Shown left, Cole Knutson on piano and Arlene Shiplett on French horn, and, right, Knutson on the saxophone with Jaya Hoy on piano and Arlene Shiplett again on French horn during Saturday's show. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)  

By Angela Brown

Music in the air

Summer concert series on offer in the Battlefords

Jul 18, 2022 | 3:00 PM

Sporting earth-toned cotton shorts and rolled-up shirt-sleeves to withstand the summer’s heat, a mellow Cole Knutson took a deep breath, slowly arched his back and breathed a world of life and music into his saxophone during Saturday’s concert.

It was all part of the Battlefords Summer Proms series at Third Avenue United Church.

The accomplished North Battleford musician was joined by Jaya Hoy of North Battleford on piano, Knutson’s former piano teacher, and on the French horn Arlene Shiplett who is originally from North Battleford and is currently with the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra.

“It’s such a pleasure to be back with Jaya,” Knutson said. “She’s like a mother, but also a friend and a mentor. She’s so many things to me. And Arlene who is an old friend of the family. What a wonderful opportunity.”

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The musicians offered an afternoon of classical works from the likes of Robert Schumann, Henry Purcell and Georg Philipp Telemann, to name a few.

Peppering the event with lively chatter between pieces, Knutson managed to remove the starchy mood often associated with classical music performances in favour of a more relaxed atmosphere instead.

The affable young man also performed on the piano at the onset of the show to accompany Shiplett on the French horn.

Knutson is home in the Battlefords for the summer on a break from his base in London, England, where he now preparing to embark on a doctoral program through the Collèges Doctoraux Franco-Allemands (CDFA) in Europe, after finishing two Master’s Degrees from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

“To finally come back and be able to offer some of my knowledge, some of my skills and the networking I suppose I have gained, to me it means a lot,” Knutson said.

He hopes by giving the concert series in his home town it will show some of his gratitude to the people who supported him in his studies.

“I wouldn’t have been able to get where I have been in my life so far without the help of the community,” Knutson said. “One of the ways I’m wanting to give it back is through music-making.”

The next concert will take place July 23 at 3 p.m. with Hoy and Knutson, both on piano, and the final performance runs July 31 at 7:30 p.m. with Clara Daly Donnellan from Cork, Ireland on trombone and Knutson again on piano. Admittance is by donation for both shows.

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW