Wallis Petruk

Wallis Petruk is a musician, arranger, producer and educator. Besides being an original member of The Emeralds (10) - playing saxophone, flute, clarinet, violin and trumpet - he has performed with the orchestras of Bob Hope, Mel Torme, Della Reese, Wayne Newton, Eartha Kitt, Mart Kenny and Tommy Banks. He has also performed with The Rebels, The Nomads, and The University of Alberta Symphony and String Ensemble. In addition to being The Emeralds' arranger/record producer, Wallis has written countless arrangements for recording artists at Damon-Soundtrek Studios of which he is a co-owner. Born in Vegreville, Alberta, Canada, Wallis attended high school in Edmonton. Upon graduation, he attended Westlake College of Modern Music in Los Angeles, California, and subsequently continued his music studies at the University of Alberta. After graduating with a Bachelor of Education Degree, he taught instrumental and choral music at the high school level before embarking on a career as an independent producer, arranger, composer and instrumentalist. Wallis married his high school sweetheart Henrietta Starko, and together they have three children: Connie, Jane and Dean.