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Tubist Josh Wirt gave us the scoop on his involvement with the ESO and how he got started...

When did you join the Elmhurst Symphony?

I began subbing with the ESO in 2011 and then became Principal in 2017.

What instrument do you play and how did you get started playing it?

Tuba is my primary instrument. I started playing in 1987. It was love at first toot!! I also play euphonium and bass trombone and started those about a year after the tuba.

What piece is on your "Bucket List" and why?

It's so hard to pick just one. I’d have to say Bruckner 8, Mahler 6 or Prokofiev 5. All monumental works with gigantic tuba parts. I’ve played both Planets and Pictures before and I’m especially looking forward to playing them next season with the ESO.

Biography

Josh Wirt has maintained an active professional career on the tuba over the past 30  years. After completing his Bachelor's Degree in Tuba Performance from Virginia Tech,  studying with Dr. Jay Crone, he then went on to earn a PGDip (HONS) from the Royal  Northern College of Music in Manchester (UK) where he studied with Roger Bobo, Mel  Culberston, and James Gourlay. 

During his time in the UK, Josh performed as a regular  member of the world-famous Fairey Band (formerly the Williams Fairey Brass Band).  Josh then moved to Chicago in 2009 to pursue a Masters Degree at DePaul University  with Floyd Cooley. During his Masters studies at DePaul, Josh was an associate  member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago from 2010-2013 where he performed with the  orchestra and frequently with the Civic Orchestra MusiCorps Brass Quintet. 

Currently, Josh is Principal Tuba with the Elmhurst Symphony and the Wintergreen  Music Festival (VA). He performs regularly as an extra/sub with the Chicago Symphony,  Lyric Opera of Chicago, Milwaukee Symphony, Chicago Philharmonic, and Fort Wayne  Philharmonic orchestras.

In addition to orchestral performances, Josh maintains a busy chamber performance schedule with New Chicago Brass as well as a freelance  performer and recording session artist. Recently, he was a featured soloist on a WFMT  broadcast showcasing the music of Leonard Bernstein where he performed the ‘Waltz  for Mippy III’. In April 2018 and in October 2019 he performed the Gregson Tuba  Concerto with bands at Virginia Tech and Elmhurst University. 

As an educator, Josh  teaches applied tuba/euphonium, chamber coaching and brass methods courses at  Elmhurst University and also maintains a select private studio of highly successful  students from around the Chicagoland area who regularly earn regional, state and  international honors (including two recent Silver Medal recipients at the Leonard Falcone International Tuba/Euphonium Festival). Josh is a member of the International  Tuba/Euphonium Association and Chicago Federation of Musicians AFM Local 10-108.