North Battleford musician Cole Knutson has received $1,420 from the Saskatchewan Arts Board's Indigenous Pathways Initiative - Grants to Artists program to "play in the world's most prestigious youth wind orchestra 鈥� the WASBE Youth Wind Orchestra 鈥� currently as the only representative from Canada."
The WASBE Youth Wind Orchestra is an integral part of the annual World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensemble Conference. According to the organization, the ensemble is made up of some of the finest young musicians from all around the globe. They come together in San Jose, Calif. to rehearse for the week beginning July 12 and close the conference July 18 with a performance at the California Theatre.
Knutson will be playing the tenor saxophone.
He鈥檚 been looking forward to the possibility of playing in the WASBE YWO for several years. He was about 15, he says, when he saw a recruiting item on the Internet. He looked up the information on auditioning and found one had to be at least 18 years old to be accepted.
鈥淓ver since then I鈥檝e been waiting to apply,鈥� Knutson told the Regional Optimistrecently.
聽The Indigenous Pathways Initiative program aims to increase access to public funding by Indigenous artists in Saskatchewan, either to develop their artistic and cultural practices or to share their art, skills and teachings.
Since January 2015, the Saskatchewan Arts Board has awarded funding to over 110 individuals and organizations, totaling more than $1.2 million. Arts Board funding supports a variety of initiatives, including organizations that provide ongoing programs in the arts, the creative work of professional artists, community art projects and the engagement of professional artists to work in schools with students and teachers.
