ERNIE KALWA

photo by: Rastko Kovacevic

ERNIE KALWA

The leader and founder of the Royal City Saxophone Quartet, Ernie is a graduate of the University of Waterloo in Mathematics and Music. A native of Peterborough , Ontario , Ernie now calls Elora home. He studied piano briefly from the age of eight, and became more serious at age 12 when he picked up the saxophone. He played his first professional gig at 14, and was active in dance bands, concert bands, Dixieland, R&B, and saxophone quartets. Saving up his paper-route money, he bought his first tenor sax on his 16^th birthday with some help from his dad – Ernie Sr. He studied saxophone atHumberCollege with Pat LaBarbera, and later inNorth Carolinawith James Houlik. He has played in numerous bands and has traveled to many jazz events and festivals throughout theUnited States andCanada. His many influences include Zoot Sims, Stan Getz, Sonny Stitt, and Hank Mobley.