Jack Hui Litster
Contract Instructor; Performance Instructor (Digital Music Production, Composition, and Drums)
- MA (Carleton University); BA (University of Ottawa); Diploma in Music (St. Francis Xavier)
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Drawing out deep emotions, Jack Hui Litster’s music tells stories. Pivoting effortlessly between traditional and modern, acoustic and electronic, Jack consistently delivers intense musical creations. A multi-instrumentalist and composer based in Ottawa, Canada, Jack has performed across Canada and internationally. His original compositions have enhanced an array of films, podcasts, operas, dance and choir performances.
Jack composes and records music for filmmakers including Christian Guérin, Iyore Edegbe, Mark Corless, Gabriel Harb, Deena Alsaweer, Andrew Brannen, Ruth Kabengele, Kenneth Joe-Ezigbo, Jason Dai, Colin Ziraldo, Nana Boncano, Lenzz, Tom Peters, Rachel Durling and Rachel Gray. Jack is the owner and creative director of the Ottawa-based film scoring company Every Note is Alive.
Jack’s recent compositions performed live include Voices Dance Project’s 2025 sold-out performance of On Home in April 2025 in Ottawa, and OperOttawa’s 2024 premiere of Jack’s Gates of Heaven: Requiem for a Life of Peace dedicated to Canadian women leaders throughout history. Jack is also active in the Ottawa music scene as a bandleader with Fleeting Visions and Saga Cinematic.
Jack began his musical career at age 20 working in the Caribbean as a showband drummer on cruise ships, then decided to broaden his horizons and complete a degree in global studies. In the non-profit sector, he worked on staff at Inter Pares from 2013-2019 on international human rights and social justice causes, collaborating with community activists from Africa, Asia, and Latin America. All the while Jack stayed engaged in the Ottawa music scene, performing in diverse styles of music including funk, folk, Afro-beat, jazz, and opera.
After being featured on seven albums as drummer and co-writer during the period from 2003-2016, Jack’s debut album of his own compositions, Shining Suns (2022), is a suite of eight cinematic songs in various genres which chart a journey of inner discovery and awakening, and features guest artists Emily Calongcagong, Raphael Weinroth Browne, Petr Cancura and Mark Ferguson. Jack’s second solo album, Painted Piano (2024) explores layers of unconventional tones from a conventional instrument (the grand piano), and is inspired by the piano music of film composer Volker Bertelmann. Jack’s 2025 EP Arise is an electronic celebration of collaborations with local Ottawa musicians Dumis9ne, Grey Brisson and Nick Schofield.
In 2023 Jack joined the staff of Carleton University’s music department as a Contract Instructor and Performance Instructor, teaching courses and private lessons on film music, music production and composition.