Tuba Virtuoso Kenneth Amis to Perform

Guest Artist Ken Amis
tuba

In keeping with its long tradition of presenting outstanding guest soloists, the Concord Band is proud to feature tuba virtuoso Ken Amis at its Winter Concert on March 4th. Mr. Amis was born and raised in Bermuda. He began playing the piano at a young age and upon entering high school took up the tuba and developed an interest in performing and composing music. A Suite for Bass Tuba, composed when he was 15, marked his first published work. A year later, at age 16, he enrolled in Boston University where he majored in composition. After graduating from Boston University, he attended the New England Conservatory of Music where he earned a Masters Degree in composition.

Mr. Amis has been commissioned to write for the annual Cohen Wing opening at Symphony Hall in Boston, the Massachusetts Instrumental Conductors Association, the Belmont High School Symphonic Band, the Gardener High School Band, the New England Conservatory Wind Ensemble, and the College Band Directors National Association. Ken has composed a number of works for band including The Reckoning, Sinfonia Concertante, Grenadiers of Liberty, The Playground Ball, and Rondo alla Kolo.

As a tuba player, Mr. Amis has performed as a soloist with the English Chamber Orchestra and has been a member of the Tanglewood Festival Orchestra and the New World Symphony Orchestra. He has served on the faculties of Boston University, the Boston University Tanglewood Institute, and the Pacific Music festival in Japan. Ken is presently the tuba player of the Empire Brass and occupies the International Brass Chair at the Royal Academy of Music in London.