Since winning the John Philip Sousa award at McClure Junior High School, John Ellis knew at an early age he wanted to be a professional trumpet player. A native of Chicago Illinois, he has performed as soloist and chamber musician throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe. He holds the degree of Doctor of Music from Arizona State University. A versatile performer and educator, Dr. Ellis has appeared with a variety of musical organizations and artists, including the Canadian Brass, Les Violons du Roy, Chris Botti, Studio de Musique Ancienne de Montréal, as well as Grammy Award winners David Clayton-Thomas, Diana Krall and Anne Murray. He has been heard on broadcasts by the CBC and PBS, and has presented clinics and recitals at prestigious institutions and festivals throughout the world, including The Juilliard School, Cincinnati Conservatory, Summit Brass, the Banff Festival, and the 2005 International Trumpet Guild Festival in Bangkok Thailand.
Former Principal Trumpet of the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra, he is Principal Trumpet of the Orchestra of Northern New York, a member the Potsdam Brass Quintet, and holds the position of Professor of Music at The Crane School of Music, State University of New York at Potsdam.
“Playing the Edwards X13 is like playing a work of art.”