One other thing I neglected to add in my post above.mandrake wrote:On top of THAT, I want to be sure to study composition.
To study composition, and study tuba, and -- if you must remain in Canada -- then you should go to Montreal. Any other option is a far distant second.
Dr John Rea is one of the foremost composition teachers on the planet -- fantastic. Not just a world-class composer, but world-class composition teacher. (A very important consideration.) Plus, you could study with either/both of two extremely fine tuba teachers in Montreal: Dennis Miller and Alain Cazes.