Hugh Wallis, tuba

After a brief, but frustratingly unsuccessful, encounter with a dusty old French system bassoon that he found at the back of his High School’s music cupboard, fortunately Hugh was pointed towards the equally ancient Tuba that was languishing there and invited to teach himself how to play it in the school band. He found this a lot easier than the bassoon because there were fewer buttons to press. From there on he never looked back.

Upon arriving as a first year Mathematics undergraduate at Oxford University he was upset to find there was no Wind Orchestra. So right away he founded one. The Oxford University Wind Orchestra is still running over 35 years later!! Upon moving to Canada in 1979 he took a 17 year hiatus from playing until he found out about the Markham Concert Band, where he continues to play today. He is also principal tuba in the Richmond Hill Philharmonic Orchestra as well as filling in occasionally for other ensembles in and around Toronto.