Josh Wirt, tuba

Josh Wirt has maintained an active professional career on the tuba over the past 35 years. While completing his Bachelor’s Degree in Tuba Performance from Virginia Tech with Dr. Jay Crone, Josh performed hundreds of times around the Commonwealth with Quantum Brass as well as performing with the Faculty Brass Quintet on numerous performances. He also performed regularly with the Chamber Winds of Southwest Virginia. In 1998, Josh won the student concerto competition where he performed Frank Bencriscutto’s Concertino for Tuba and Band.

After completing his Performance Degree from Virginia Tech, he then went on to earn a PGDip (HONS) in 2005 from the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester (UK) where he studied with Roger Bobo, Mel Culberston, and James Gourlay. During his time in the UK, Josh performed as a regular member of the world-famous Fairey Band (formerly the Williams Fairey Brass Band).

Before moving to Chicago in 2009 to pursue a Masters Degree at DePaul University with Floyd Cooley, Josh held Acting Principal Tuba positions with the Roanoke Symphony and Opera Roanoke as well as extensive chamber work with the Roanoke Chamber Brass, the Roanoke Jazz Orchestra, and Opera-on-the-James. During his Masters studies at DePaul, Josh was an associate member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago from 2010-2013 where he performed with the orchestra and frequently with the Civic Orchestra MusiCorps Brass Quintet.

Currently, Josh is Principal Tuba with the Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra and the Wintergreen Music Festival (VA). He performs regularly as an extra/sub with the Chicago Symphony, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Milwaukee Symphony, Chicago Philharmonic, and Illinois Philharmonic orchestras. In addition to orchestral performances, Josh maintains a busy performance schedule as a freelance chamber performer and recording session artist. Recently, he was a featured soloist on a WFMT broadcast showcasing the music of Leonard Bernstein where he performed the ‘Waltz for Mippy III’. In April 2018 and in October 2019 he performed the Gregson Tuba Concerto with bands at Virginia Tech and Elmhurst University. In March 2025, Josh performed Jan Koetsier's Concertino for Tuba with the Elmhurst University Symphony Orchestra.

As an educator, Josh teaches applied tuba/euphonium, chamber coaching and brass methods courses at Elmhurst University and also maintains a select private studio of highly successful students from around the Chicagoland area who regularly earn regional, state and international honors (including two recent Silver Medal recipients at the Leonard Falcone International Tuba/Euphonium Festival). Josh is also co-director of the Chicago Tuba/Euphonium Institute and frequently coaches chamber ensembles with the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra.

Josh is a member of the International Tuba/Euphonium Association and Chicago Federation of Musicians AFM Local 10-08.