News and event information for Williams Lake, BC - as it happens.

Thompson Rivers University in Williams Lake hosted a concert on Saturday that featured three musicians on acoustic instruments who delighted and inspired the audience with their skill and expertise, and entertained the crowd with their humour and personable stage presence.

(Calvin Vollrath, joined by Mark Sullivan and Trent Freeman, played at a concert at TRU that welcomed the entire community. Photo by Candice Magnowski)

The concert was a brainstorm by a local group dedicated to raising the profile of TRU in the community, and to raise money for music bursaries for local kids.

The group, unofficially named ‘TRU Grit’, was proud to have the concert kick off one of their goals for the school—having regular concerts and musical events to engage the community in Williams Lake’s own university.

The Magnowksi family was part of the audience at the concert. Daughters Mackenzie and Madison play with the Cariboo Chilcotin Youth Fiddle Group, and ‘mom’ Candice said that the whole family loved the music at the concert.

“Calvin was the ‘guest star’ and he played the fiddle, Mark played guitar and fiddle and Trent played fiddle and mandolin,” the girls explained. “Their music abilities are outstanding, and they are also extremely personable and funny—drawing the crowd into the performance.”

The musicians played many of Calvin’s original music, as well as old-time fiddle favourites. “Calvin has written more than 400 songs, and was the composer of ‘Fiddle Nation’ which he wrote for the Vancouver Winter Olympics Ceremony,” Candice said.

“The show was fabulous—‘TRU Grit’ will put on more special events like this to promote our local university campus,” she said. “This is really great news for the community.”

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