CBC Profiles Glenn Gould School Student Brayden Friesen

Published on August 16, 2018

It’s been an amazing month for trombonist Brayden Friesen. In addition to touring Europe with the National Youth Orchestra, the Alberta native was recently named to CBC’s list of Canada's top 30 classical musicians under 30 years old. As a result of the acclaim, Brayden earned an interview with The Homestretch, the network’s afternoon current affairs program in Calgary.

"I was really happy to be included this year," he revealed. “Secretly I always wanted to achieve that status, to be put on that list.”

Brayden is in his second year of the Artist Diploma Program, a graduate program of The Royal Conservatory’s Glenn Gould School (GGS). He is a recipient of The Inhatowycz Emerging Artists Scholarships and studies with Gordon Wolfe, Principal Trombone of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.

When Wolfe found himself unexpectedly unable to perform at a recent TSO concert, Brayden was called in to play – what would be his debut – with barely thirty minutes' notice.

Brayden was practicing at GGS when he received the frantic call. “That was a crazy night,” he recalled. “I jumped on my bike with a trombone on my back, and I got there five minutes before [the orchestra began tuning].”

“I didn’t have time to even really get nervous,” he added. “It was just focus mode the whole time.”

Not long ago, the young trombonist was also asked to play for the CBC. He chose one of his favourite pieces, Henri Tomasi’s Concerto for Trombone. It’s a work he’s performed in recital at The Glenn Gould School.

“It’s an amazing piece.”

The Glenn Gould School is supported by funding from the Department of Canadian Heritage through the Canada Arts Training Fund, and from the Ontario Arts Council.  

For information on how to apply to The Glenn Gould School, please visit the school’s website.