From solo performances that have left audiences in stunned silence at the Guelph Jazz Festival and FIMAV, to deep collaborative work with some of the luminaries in contemporary music, Trumpet Player and Composer Nicole Rampersaud is a fearless explorer of sound. She draws equally from jazz, experimental music, noise, and site-specific composition, creating works that respond to the moment, the space, and the people. Her debut solo album, Saudade, earned several award nominations including Instrumental Recording of the year (ECMA) and Innovator of the year (MusicNB). In 2024 she was awarded the prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship in Music Composition, further solidifying her place as one of the vital creative voices in contemporary music.

Nicole’s project, “Pathways” is a long-term project started in 2023 that adapts her solo trumpet approach to ensembles comprised of music makers from a wide range of backgrounds, locations, and communities. The project mirrors her lived experience of establishing and nurturing connections within and between communities through collective music making using compositions that incorporate non-idiomatic improvisation. This iteration will feature: Joel LeBlanc (guitars, harmonica), Gabriella Ciurcovich (acoustic bass), Danielle Jakubiak (electronics, flute).