Ensemble Polaris Hailed as ‘something of a revelation’ (Classic CD, UK) and ‘half ethno, half hip, and always enjoyable’ (American Recorder, USA), POLARIS brings an eclectic array of instrumental colours and musical sensibilities to everything they play, from lullabies and laments to dance tunes and nonsense songs.

Founded to explore 'the idea of North' in music, Ensemble POLARIS uses improvisation and arrangement alongside more traditional methods of music making to treat tunes from Sweden, Iceland, Norway, Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Scotland and Canada in innovative, categorization-defying ways. In recent years they have also developed a significant body of original repertoire using Nordic themes as their inspiration.

‘I dare you not to love this music!’ (Amazon.com)

'In truth it's not how far afield we're taken by Uncharted Waters that reflects Ensemble Polaris' particular genius. It's how the group leads us to re-discover what we've loved all along — a heartbreaking melody, a snappy dance beat — in the guise of some unexpected form.' (Peter Goddard, Toronto Star)

‘…a most attractive whole…not a single ponderous or difficult moment.’ (New Folk Sounds, Holland)

The band has performed at Toronto’s Northern Encounters Festival, Salle Pierre Mercure in Montréal, Guelph’s River Run Centre and numerous other venues, and has been heard on radio across North America and Europe on CBC-Radio 2, Radio-Canada, NPR, BBC and others. Touring thus far has taken them across western Canada and to the Maritimes.

Polaris has four critically-acclaimed CDs to their credit, all of which are physically distributed across North America by Naxos of America, and are available for download from most e-vendors. Their first, ‘Midnight Sun,’ received a ‘Disc of the Month’ rating in Britain’s Classic CD magazine. Subsequent titles are Not Much is Worse than a Troll, Vikings on Vacation, and Uncharted Waters.

The band members are Marco Cera (guitar), Kirk Elliott (violin, harp, bagpipes, psaltery, etc.), Margaret Gay (cello), Ben Grossman (hurdy gurdy), Katherine Hill (voice, violin), Alison Melville (flutes, recorders, seljefløyte), Colin Savage (clarinet, bass clarinet, recorders); Debashis Sinha (percussion); Jeffrey Wilson, (percussion).

POLARIS receives support from the Toronto Arts Council, Ontario Arts Council and the Canada Council for the Arts.