Bridging cultures through music
Celebrating Asian and Canadian harmony
Overview
The Canadian Asian Music Society (CAMS) is a non-profit cultural organization promoting cross-cultural dialogue through music, based in Toronto, Canada. It was founded in 2021 by Iranian-Canadian Ney player and composer Kianoush Khalilian. With over three decades of experience in music, Kianoush has performed and taught internationally, using the timeless voice of the Ney to build cultural bridges. As an artist rooted in the classical traditions of Iran and actively engaged with diverse communities across Canada, Kianoush founded CAMS to share the beauty of Asian musical heritage and foster meaningful connections through artistic collaboration. His vision is to use music as a tool for dialogue, education, and unity—bringing people together across cultural lines.
CAMS’s goal is to bring different cultures from Asia to Canada, creating space for cultural exchange, collaboration, and celebration. Through cross-cultural performance, educational initiatives, and community engagement, CAMS celebrates Canada’s diversity and promotes music as a powerful force for understanding and connection.
Our Mission
We organize concerts, events, and educational programs to bring people from different cultures together through music. Our aim is to help people learn about and appreciate each other’s traditions and build connections across cultures. At the same time, we support young and emerging artists by giving them opportunities to share their talents. We also focus on preserving traditional music, ensuring that its beauty and history are passed down to future generations.
Objectives
We aim to bring artists from Asian and Canadian backgrounds together through collaborative musical projects. By blending their unique influences, these collaborations create something entirely new, celebrating the beauty of cultural fusion. We also organize events and performances that showcase the rich musical traditions of both Asian and Canadian cultures. These celebrations highlight Canada’s multicultural identity and help people connect through shared experiences.
Our work includes engaging communities through educational programs, workshops, and initiatives that explore the meeting points of Asian and Canadian music. By teaching and sharing these traditions, we help people understand and appreciate the deep cultural connections within music. On a global scale, we represent Canada’s cultural diversity by working with artists from Asia and other parts of the world, showcasing our multicultural heritage internationally.
Supporting emerging musicians is an important part of what we do. We provide a platform for young artists from Asian and Canadian communities to share their talents, grow, and contribute to the evolving world of music. Through our efforts, we promote dialogue and understanding between cultures, using music as a way to build bridges and create meaningful connections.
We are also committed to preserving the traditional musical heritage of both Asian and Canadian cultures. By keeping these traditions alive, we ensure that future generations can continue to experience and learn from them. At the heart of everything we do is a celebration of diversity and inclusivity, fostering a welcoming and respectful environment where different musical traditions can thrive together.
FOUNDERS
Grateful to our sponsors
