Brian started his musical journey as a trumpet player with the Westgate High School band under Mr. James Jewett. Those formative years fostered in him the desire to become the best player he could and to love playing music whenever or wherever possible. That meant playing with some of the local early rock bands at “The Gardens”, sock hops, polka bands, ‘Spaghetti Circuit’ gigs and cadet and military bands. Brian finally found a couple of fine trumpet teachers, Chris Morrison and Derrick Milton of the Thunder Bay Symphony. They later went on to fame with the Foothills Brass. He was fortunate to play with the Thunder Bay Symphony and became a member of the Roy Coran Big Band. Brian’s career path as a Registered Nurse took him away from Thunder Bay in 1980 and played lead trumpet in many bands in western Canada such as the Brandon Jazz Society Big Band, Brandon University Tuesday Night Big Band, the Leduc Gold and Black Big Band and the St. Albert Community Band. In Brandon, he studied trumpet with Mr. Ehnnis the trumpet professor at the university–his son, James, is the acclaimed violinist. In 2012, Brian returned to Thunder Bay and was fortunate enough to resume playing with the Roy Coran Big Band and the Thunder Brass ensemble. Although he has experienced health setbacks that have been challenging to work through Brian pursues music and trumpet playing with a passion and thanks the Almighty to be playing with some of the best musicians in Canada.
