Ingrid Stitt

A native of Dauphin, Manitoba, Ingrid Stitt grew up in a musical family and still remembers the excitement of getting her first saxophone at ten years of age. While still in high school, she studied at Brandon University with James MeMendenhall which fuelled her desire to pursue music professionally. She earned a BMus at McGill University in 1983 and went on to become a session and touring musicians in Montreal and Toronto. She has performed with freelance musicians in the country and several recording artists such as Corey Hart, Rita McNeil, Tommy Banks, Jan McShann, Fraser MacPherson, Jake Hanna, Bo Diddley and Tom Scott. Stitt always led her own jazz quartets and quintets throughout the years she worked in Eastern Canada, but was also a member of several other bands and ensembles. She joined the fusion band “Tchukon” in 1984 and played with them for five years. She was a member of Jim Galloway’s ‘Wee Big Band’ for several years in the early ‘90s, a time when she also played with the Toronto ‘Women with Horns’ band. Since moving to Vancouver in 1995, she has pursued teaching secondary school in Burnaby. She also adjudicates Jazz Festivals in the Lower Mainland and teaches at summer music schools in the province as well as in Whitehorse. She has completed her Master’s Degree in Music Education from the University of Victoria and maintains an active performing schedule.