust in me."
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Cellist David Dietz has performed across the US and Europe and is experienced in a variety of settings as both a performer and a teacher. He currently resides in Houston, Texas, where he frequently performs as a chamber, solo and orchestral musician. Recent highlights include performances with MUSIQA Houston, Aperio Ensemble, Monarch Chamber Players, Ars Lyrica, DACAMERA Young Artists, and the Klangspuren Festival in Innsbruck, Austria.
David is a founding member of Trio Menil, the Grand Prize and the Odyssey Chamber Music Series Award winner from the 2023 Plowman Chamber Music Competition. He frequently performs with the Houston Grand Opera Orchestra and will be joining the Houston Ballet Orchestra for the 2023-2024 season. Teaching is an important part of David’s artistic practice. He will be joining the faculty of Lone Star College as an Adjunct Instructor of Cello in the fall of 2023, in addition to maintaining a robust private studio in Houston. David received his Bachelor’s Degree and Performer Diploma at Indiana University and recently completed his master’s degree at Rice University.
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Logistical Coordinator
Peggy is part of the arts community in Airdrie through her involvement with Nose Creek players as an actor, stage manager, and event coordinator. She has been given opportunities to serve the community at various festivals and events including airdrieFEST, Homecoming, and the Airdrie Mayor's Night of the Arts. She is grateful for the opportunity to support the musicians of the Windwood Music Festival as they share their talents throughout Airdrie.
Jana’s love for the arts stems from a childhood immersed in choir singing, piano lessons, and ballet recitals. Born and raised in sunny South Africa, she completed a post-graduate degree in Music Education from the University of Stellenbosch. She was also a longstanding member of several award-winning Cape Town-based choral groups.
After completing her studies, she exchanged the familiarity of the African skies for the mesmerizing desert landscapes of the United Arab Emirates. She spent more than a decade in the UAE, teaching music at K-12 international schools and actively involved in the inaugural season of the Abu Dhabi Classics concert series.
While in the UAE, she met her wonderful husband and became a mom to two amazing children. Immersed in motherhood's beautiful, blessed chaos, she stepped back from music teaching and took on a project & marketing manager role at a sustainable wellness startup in Dubai.
Early in 2022, adventure beckoned once again, and Jana and her family immigrated to Airdrie. Passionate about contributing to the well-being of this Albertan community, she joined the Windwood Music Festival as Event Coordinator – where she hopes to help create a classical music experience that will uplift her new hometown for many summers to come.
Our Story
Duo Perdendosi is a classical and contemporary duo formed by pianist Tong Wang and violinist Maitreyi Muralidharan. They use human-centric design and unconventional programming to foster spaces of connection and present works by immigrant and minority composers to honor their own immigrant backgrounds. Both coming from conservatory backgrounds, they recognized a need for classical and contemporary music to move away from convention and towards connection. In 2022, they created the Windwood Music Festival in Airdrie, Alberta to collaborate with like-minded artists and share the power of music to connect land and people. Maitreyi and Tong embarked on their first tour, “Da Capo,” in April 2023 across seven cities in eastern Canada and the US. They presented a musical storytelling program, “Wanting to Start Again,” during their residency at the Lunenburg Academy of Music Performance in June 2023, and returned to Airdrie, Alberta to lead the first official season of the Windwood Music Festival in August 2023. In May 2024, they performed their second tour, “Dark Tales,” funded by the Canada Council for the Arts, in Hungary, Romania, Toronto, and Montreal. They are based in Montreal and regularly perform around Canada, collaborating with performers, composers, and multidisciplinary artists. Outside of performing, they enjoy cooking, writing, and discovering a “fresh perspective on the familiar” alongside their audiences.
Admin Artists
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Creative Residency Director
Annie Kwok began studying the piano at age four in her hometown of Honolulu, Hawaii, where her teachers included the late Ellen Masaki and Dr. Thomas Yee. She received her Bachelor's and Master's degrees with a Music-In-Education concentration from the New England Conservatory of Music, studying with Bruce Brubaker. Interested in transforming the dynamics of audience-performer relationships, Annie has curated community performances and interactive programs as an NEC Community Performances and Partnerships fellow, Early Education Music intern at the Rock and Roll Daycare in Cambridge, and member of From The Top's Center for the Development of Arts Leaders. Following graduation, Annie traveled the world as a resident Lincoln Center Stage pianist, eating, zip-lining, and hiking her way through 30 different countries while performing chamber music programs on ships ranging from Brahms and Schumann quintets to Coldplay and Led Zeppelin. She has been a summer fellow of the Colburn Academy, Indiana University Piano Academy, and the Kneisel Hall Chamber Music Festival. Annie is currently based in Honolulu as a freelance pianist and maintains a full teaching studio at the Masaki School of Music, voted Hawaii's Best Music School of 2022 and 2023.
