A native of Hanover, Ontario, Curtis Dietz has been a member of Symphony Nova Scotia since 1996. He is a graduate of the University of Montréal, and also studied at the University of Toronto and the Banff Center for the Arts.

Curtis has performed and recorded with some of Canada’s finest orchestras, including the Montréal Symphony Orchestra, the Canadian Opera Company, and the National Arts Centre Orchestra. He is a frequent collaborator with Grammy-winning composer Paul Halley, and is a founding member of the Maritime Brass Quintet.

Curtis currently resides in Hacketts Cove, Nova Scotia, with his wife, Gina Patterson, and three musically active children, Peter, Kate, and Greta.

Q&A with Curtis 

How long have you played the trumpet?
Forever (i.e. over 30 years… God help me).

Why did you begin playing the trumpet?
I ask myself this all the time (usually after playing a wrong note or getting lost in a piece). I guess Herb Alpert sounded cool to a five-year-old.

Do you play any other instruments?
I play the accordion very badly.

Can you tell us a humorous anecdote about your experience with Symphony Nova Scotia?
Yes, the first time I saw Michael Baker hit a golf ball; VERY funny.

What do you like to do in your spare time?
Think about new ways to infuriate the viola section.