Anishinaabe flutist headed to prestigious music school after strangers rally to help

Anishinaabe flutist Tyler Evans-Knott says he was not prepared for the outpouring of support he received from strangers this past month.

In June, CBC Indigenous reported the 25-year-old from Curve Lake First Nation in southern Ontario had had to decline his offer of admission into McGill University’s Schulich School of Music for this fall because he needed a new professional-level flute but was unable to afford one.

His old flute’s silver was eroding because of a physiological condition that makes his sweat more acidic. His mother, Janet Evans, set up an online fundraiser hoping to raise about $16,000 to buy a gold flute with less risk of erosion so Evans-Knott could continue his career.

“I knew there would be some [support], I just didn’t know, like, how big of a response it would be,” said Evans-Knott, who currently lives in Victoria with his mom and sister.

In June, Evans-Knott received two different messages from strangers offering to donate a flute they were no longer using.

Evans-Knott was able to accept a silver Muramatsu flute with a Powell head joint from a woman living in Vancouver.

“It’s like comparable or even slightly better than what I’m playing on now, which is just great to have an instrument of that level to keep me going through the fall,” he said.

Then McGill reached out to reinstate its offer of acceptance into the music program.

“They were able to offer a substantial scholarship for the upcoming year, so that really changed things for sure,” Evans-Knott said.

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Flute player Tyler Evans-Knott, a member of Curve Lake First Nation near Peterborough, Ont., dreams of becoming a professional orchestra musician.

McGill’s Schulich School of Music is considered one of Canada’s top music programs. Lloyd Whitesell, associate dean of academic and student affairs, said in an email it works to integrate high-level classical musical training as well as creating other life paths for students beyond performance.

“When we heard secondhand about his financial situation, both the school and McGill’s Office of Indigenous Initiatives reached out to him,” Whitesell said.

The donated flute and the scholarship from McGill have made it possible for Evans-Knott to accept his place at the music school this fall. His mother was amazed at how quickly their luck turned.

“It seemed like in a 36-hour span, we were going to McGill,” Evans said.

So far, Evans has been alongside her son through his educational journey at every step, moving with him to B.C. when he was accepted into the Victoria Conservatory of Music.

Now, Evans-Knott is set to take this next step to McGill on his own.

“[It’s] nerve wracking, but also exciting,” he said, adding he already has a few friends in Montreal.

“I’m just really excited to make music in a new city and a new scene, and just getting to know my different colleagues and mentors and people I’ll be working with.”

Evans-Knott and his mother are still applying for bursaries to help finance his upcoming semester at McGill. They are also still fundraising. They’ve raised $11,000 so far — not yet enough to afford a gold flute of his own.

In the meantime, they said they are grateful for all the support that has come their way.

“It kind of leaves you speechless,” Evans said.