A native of Chicago Illinois, John Ellis has performed as soloist and chamber musician throughout the North America, Europe and Asia. He holds the degree of Doctor of Music from Arizona State University, where he studied with trumpet virtuoso David Hickman. A versatile performer and educator, Dr. Ellis has appeared with a variety of musical organizations and artists including the Canadian Brass, the Miami Ballet, Studio de Musique Ancienne de Montreal, the Calgary Philharmonic, the Moody Blues, as well as Grammy Award winners Diana Krall, Tony Bennett and Anne Murray, Chris Botti and others. He performs frequently on the stage of theNational Arts Centre of Canada, has been heard internationally in broadcasts by CBC-Radio Canada, and has presented clinics and recitals at prestigious institutions and festivals throughout the world, including The Juilliard School, Cincinnati Conservatory, International Horn and Trombone Festivals, Summit Brass, the Banff Festival, and the Raphael Mendez Brass Festival. He is currently Principal Trumpet of the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra and the Orchestra of Northern New York, and a member of the Capital BrassWorks.  They're newest CD, "Gabriel's Sister" was released in May 2008. 

Dr. Ellis holds the position of Professor of Music at The Crane School of Music. His solo recording, SoloPro, Music for Trumpet, is released on the Summit Records label.