Elena Kapeleris is a Toronto based D’addario artist, vocalist, saxophonist, composer and educator. She has appeared on various recordings/live performances as a side musician (jazz, blues, R&B/ funk/pop, world music) and has released one album as a leader, currently working on second release. A graduate of the Humber College Jazz Performance program, Elena has studied saxophone with world renowned saxophonist Pat LaBarbera, composition with the great Don Thompson, and voice with Shannon Gunn. She is currently a private instructor of voice and woodwinds at Centennial College.
Kapeleris leads multiple projects of her own, and is in the process of preparing to record her second album, The Heron’s Journey, which will be her first recording of original compositions. While Jazz is her first love and the focus of her own bands as a leader, she can also be found playing with a wide range of styles of music. She is currently going into her second year as the Musical Director of the Women’s Blues Revue at Massey Hall, but has been a member and Bari sax player in the band for over a decade. Elena is also currently a member of Canadian Blues treasure, Rita Chiarelli’s touring band. She has also played with other blues artists such as Miss Emily, Diana Brathwaite, Raoul and The Big Time, The Blackburn Brothers and Shakura S’Aida to name a few. On the World Music scene she has played and recorded with Lady Yetunde’s Afrika Libre, Lady Son Cuban Son Band, and Ethiopian vocalist Fantahun Shewankochew. She also can be found playing R&B and Soul with Sean Jones, Quisha Wint, or singing with the Powerhouse Gospel choir, and rock music with Friendly Rich and the Jane Does. So her interests and love of music span across the board. During Elena’s career, she has performed with many other recognized artists such as Kellylee Evans, Jackie Richardson, Jully Black, Brandi Disterheft, Pat LaBarbera, Neil Swainson, Hilario Duran, and many more. Elena has also recorded on various projects with Juno award winning engineer and producer Hill Kourkoutis.
She has played Massey Hall, Roy Thompson Hall and the NAC in Ottawa multiple times with the Women’s Blues Revue. Kapeleris has performed with these great artists at many different venues in the city, as well as clubs and Jazz and Blues Festivals around the world.
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