Andrew Jarvis

Head of Brass - Tuba

Born in South Africa, Andrew Jarvis began studies at the age of 10 and gave his first solo performance with symphony orchestra when he was 16, performing the Vaughan Williams Tuba concerto with the Cape Performing Arts Board Orchestra. The same year he won a scholarship to attend the International Music Camp in the USA. During this time  also played with the Port Elizabeth Orchestra and Prince Alfred Guards Regimental Band. While studying at the University of Port Elizabeth Andrew taught and conducted ensembles including The East Cape Youth Wind Ensemble, sparking a life-long interest in music education.

After three years of study at the University of Port Elizabeth he took up study with Mike Johnson at the University of Natal, Durban, and played as freelance tubist with the Natal Philharmonic Orchestra. In 1987 he won the Principal Tuba position with the National Orchestra of South Africa and was conscripted into the Light Horse Regiment Band as part of his military service at the same time. He became involved in education and taught at various institutions and regularly performed with the Contemporary Brass Ensemble and the Transvaal Chamber Orchestra.

In 1993 Andrew emigrated to Australia where he freelanced with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Queensland Philharmonic and Sydney Symphony Orchestra. While in Queensland he was appointed part-time Lecturer in Tuba at the Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University, becoming involved in the Young Conservatorium programme and started the Junior Wind Ensemble and Young Conservatorium Brass Ensemble. He also taught tuba at the University of Queensland, University of Southern Queensland (1995) and Queensland University of Technology. In 1995, he was appointed Head of Brass and Director of Bands at Brisbane Girls’ Grammar School where he was instrumental in developing the band programme and brass department.
 
In 1997 he was a guest soloist at the Brisbane International Brass Festival and was invited to be guest soloist at both the 1997 and 1999 Tubamania International Tuba Conferences. Between 1998 and 2000, Andrew played tuba in the ‘Lost World’ recording orchestra and in 1999 and 2000 played with the English National Ballet’s tour of Swan Lake and Romeo and Juliet. In 2000 he was soloist with the Queensland Symphonic Winds tour of China, performing in Shinzhen and Ghuanzhou and giving masterclasses in Hong Kong.

During his time in Australia, Andrew became well known, not only as performer but as brass pedagogue and was frequently invited to adjudicate at competitions and festivals including Sunshine Coast Eisteddfod, Brisbane Bands Festival, Gold Coast Tropicarnival Eisteddfod and Brisbane International Brass Festival.

He was appointed Principal Tuba of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra in 2001 and is a founder member of New Zealand Brass. He became an artist teacher at the NZSM the same year. In 2004, Andrew premiered Ross Harris’s ‘Labyrinth’ for tuba and Orchestra. This work was commissioned by the NZSO and received an APRA award.

In 2008 Andrew was invited to be guest artist at the Bonyi music festival in Brisbane and has been invited to Beijing as guest artist for the 2011 festival. He was also invited to be guest tutor at the 1995, 1996 and 2008 Australian Youth Orchestra National Music Camp. He will return to Canberra for the 2009/10 camp.

During his thirty years of playing tuba and involvement in education, Andrew has received numerous awards including the Rotary Club award for outstanding community service and while in the USA received the Citation of Excellence from the National Honorary Band Fraternity – Kappa Kappa Psi, and in the same year received a National Band Association Award.

Many of Andrew’s former students have made successful careers as performers with positions in orchestras including the Gewandhaus Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Osnabrücker Symphony Orchestra, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (trialist),the Queensland Orchestra and the Australian Police Band.

In 2008 Andrew took up the position as Head of Brass at the NZSM. He has been instrumental in redesigning a new brass programme which commenced in 2009.

Contact details:
Room: 115, Kelburn Campus
Phone: +64 4 463 5233 ext 8073
Email: andrew.jarvis@nzsm.ac.nz

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