Toronto Sisters are Bringing Classical Music to the Bar Scene With ‘ClassyAF’

In a world consumed by pop stars, rappers, and DJs, younger generations often miss out on some of the most beautiful styles of music.

Two Toronto sisters are determined to change this by introducing a weekly chamber music concert series called ClassyAF, which will be taking over La Rev a Mexican restaurant and bar on Dundas Street starting in July.

Talisa and Naomi Blackman, daughters of classical musicians, live and breathe classical music. And while Talisa still pursues music, Naomi is a #GirlBoss in the business world. This contrast allowed the duo to bring the concept of ClassyAF to life.

After noticing that younger Torontonians would rather spend their weekends at the bar than concert halls, the sisters were inspired to find a way to fuse both worlds.

As reported by Metro News, the concert series will feature shorter pieces than a typical symphony performance, with songs people will recognize from other genres. Shows will feature jazz standards interpreted on violin and piano, cellists covering Canadian rock staples, and popular songs from the scores of West Side Story and Fantasia.

The classical music scene in Toronto is thriving and the sisters wanted to find a way to bring this sound to spaces they frequent regularly, which means eating tacos while listening to some amazing local music.