In Loving Memory of Dr. Gregory Irvine
On February 15th, 2024, Prince Edward Island lost a prominent music educator, Dr. Gregory Irvine. Gregory was a pillar in the PEI music community and far beyond, and will forever be remembered as a remarkable pedagogue and tubist, as well as for his cheerful demeanour and genuine care for others. The PEIRMTA extends our sincerest condolences to his wife Sue Irvine, son Adrian Irvine, family members, friends, students and anyone else lucky enough to have known Gregory.
Gregory Irvine was the Principal Tubaist of the Hamilton (Ontario) Philharmonic Orchestra for eleven years. During that time he also performed with such ensembles as the Toronto Philharmonic, Toronto Pops, and CJRT Orchestras. He has performed extensively as a tuba soloist, and in chamber ensembles including the Royal Brass of the Hamilton Philharmonic, and the Aeolos Brass Quintet, which toured throughout Canada during the 1980s. Since joining the faculty at the University of Prince Edward Island in 1990 Dr. Irvine has continued to perform in orchestras throughout the Atlantic region including the PEI Symphony, Symphony Nova Scotia, and Symphony New Brunswick, as well as in chamber ensembles, and as a soloist.
Dr. Irvine completed both Masters and Doctoral degrees at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois where he studied with the legendary brass pedagogue Arnold Jacobs (long-time tubaist of the Chicago Symphony) and with Rex Martin. He completed his Bachelor’s degree in tuba performance at the University of Toronto where he studied with Charles Daellenbach of the Canadian Brass. Dr. Irvine recently retired from his position as Associate Professor in the Music Department at the University of Prince Edward Island where his teaching responsibilities included teaching all the brass instruments to brass majors, brass techniques, brass literature and pedagogy, instrumental conducting, and music history. Dr. Irvine has had several of his articles on brass pedagogy published in Canadian Winds, the official journal of the Canadian Band Association. In August 2015 his book for instrumental music educators about the pedagogy of Arnold Jacobs was published by Scholar Publications of Chicago. “Arnold Jacobs’s Legacy: Sound Advice for Developing Brass Players” is available from the publisher and from the Canadian Brass website. Dr. Irvine lives in Charlottetown where he continues to teach privately, as well as at the Université de Moncton, and he continues to perform with the local and regional orchestras noted previously.