Personal Profile

Why ‘Toronto Brothers’?

Ashwin Iyer and Rohin Iyer were born three years apart in Bombay (Mumbai), India and immigrated to Toronto, Ontario, Canada in 1982 with their parents. Ashwin now lives in Edmonton, Alberta, and Rohin continues to live in Toronto, Ontario. They have been proud Canadians ever since, and have formed a deep connection to the cities of Toronto and Edmonton.

They were formally introduced to Carnatic Music in 1989 when they began taking lessons under Toronto-based teachers, and participated regularly in annual music festivals such as the Toronto Thyagaraja Aradhana. The name “Toronto Brothers” was affectionately coined by their illustrious gurus in the 1990s and seems to have stuck to this day.

With the encouragement and blessings of the Toronto community, their teachers, and their family and friends, Ashwin and Rohin have continued their ardent pursuit of the art and today are recognized as serious students and upcoming musicians in the field.

Connecting With The Community

Ashwin Iyer and Rohin Iyer are actively involved in the Toronto community, not only as musicians, but also through various volunteer efforts.

The brothers are longstanding members of Bharathi Kala Manram of Canada, a registered non-profit cultural organization. Rohin has additionally served as an executive committee member for Bharathi Kala Manram and has been an instrumental part of the teams’ annual CAN-AM festival. They are proud to be an active part of this organization, which is one of the oldest in North America and has played an instrumental role in establishing the Carnatic Music presence in Canada and the United States.

Classical Music For A Cause

Ashwin and Rohin have also participated in fundraising programs to help raise money for charities such as Ranjani Orchestra, the Hospital for Sick Children and Handi-Care International.

In doing so they have occasionally delved into singing “semi-classical music” including classically-based Hindi and Tamil film songs. Nonetheless, their foundation and interests lie firmly grounded in the Carnatic classical tradition.

East Meets West

True to their Indo-Canadian roots, the brothers have a deep sense of pride in both Canadian and Indian culture. They are collaborating with several Toronto-based artists and are interested in touring several cities across Eastern and Western Canada as well as the US to promote their music to a wider audience.

For concert bookings, please contact us.