Back in 2012, pianist Ross Inglis was having the incredible experience of accompanying Moshe Hammer in concert. After the concert, Moshe mentioned that he was looking for violin teachers for his program, The Hammer Band. Having started violin at age 3 and piano at age 4, Ross though he just might give it a try. This season, Ross is celebrating 10 years of teaching violin in the program!
Ross has seen the wonderful results of our program in a LOT of communities, starting in schools in the Jane & Finch corridor in 2012-2013, through schools in Regent Park, Malvern and now in Pickering, Whitby and Oshawa. Presently he has over 120 students in The Hammer Band ranging from 1st year in grade 4 to 8th year in grade 11. Although it is fantastic to be back teaching so many students in person at school, the experience of teaching online through the pandemic has added the opportunity for all his students to join him for bonus after school Zoom classes. Presently, more than 50 join him weekly online in beginner, intermediate and advanced classes.
Through the years there have been several students who have been able to enter High School Arts Programs and Intermediate Orchestra classes through the expertise that they have acquired in The Hammer Band. It is SO wonderful that they are able to continue joining online violin classes even though they have moved on from the schools where we teach.
“I’m so excited to see how quickly The Hammer Band has burst back into the fabric of so many schools! It was such a joy to hear staff members at schools saying, “The violin program is back? Wonderful! It’ll be great to hear the sound of violins in the halls again!”
Ross and his wife, physiotherapist, Carolyn Campbell live in Pickering with their 75 pound Bernedoodle, Boots and much smaller cat, Harry Potter. Their son Ethan is studying Nanoscience at Carleton University and their athletic daughter Ella, coming off a National U18 Hockey Championship win last year, is busy with all things sporting and academic in grade 11.
Ross is Director of Music at Knox United Church in Agincourt, Choral Director and pianist for Temple Sinai Synagogue, maintains a private piano studio of over 30 students and accompanies students at the Toronto Royal Conservatory of Music. He is an avid runner, still getting in over 1000km yearly and has raced many marathons, including Boston, Chicago, and Lisbon and ultra-marathons ranging from 6 hour races up to 100km runs.