My name is Layton Hiebert, and I’m a percussionist based in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada.

I have recently successfully applied to the highly competitive and prestigious World Percussion Group (WPG), and have been offered a spot to tour in their grand 10th anniversary European tour!

This is the ultimate opportunity that all percussionists dream of. The WPG, directed by Tim Palmer, hand picks ~15 percussionists from all around the world through a competitive audition process to collaborate, perform, and teach at some of the world’s top institutions. This year’s tour will last from April 4th to May 6th, hitting 13 countries across Europe!

The reason I am starting this fundraiser is to help to pay for the substantial artist fee needed to participate in the tour. The artist fee for the WPG 2026 European tour is £6000, equivalent to just over $11,000CAD, due by December 31st. This fee includes travel within Europe, coaching, equipment rentals, accommodations, food, essentially all costs once we arrive in Europe. Participants are also responsible for their own air travel to and from the UK & travel insurance.

Even working 2 jobs, I struggle to make ends meet, and simply cannot fund this amount as it stands now. Any and all donations will go a very long way in making this dream possible.

I am so incredibly honoured to be able to represent Canada on this international stage, and to follow in the footsteps of my former teacher and WPG alum, Joe Porter, and so many of my other heroes.

Thank you so much for your support!

WPG Website