James Pybus

Saxophonist, Arranger and Educator

James Pybus was born in Toronto. A classically trained musician, he has been playing saxophone, clarinet and flute for almost 40 years. He holds a Bachelor of Music (Honours in Performance) from the University of Western Ontario and a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Toronto. Additional music studies were pursued at Le Conservatoire de Musique du Quebec and at the North Carolina School for the Arts, James has studied with and participated in master classes with many of the finest Saxophone Artists in the world, including Donald Sinta, Larry Teal, Eugene Rousseau, Jean-Marie Londiex, Claude Brisson, James Houlik, Frederick Hemke and Marino Galluzzo.

As a member of the Canadian Saxophone Quintet, James has performed extensively across Canada and Australia. The CSQ have appeared as Guest Artists of the Toronto Symphony, the Quebec Symphony, in National and Regional CBC radio broadcasts, and Summer Festivals in Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. James can be heard on the Canadian Saxophone Quintet CD, Thanks for the Memories, as well as the Toronto Saxophone Quartet CD, Dedicated. In demand as a soloist, he has performed with the Trinity Chamber Players in Toronto, has given numerous recitals in Ontario and Quebec, and has performed at several Gallery and Museum art exhibition openings in Ontario. James is currently a member of the Toronto Saxophone Quartet and was a founding member of the Toronto Teacher’s Wind Ensemble.

James is very active in the field of arranging. His arrangements have been performed and recorded by the Three Rivers Saxophone Quartet of Pittsburgh, the Saxophonia Quartet of California, the Canadian Saxophone Quartet, the Canadian Saxophone Quintet, the Toronto Saxophone Quartet and many others.

As an educator, James is also very interested in passing on his musical knowledge. He has been a faculty member of the National Music of Canada, Toronto Music Camp, Scarborough Music Camp and the Kincardine Summer Music Festival. Presently he is teaching Music and English with the Peel District School Board. He also maintains a Private Studio teaching woodwinds at his home in Mississauga, Ontario.

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