Tuesday, January 19, 2016

New Hire: Gail Robertson

Dr. Gail Robertson has recently accepted the position of Assistant Professor of Tuba/Euphonium and Jazz at the University of Central Arkansas. She is currently serving in this role as a Visiting Assistant Professor. Her duties - now and in the future - include teaching graduate and undergraduate applied lessons, leading Jazz Ensemble II, teaching the Graduate Pedagogy and Repertoire courses, conducting the UCA Tuba-Euphonium Ensemble, and performing as the tubist with Pinnacle Brass, UCA's faculty brass quintet. Dr. Robertson earned degrees from the University of Central Florida, Indiana University, and most recently Michigan State University, where she completed her D.M.A. as a University Distinguished Fellow. