Photo by Krista Ellis @seehearfeelnow
Bruce A. Russell (aka Ibrahim El Mahboob) is a composer and self-taught pianist based in Toronto – Tkarón:to, the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy and the Wendat). He studied at York University with James Tenney and Philip Werren, focusing heavily on electronic music and very little on notated instrumental writing, towards which he later forged his own path. His early years were spent working in record stores, playing in bands, and releasing DIY cassettes of art pop and experimental music, as well as composing scores for dance, theatre, and interdisciplinary productions.
Frustrated by systemic barriers and gaps in support, he stopped seeking a career in music. He continued composing in private, however, sharing his music through social media. Interest in his work increased following the global Black Lives Matter protests of 2020, resulting in performances by Prism Percussion, San Juan Symphony, Idaho Falls Symphony, Grant Park Orchestra, and Regina Symphony Orchestra.
Arraymusic presented the first portrait concert of his music that year. He was the inaugural Composer-in-Residence at Array for three seasons from 2022-2025 and is Curator-in-Residence from 2023-2026. Recent performances have included Mill City String Quartet, University of Delaware Percussion Ensemble, Piano Lunaire, and junctQín keyboard collective, who presented a world-premiere program of Russell’s music for piano solo and duo in 2024. The Isabel Quartet gave the world premiere of his string quartet ex aliis matres at Queen’s University in 2025.
He has composed works for Artemis Musicians’ Society, Gryphon Trio, Madawaska Quartet, and Thin Edge New Music Collective. He has served as Associate Mentor for Array’s annual Composers Workshop. He was the composer, music director and keyboardist for writer/performer Ian Kamau’s live multimedia work Loss, which premiered at Harbourfront Centre in 2023 and travelled to the Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York for the Under the Radar Festival in 2025.
Percussionist David Schotzko will give the world premiere of blood of infinity, in memoriam Assata Shakur, in January 2026.
Email: bruce@elmahboob.com
Mahboob – Arabic, “the beloved one”
EL MAHBOOB 