“I want to spread my wings, I want to grow,” says CC Trubiak.
Last week, the Flin Flon musician learned he would receive an opportunity to do just that: he has been chosen to take part in the Manitoba Music Emerging Artists Showcase.
The event, part of the Manitoba Showcase 2015 being held in Flin Flon, will see Trubiak and three other emerging artists perform songs for an audience of industry professionals later this month.
They will also take part in events throughout the four-day Manitoba Showcase, and will be able to secure gigs through the event.
For Trubiak, it’s a major professional development opportunity: a chance to meet major players in the province’s music industry face to face, and make connections for his career as a performer.
It is also a personal accomplishment.
“My primary interest in going for this goal was about facing fears,” he says. “I have missed out on opportunities in my life because of fear of rejection, or fear of being criticized, but I faced the fear of applying for this and going through the process.”
Trubiak credits the supportive Flin Flon arts community, and Mark and Crystal Kolt in particular, for giving him the encouragement he needed to seize this opportunity.
While Trubiak has two albums under his belt, the music he will play for the Emerging Artists Showcase will be new.
“It’s very autobiographical,” he says, noting that his newly written songs are influenced by his roots in northern Manitoba.
The Manitoba Showcase, which will take place in Flin Flon from Oct 22 to 25, is a Manitoba Arts Network event that brings together Canadian talents with arts councils and organizations across the province for performances, professional development and networking opportunities.
The Emerging Artists Showcase is a partnership between the Manitoba Arts Network and Manitoba Music that offers rookie performers an opportunity to share their work with industry delegates from across the province along with showcase artists.
“It’s great to put emerging artists into the mix, so they see what’s expected once they get into the world of promoting themselves in the music industry,” explains Kate Bromley, performing arts coordinator, Manitoba Arts Network.
Besides Trubiak, the other three emerging artists chosen are Carly Dow, Kayla Luky and Until Red. In order to be considered, artists needed to be Manitoba Music members, and residents of the province with a current musical release.
A jury panel of industry professionals selected the winners.
Roland Deschambault, professional development coordinator for Manitoba Music, says the Emerging Artists program was developed “to give up-and-coming artists a chance to develop their networking and showcasing skills alongside more established artists.”
Since he moved back to Flin Flon three years ago, Trubiak has launched an album (Tiny Army: The D. Holmes Sessions), collaborated with diverse local artists in countless performances, and expanded his vocal range as a lovestruck revolutionary in the Flin Flon Community Choir’s production of Les Misérables.
He says these experiences were pivotal in his growth as a performer, a vocalist and a songwriter.
“This is a very unique city,” says Trubiak. “I see opportunities left, right and centre, and I feel inspired about where we are going.”
The Emerging Artists Showcase will be closed to the public, due to limited space, so Trubiak’s local fans won’t be able to cheer him on for that event.
However, they may be able to catch some of his new tunes – and hear from a number of visiting talents – at the Manitoba Showcase open mic events, which will take place at 10 pm in The Unwinder Lounge on Oct. 22, 23 and 24.
