Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Kenneth Amis, African American Composer, Tuba Player and Member of Empire Brass



[Kenneth Amis, Tuba, With Fellow Members of Empire Brass; Solo Eclipse; MIT Wind Ensemble; Kenneth Amis, tuba; Bill McHenry, tenor saxophone; Amis Musical Circle AMC-CD-050 (2008)]

EmpireBrass.com
Kenneth 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 writing music. A Suite for Bass Tuba, composed when he was only fifteen, marked his first published work. A year later, at age sixteen, he enrolled in Boston University where he majored in composition. After graduating from Boston University he attended the New England Conservatory where he earned a Master's 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 Band, Gardener High School Band, the New England Conservatory Wind Ensemble and the College Band Directors National Association.

“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 Lynn University, Boston University, Boston University Tanglewood Institute and the Pacific Music Festival in Japan. Mr. Amis is presently the tuba player of the Empire Brass, a Performing Artist for Besson tubas, a composer for Boosey & Hawkes Publishing and holds the International Brass Chair at the Royal Academy of Music in London. For more information about obtaining arrangements, transcriptions and compositions by Kenneth Amis visit the Amis Musical Circle web site. (
http://www.AmisMusicalCircle.com)”

“The Empire Brass enjoys an international reputation as North America's finest brass quintet, renowned for its brilliant virtuosity and the unparalleled diversity of its repertoire. The five musicians - all of whom have held leading positions with major American orchestras - perform over 100 concerts a year in cities such as New York, Boston, Chicago, Washington, London, Zurich and Tokyo.” “The Empire Brass is the first brass ensemble to win the prestigious Naumberg Chamber Music Award.”






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