Member of the Month
Ryan Noakes

Full Name: Ryan Noakes

Medium: Music (singing and composing)

How long have you been doing your art: I’ve been singing since I was old enough to figure out how, and started composing about 20 years ago.

What got you originally interested in the art you do: I grew up thinking life was a musical with my parents constantly singing along to the radio and records. It was only natural for me to start making music too.

What do you enjoy the most about your art: Making music together with other humans is a truly beautiful thing.

What is your favorite joke/quote: What do you call a cow that can play a musical instrument? A moo-sician.

What is something most people don’t know about you: I’m actually very introverted.

If you could teach everyone one art medium or method, what would it be, why: Singing. It’s one of the most natural forms of human expression and likely predates language as we know it. When we sing together our breathing and heartbeats sync up, and we’re working together in literal and figurative harmony.

What do you think makes art important: It can calm our minds when we’re troubled, energize us when we’re down, and provides us with so many different ways of expressing ourselves.

Why are you a member of the Kamloops Arts Council: To help me stay connected to what’s happening in the very active arts sector in Kamloops.

What are you looking forward to the most in this upcoming year (A special show or project you’re working on): Finally being able to perform in front of a live audience again after far too long of the pandemic making it not possible.