Tamar Ilana & Ventanas is a Toronto-based ensemble performing original and traditional material in over 20 languages. Their performances weave together fiery Flamenco, Greek, Turkish, and Sephardic love songs, upbeat Bulgariantunes, and lyrical melodies, leading audiences through “windows” into diverse lands and cultures. Lead singer Tamar Ilana’s powerful vocals are complemented by Flamenco guitar, Middle Eastern darbuka, Greek oud, classical violin, contrabass, and Jazz improvisation. Tamar Ilana is Ashkenazi Jewish and a member of Pasqua First Nation, with Scottish and Roma-Romanian ancestry. Growing up on the road with her ethnomusicologist mother, Dr. Judith Cohen, deeply influenced her career. Formed in 2011 after Tamar returned from studying Flamenco in Seville, Ventanas includes musicians of Greek, Italian, French Canadian, and Peruvian descent. Their name, meaning “windows” in Spanish, reflects a sound as multicultural as Toronto itself. During the pandemic, Ventanas helped found FabCollab, a non-profit showcasing BIPOC women and minority voices. As the resident band for the Women in Song series, they have collaborated with stars like Meesha Shafi and Measha Brueggergosman-Lee. These performances, livestreamed by the National Arts Centre, have reached international audiences of up to 43,000. The group has toured Canada, the US, Ireland, Colombia, Spain, and Portugal. Notable venues include Koerner Hall, the Aga Khan Museum, Vancouver Folk Music Fest, and the Skirball Centre, solidifying their reputation as a powerhouse of global music and dance.