Lynn University

Ken Amis, tuba artist-faculty at Lynn’s Conservatory of Music, is more than just a teacher – he’s a composer, conductor and performs professionally with the Empire Brass, “one of the preeminent brass chamber groups in the world,” said Amis. This month, on Thursday, Jan. 22, Amis will act as conductor and debut a piece of his own at Lynn’s first concert of the New Year – the Wind Ensemble – at 7:30 p.m. in the Louis and Anne Green Center for the Expressive Arts on campus. Tickets are $10.

Originally from Bermuda, Amis wasn’t raised playing the tuba. Rather, “my parents originally made me take guitar and piano lessons. I hated them. I never practiced,” said Amis in a recent on-camera “For Questions Four” interview. However, Amis’ mentality changed once he entered high school and could choose which instrument he wanted to play. “I ended up with the tuba. I was 11 years old and I’ve been playing it ever since… It’s kind of a passion of mine to play the tuba. I’ve loved it ever since I started it, and I continue to love it.”

At the age of 16, Amis moved to the United States and began studying at Boston University, where the Empire Brass was in residence. “They [The Empire Brass] actually performed in Bermuda when I was in high school,” said Amis. “I decided I wanted to study with these players. So, I entered college at Boston University. That’s where I began studying with a real aspect of playing tuba professionally.” Majoring in composition, Amis continued performing throughout his college years, studying tuba under Chester Schmitz (of the Boston Symphony Orchestra) and Sam Pilafian (founding member of the Empire Brass)

Amis began playing professionally with the Empire Brass in 1993, and he also currently plays with the Palm Beach Opera Orchestra. Amis isn’t the only artist faculty at Lynn to actively perform with the Empire Brass. In fact two other members – who also began their careers as students at Boston University studying under the renowned group – teach in Lynn’s Conservatory of Music: trumpet artist-faculty and assistant dean Marc Reese, and French horn artist-faculty Greg Miller. “The three of us,” said Amis “having met as students of the Empire Brass, have continued the tradition of performing and teaching.”