| James Hill is among the best-known serious ukulele | | | | other performers. In addition to being introduced |
| players in the world. What sets him apart from | | | | to the instrument in elementary school, Hill was |
| most of his peers is that he's not from Hawaii. In | | | | able to participate in a ukulele performance group |
| fact, he's from about as far away from a tropical | | | | from a young age, thus cementing his playing it as |
| Pacific island as one could hope to get: Nova | | | | a serious instrument, ensemble or solo. |
| Scotia, Canada. Ironically, it is largely because of | | | | James Hill has toured extensively, throughout the |
| where he's from that he became a famous | | | | United States and Canada. Of course, he's also |
| ukulele player. Canada uses the ukulele as a way | | | | played a lot in Hawaii, and is respected among |
| to teach elementary school children the basics of | | | | other accomplished and serious ukulele players. His |
| music, much in the fashion that recorders are | | | | music is largely original, having influences that span |
| used in the US. Hill's love of the instrument started | | | | a wide range of musical genres. Hill includes among |
| in those early years of his life. | | | | his influences everything from folk to classical. His |
| James Hill is one of the ukulele performers who | | | | composition skills have won him wide acclaim, both |
| actively seeks to redefine the ukulele as a serious | | | | for their contributing to the body of serious music |
| instrument and who, at the same time, doesn't | | | | for the instrument and on their musical merit, |
| mind referencing that fact for a bit of humor. | | | | itself. He has been called a virtuoso performer and |
| Among his recordings, for example, is 2002's | | | | is considered among the best currently |
| "Playing it like it isn't...". Hill has collaborated with | | | | performing. |
| numerous other musicians, including cellists and | | | | |