Telling real life stories through music
Avalon's Garden writes music about what its like to live with mental illnesses with focuses on depression, anxiety, panic disorder, and PTSD. Bandleader, Megan Vivares, has been living with mental illness for some time now. At times, the stigma of mental illness can be unbelievably overwhelming. Due to a lack of popular tunes that she felt like she could relate to, she decided to create some. By using catchy progressions and ear worms to hook listeners, Megan weaves in lyrics that sit in the back of your brain. The lyrics are honest and serve as a reminder to all those suffering. You are not alone.
Art by: Chris Henderson at Comics by Chris
Clicking on the image will take you to his Facebook page!
Meet the Band
Avalon's Garden is a band of friends and hooligans who come together through their love of jazz. Together, they now write relatable music about mental health, love, life, and various other excursions, and expeditions.
Megan C. Vivares
Singer/Songwriter
Ukulele
Megan Vivares was born in Montreal and raised in Lennoxville, Quebec. Megan is the songwriter and leader of Avalon’s Garden.
Megan attending Rosedale Heights School of the Arts and Humber College for vocal Jazz. She sang with the Toronto-All Star Big Band for six years. She has released a solo album featuring just vocals and ukulele called, Just In Time.
She has lived with mental illnesses long enough to have decided to do something about the serious lack of awareness. She formed this group to talk about uncomfortable topics in a comfortable setting, music.
Megan has 1152 freckles on her face (at last count).
Nathan Martin
Vocalist
Nathan Martin, originally from Goderich Ontario, is currently enrolled at Humber College, Studying Jazz Performance in Voice. Nathan has an extensive history and knowledge of choral music, and has toured North America and Europe with the Festival Youth Singers, based in St. Mary’s Ontario. He was introduced to Jazz at the age of 14 and quickly made the transition from classical to contemporary music. He is a former vocalist for the Toronto All-Star Big Band for 2 1/2 years, where he met many of the members of Avalon’s Garden. All of these experiences have made him a very versatile singer, no matter what style or genre.
He is currently working as a Choral Scholar at Royal York United Church in Etobicoke, and is working on his own EP centred around his arrangements for large ensemble and big band music.
Nathan was a former juggling clown and all-star volleyball player in high school.
Marko Stojanovic
Guitar
Marko is originally from North York, Ontario and is currently enrolled in the Bachelor of Music Degree program at Humber College. He began listening to rock and metal from a very young age and was introduced a larger variety of music in his early youth. He started playing guitar at the age of 1. It started off as a hobby, but he decided to pursue it when he was 17. That is when he discovered different styles of music such as jazz and blues. He currently plays in multiple bands that covers a wide variety of genres such as pop, funk, folk, rock, R&B, neo-soul and jazz. His favourite role as a guitarist is to support. He prioritizes, making all his band mates sound good.
His favourite thing to do when playing is making people dance through his music.
Our Team
We love building products for you
William Dietrich
Bass
Toronto born Bassist, William Dietrich is an avid up and coming musician in the Greater Toronto Area. Having spent his childhood as a boy chorister in the Toronto Children’s Chorus, William currently works as an upright and electric bassist. William has played in various rock, folk, jazz and funk bands, as well as multiple big bands, marching bands, musical theatre productions and in several festivals across Southern Ontario. As a recent graduate of York University's music program, William has served as the principal Bassist of the York University Symphony orchestra and the York University Jazz Orchestra, and is the recipient of the prestigious Oscar Peterson Scholarship.
"I have a very good sense of direction, but a horrible sense of time, so I’ll always know where I’m going, I just won’t be there when I'm supposed to be." - Will Danger Deitrich
Mark Athanasiadis
Drums/Cajon/Percussion
Mark Athanasiadis was born in Lachute, Quebec. He moved to Toronto, ON at the age of 3. Mark is currently enrolled in Humber College, where he is completing a Bachelor of Music degree. He got his first drum set at the age of 11, and he was self-taught up until Grade 10, when he started taking drum lessons. Soon after, he realized that he wanted to pursue music as a career. He grew up listening to mainly rock music, until he started playing in different school bands, and became exposed to jazz, funk, and Latin music. He currently plays in a variety of different groups, such as the Peter Eratostene Swing Band, Chris Molyneaux Trio, and a jazz, rock, fusion band called “The Accolades”. He played in the Toronto All-Star Big Band for 3 1/2 years, where he met most of the members of Avalon’s Garden. Aside from playing drums professionally, he’s also a private drum teacher. Mark takes pride in being a versatile and adaptable drummer, and is open to playing any style of music.
Mark is three quarters Greek, and dislikes olives and feta cheese….go figure.
Peter Eratostene
Bass
York University graduate Peter Eratostene is an active bassist in the Toronto music scene. Peter is a current member of the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra (TSYO) and a former member of the Toronto All-Star Big Band (TABB). Peter has performed in many musicals across Ontario as well as recorded for movie soundtracks. Peter was principal bassist for the York University Symphony Orchestra was the bassist for the York University Jazz Orchestra. Peter is not only skilled as a bass player but also composes and arranges for all instruments.
Peter loves drinking chocolate milk.