Larisa Pitchko is a Design student at MacEwan University. “I believe art and design, just like music, can tell a story. It can also find a story that wants to be told. The key is to find the balance between imagination and reality.” As a freelance photographer, designer, and artist, Larisa tries to bring ideas to life through various genres and mediums. Drawing inspiration from music, people, and nature, she strives to capture a unique moment in time and bring it to life. Larisa is inspired by her life growing up in Russia and Canada. She calls Canada her home, and currently resides with her daughter Masha in Edmonton, Alberta. She started her designing path at the Digital Media and IT program at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology and finished it with an honour’s degree. Currently, Larisa is working on a Bachelor of Design at MacEwan University in her third year of studies with plans to do a master’s degree after graduation.
Keegan Hewitt is in his last year of studies in the department of Music at MacEwan University, with a general major and a music career management minor. He is new to the Bent River Records team, and excited to learn from and work alongside such a talented group of people. In past years at MacEwan, Keegan has worked with the MacEwan Live Music Club, a group of students dedicated to creating professional performance opportunities for other student musicians. He finds interest in management, creation, and hosting of live & recorded music events, and aspires to work with a band or label in the future. With the team, Keegan hopes to learn more about the business and legal aspects of recording and music production, as well as gain insight into the operations of the professional world of music.
Chris Larsen is a second year recording and production major at MacEwan University and has joined the BRR team as an intern for winter 2022. Prior to MacEwan, he studied music performance on saxophone at Red Deer College for 2 years. During that time at RDC, he took a recording studio class where he discovered his passion for creating and capturing music with technology. He has since been developing his skills doing projects with bands, solo artists, and personal projects, producing everything from singer/songwriter to heavy metal. Fun fact: Chris spent 7 years in The Red Deer Royals, a competitive marching band, playing saxophone, euphonium, tuba, and also held the position of Drum Major. He has traveled to Europe 3 times to compete in Italy, The Netherlands, and Ireland.
Ian Small is a 5th-year Music major, specializing in composition, as well as recording and production. He loves working with artists, helping them take their music to the next level. He hopes to use his time with Bent River to learn as much as he can about the unique music scene in Edmonton and to meet and work with people from all walks of life, adding to the scene in the process. He is very excited to be a part of the Bent River team, ready to work alongside his incredibly skilled peers to learn and create during the last year of his degree.