Members – Nicholas Atkinson

Nicholas was born in Manchester, England. He joined the Canadian Army as a bandsman in 1964, and obtained a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Calgary in 1973. He has studied extensively with Arnold Jacobs of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. From 1973 to 1987 he was a member of the RCMP band, and since 1976 he has been the tubist with the National Arts Centre Orchestra, appearing as a soloist with the NACO on numerous occasions. One of the busiest freelance tuba players in Canada, Mr. Atkinson has played with the orchestras of Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal, Symphony Nova Scotia, the Israel Philharmonic, and the Canadian Opera Company, and has been a member of the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra since 1977. He has also performed and recorded extensively with the Hannaford Street Silver Band and is a founding member of the Rideau Lakes Brass Quintet.