The ACMSA Gala 2025 recap

Students showcase their musical talents at this year’s Arts, Culture and Media gala

ACMSA members pose with a giant arts, culture, & media (ACM) sign at the end of their 2025 gala. Photo By: (Christian Zdravko // The Underground)

In an evening of glamour, celebration, and artistry, the Arts, Culture, & Media Student Association (ACMSA) showcased talented musicians, and gave prestigious awards.

The gala, which took place at UTSC’s Meeting Place on April 1 featured a wide array of talented musicians to play for a crowd of over 150 students. Among those who took the stage to perform were the metal band Dave Mustaine & Friends, country singer Carlos Gonzalez, and alternative rock band, Girls Who Ate.

Dave Mustaine & Friends

Dave Mustaine & Friends jam out for their audience at the 2025 ACMSA Gala. Photo By: (Christian Zdravko // The Underground)

This edgy band opened for the evening, playing a selection of covers from popular metal groups. Their name is likely a reference to American guitarist Dave Mustaine, founder of thrash metal band Megadeth, and former Metallica guitarist. He is well-known for his long red hair similar in appearance to that of Dave Mustaine & Friends’ drummer, Ian Saccomando, a first-year, double majoring in city studies and psychology, minoring in music. 

Saccomando says the group started the band with the help of music & culture professor Adrian Berry for a class music project where they were the headlining act. 

From this performance, they caught the attention of music & culture professor Lynn Tucker, who is “a big metal-head.” She later sent them an email asking them if they wanted to play the installation ceremony of the new UTSC principal – Dr. Linda Jhonson – on Jan. 31, in which prominent figures like Mayor Olivia Chow and U of T president Meric Gertler were also on the guestlist.

“Throughout this year of playing with them, it's probably the most I've grown as a musician. Because if you have people that push you to exceed the boundary that you're in, you're gonna become a fantastic musician,” says bassist Richard Fung, who is double majoring in media & communications and arts & media management.

Richard Fung plays bass amongst the crowd during UTSC’s 2025 ACMSA gala. Photo By: (Christian Zdravko // The Underground)

“We got to blast Meric Gertler eardrums with rock and roll music, and they thought it was awesome, and also, everybody got earplugs, which is hilarious,” says Saccomando.

Guitarist Avitya Pradhan says he has grown so close with music that it is his only path forward. “If I don't have music, I wouldn't know what to do without it. So it's not even like, do I want to continue? It’s that I have to continue.”

While Fung is planning to leave Canada and return to his life in Hong Kong, his home city, Saccomando seems eager to pay him a visit in the future. Dave Mustaine & Friends may part ways, but they all plan to continue to exercise their musical talents. Saccomando plans to continue to work with his band, Standard Living, from his home city of Buffalo, NY,. He has been trying to convince the rest of the group to come to Toronto, and he says that he will drag them  here to perform if they reach enough listens on Spotify and Apple Music.

Carlos Arturo Paez Gonzalez

Carlos Gonzales sings covers for the 2025 ACMSA gala. Photo By: (Christian Zdravko // The Underground)

One fourth-year mathematics specialist with a statistics focus brought on a drastic contrast to the heavy metal that started off the gala with popular country covers. Carlos Gonzales says that he started singing as early as three years old through the influence of his parents, who are both opera singers from Venezuela.

“I was never classically trained or anything. I just really like to sing, and I've always been passionate about music for pretty much as long as I can remember,” he says, also noting one of his sources of inspiration, and all-time favourite album, Evermore by Taylor Swift.

Gonzales says he would love to turn music into a career “if the opportunity arises,” and is considering working in musical theatre, but also says “realistically speaking, it'll probably just be a hobby, and I’m okay with it.”

Girls Who Ate

Girls Who Ate perform covers at the ACMSA 2025 gala. Photo By: (Christian Zdravko // The Underground)

This alt-pop girl-band, mainly studying arts management and music, performed covers for Linger by The Cranberries, Real Man by Beabadoobee, and Red Wine Supernova by Chappell Roan. They were a few weeks old by the time of the gala.

These girls came together over a shared interest in music. For some of the girls, like Wyn Kon, Paula Beltran, and Amina Niyazov, this interest started with being forced to play by their parents as children.

For Kon, learning the flute began as young as three years old. At one point, she decided to quit flute, until later in her life when she realized it “shouldn't be a stress,” and “shouldn't be a chore.” She returned to the instrument, and eventually decided to pick up the guitar as well.

Beltran grew up taking piano lessons mandated by her parents. Having an interest in singing, she decided to switch to singing lessons. In high school, her parents encouraged her to enter the sciences, but when choosing university programs, she finalized on studying the arts.

Niyazov says she was forced into piano lessons and “hated it so much.” In high school, she developed a fondness for singing after becoming involved in musical theatre, and noticed her piano lessons were relevant to her new passion.

They argue it is better for parents to encourage children to learn things like music, rather than to force them.

Mahé Rabesa was on the drums, and is aspiring to become a full-time, professional musician. Her dad and grandparents played music throughout her childhood, and it rubbed off on her.

The group members are also considering careers beyond music performing. Lulu Timpson says even if music is not her main focus, she still wants to incorporate it into her future. Beltran is considering becoming a music teacher.

Kon says she is considering a career in music management, or music marketing. “I think it's time for me to help other people who struggle to have a performance outlet. I really want to be that person, to bring more people into music and help artists in general.”

Rabesa says in case performing alone is not enough to help her make ends meet, her knowledge in arts management will help her maintain her career. 

After being asked what the band name means, Kon replied; “it means what it means! The girls who ate!”