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Event Coordinator
And here
among peaceful prairies
perched at the foothills of majestic mountains
music found its way into her life once again.Jana’s love for the arts stems from a childhood immersed in choir singing, piano lessons, and ballet recitals. Born and raised in sunny South Africa, she completed a post-graduate degree in Music Education from the University of Stellenbosch. She was also a longstanding member of several award-winning Cape Town-based choral groups.
After completing her studies, she exchanged the familiarity of the African skies for the mesmerizing desert landscapes of the United Arab Emirates. She spent more than a decade in the UAE, teaching music at K-12 international schools and actively involved in the inaugural season of the Abu Dhabi Classics concert series.
While in the UAE, she met her wonderful husband and became a mom to two amazing children. Immersed in motherhood's beautiful, blessed chaos, she stepped back from music teaching and took on a project & marketing manager role at a sustainable wellness startup in Dubai.
Early in 2022, adventure beckoned once again, and Jana and her family immigrated to Airdrie. Passionate about contributing to the well-being of this Albertan community, she joined the Windwood Music Festival as Event Coordinator – where she hopes to help create a classical music experience that will uplift her new hometown for many summers to come.
Guest Speakers
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Rory McLeod
Rory McLeod is a musician, entrepreneur, and concert designer who takes joy in creating authentic human connections through shared musical experiences. As Executive and Artistic Director of Xenia Concerts, he works with stakeholders in the disability and neurodiversity community, presenting partners, and performing artists to co-create concert experiences that are inclusive for people who face social and systemic barriers to inclusion.
Determined to widen the circle of inclusion in the performing arts, Rory is pursuing his Master’s in Inclusive Design at OCAD University. Rory is also the founder and Co-director of Pocket Concerts, an organization that presents intimate concert experiences in alternative venues all over the GTA. Rory believes that music is a catalyst to emotional connection: he brings an enthusiastic spirit of collaboration to his performances in chamber music festivals across North America and with the Canadian Opera Company and National Ballet Orchestras.
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Sara Hubberstey
Sara works as a user experience researcher at the Government of Canada and is a part-time professor in the Interdisciplinary Studies in Human-Centred Design postgraduate program at Algonquin College.
Previously, Sara worked for the Human-Centred Design Lab at Algonquin College, where she used design research to help educators administer VR in a way that can help children access their emotions in safe spaces. As part of her studies in human-centred design, she helped create new ways for national museums to bring playful experiences to adults. Sara spends her time in her current work speaking with people all over the world who use government services, all with the goal of placing their needs at the centre of design decisions. Sara holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Ottawa and a Graduate Certificate in Human-Centred Design from Algonquin College.
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Justus Wachs
Justus Wachs is a facilitator, participation specialist, and PhD student at McGill University in Montreal. His work integrates contemplative and creative practices, including theater, storytelling and meditation, to catalyze multi-stakeholder transformations across organizational networks. He loves working with values, mindsets and beliefs to weave internal and collective systems change.
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Karen Zorn
PRESIDENT of Longy School of Music
Karen Zorn has been President of Longy School of Music of Bard College since 2007. With the merger of Longy and Bard College in 2012, she assumed the role of Vice President, Bard College. Since her arrival, Zorn has led Longy through a process of radical change unprecedented in its 100-year history. A fearless educational entrepreneur, she has balanced the budget, boosted enrollment, executed a merger with Bard College and established partnerships with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and FundaMusical of Venezuela (El Sistema) to launch innovative programs of study and community engagement. These include the Take a Stand program and Longy’s Music education programs, as well as teaching by Longy Conservatory students in public schools, community centers, prisons, nursing homes, and other external venues where the traditions of music education can contribute to public life.
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Eric Booth
TEACHING ARTISTRY
In 2015 Eric Booth was honored with American for the Arts’ Arts Education Leadership Award, and was named one of the 50 most influential people in the arts in the U.S. He began as a Broadway actor, and became a businessman (his company became the largest of its kind in the U.S. in seven years), and author of six books, the most recent is Playing for Their Lives (W.W. Norton) which reports on the global growth of the El Sistema-inspired movement. He has been on the faculty of Juilliard, Tanglewood, The Kennedy Center, and Lincoln Center Education, where now he is the leader of their Teaching Artist Development Labs. He serves as a consultant for many arts organizations, cities, states, community organizations, and businesses around the U.S. A frequent keynote speaker, he founded the Teaching Artist Journal and the International Teaching Artist Conferences. .
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Rachel Roberts
Rachel Roberts has navigated both the non-profit performing arts and higher education sectors, having held unique positions in both. In 2018, Rachel was named Associate Professor of Music Leadership and Graduate Degree Program Director, within Eastman School of Music’s Institute for Music Leadership. In this newly created faculty role, she leads the new MA in Music Leadership, which aims to support the development of a unique combination of artistic and executive skills in the preparation of music leaders. As of June 1, 2021, her role expands to also include serving as the third Director of the Institute for Music Leadership. In this role, Rachel is responsible for overseeing all Institute activities and programs, including the Catherine Filene Shouse Arts Leadership Program, the Paul R. Judy Center for Innovation and Research, and the Careers and Professional Development Office.