A Montana State University student has played a key role in producing the Emmy Award-winning Montana PBS series “11th and Grant with Eric Funk.” Lars Knudson, a junior studying music technology and computer science, worked as an audio intern for the program, which is filmed on the MSU campus.
The show, now entering its 16th season, features different Montana musicians in each episode. It has received 12 Emmy Awards over its 15 seasons, including four for audio production. Filming for the latest episodes took place in July at the Visual Communication Building on campus.
Knudson collaborated closely with audio director Jeremiah Slovarp to manage sound levels and recordings during filming. Each episode requires careful coordination to ensure musicians hear themselves clearly through their earpieces—a detail that can be costly if not managed well.
“We’re cruisin’. Speed,” Knudson said after starting an audio recording.
“Here we go,” added stage manager Paul Heitt-Rennie.
Six new episodes will be released over the coming year, with the first airing scheduled for 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 6.
Reflecting on his experience, Knudson said: “It was worth it, working with so many people who do different things but are all connected by the same love for music. It’s amazing that, for one, ‘11th and Grant’ exists, but also that I got to be there for it.”
Knudson’s interest in music began while growing up in Spearfish, South Dakota. Inspired by video game soundtracks such as “The Legend of Zelda” and “Hollow Knight,” he decided to pursue music composition and technology at MSU.
MSU’s music technology program currently enrolls more than 70 students. The curriculum combines technical training in audio production with creative studies like composition and performance. Students prepare for careers ranging from concert production to broadcast sound and film work.
“Every day, we go into a new environment and build a show from scratch,” Slovarp said. “We’re not in an office doing the same thing every day. We’re floating from location to location, reinventing everything around us.”
Slovarp noted that the “11th and Grant” internship is highly sought after among students in the program. Interns are responsible for adjusting earpieces, monitoring live recordings, and managing microphones on set—often working late into the night to prepare for upcoming performances.
Knudson credited his learning experience to working alongside professionals like Slovarp—who owns Jereco studio in Bozeman—and Hollywood camera operators brought in for production support. During filming’s final day, Knudson managed the audio room independently for several hours.
“It’s a huge confidence booster to know you’ve worked alongside a professional and hung in there,” said Linda Antas, associate professor and program coordinator for music technology at MSU. “Maybe you didn’t know everything the first day, but you worked with a good mentor who saw your potential and were able to reflect on all the things you learned.”
Antas highlighted Knudson’s ability to blend creative skills with technical expertise across his academic projects. This fall he leads video game development efforts through a club he founded at MSU last year.
In September, Knudson’s club released Gekl—a two-dimensional game featuring a chameleon protagonist—and plans another release called GadgR on Oct. 13 via itch.io. The team is also developing Until Winter, where players grow crops to survive increasingly harsh winters within the game world.
Montana PBS will air five additional episodes of “11th and Grant” next year that Knudson helped produce during this summer’s filming session.
“I can’t wait to see it happen; it’s going to be totally worth it,” Knudson said about seeing his work broadcasted. “It already is worth it at this point. My goal is to affect someone with my music and games the same way that I have been affected by them since I was a little kid.”
