Former Resident Managing Violinist ‘Destined to be New Star’ Murray Thunberg (left) in Toronto with Russian musician Eugene Draw at a rehearsal at the Royal Conservatory of Music (photo supplied). Print edition in March 17 edition of The Provost News. Want to Subscribe to The Provost News? Click here.

Former Provost-Hayter area resident Murray Thunberg now lives in Toronto and is deeply involved in the music industry. Thunberg has published a new CD under his entertainment label name of Alchemy Entertainment. The CD is of a young Russian musician named Eugene Draw (also known as Dr. Draw), that he manages. The CD is titled “The City.” (Thunberg sent The News a copy of the brand new CD and the quality music is being played as this story is being written). But Thunberg says that he remembers his roots — and the importance of the small town and the richness it has to offer. His story: It is interesting that at this point in my life (I’m now 36) that so much of what happened growing up in Provost has shaped who I am today. I always loved music and whether it was singing in choir, reciting poetry, playing my trumpet in the band or solo . . . I was always somehow involved with it. For a small community Provost provides so many outlets for artistically inclined youth that you would never find in other similar sized communities or in fact, larger ones. I honestly feel that people like Verlie Meiklejohn, Norma Paulgaard, Beryl Goodman, Jack Dobson, Olea Paulgaard, and Irene McCormick should be honored and held in high regard for the contributions they have made to the music and cultural scene in Provost.

I still remember skipping school every year starting on Wednesday afternoon so I could slip into the churches and halls where the annual Provost Music Festival would be held. I don’t know what it is like today, but I remember all the different choices that I had to participate or just watch. Some of my favorites were; the singing at the United Church, solo instrumentals at the Associated Gospel, piano at the Lutheran Church, poetry at STA, back to the United Church Friday afternoon for everyone’s favorite; musical theatre. All of this ended Saturday with Colour Night at Provost High School which I participated in several times over my teenage years. One year the PHS band even made it to provincials. Growing up I took all of this for granted, but now realize how it has influenced me in my career choices over the years. I left Provost in 1985 and lived in both Wainwright and Lloydminster until moving to Toronto in 1989. For the first few years living in Toronto I kept myself busy working at different restaurants and bars as a waiter and bartender. It wasn’t until 1994 when I met a woman who produced Fashion Cares, the largest fundraiser in the country that I realized I needed to work in a creative environment. Jann Coppen became my mentor and one of my best friends. I became her assistant and worked under her tutelage for several years until I branched out on my own producing fashion shows and events. I’ve done events at the Royal Ontario Museum, Art Gallery of Ontario, Harbourfront Centre, and many other prominent Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver venues. I’ve worked for companies like Labatt’s, Diesel, Mac Cosmetics, DKNY, Designer’s Ontario, Fashion Design Council of Canada, Canadian Fur Council, Smirnoff, CIBC, Eaton’s, The Bay, Salon Magazine and many more. Also I spent three years as an international agent for DJs and other singers traveling extensively throughout the United States as well as touring some interesting European places like Slovenia and Ibiza in Spain. I’ve also worked on many events for charity which I would donate my services as a producer, event coordinator and many other rolls. I manage a young musician by the name of Eugene Draw (aka Dr. Draw), violinist to be precise who is 21 years old and destined to be a star. Recently I started a record label so we could release a CD of his music, eight of the tracks are original compositions and there are two interpretations including Schubert’s Ave Maria and Handel’s Sarabande. After violin virtuoso Draw released his debut album The Toronto Star had this to say: “One of our country’s most promising talents” . . . a breathtakingly beautiful fusion of classical and contemporary eletronica. Thunberg is now promoting the CD nation-wide to music retailers and music lovers (see Blanket Alberta in March 17 issue of The Provost News). Print version along with photo in March 17 edition of The Provost News. Want to Subscribe to The Provost News? Click here.

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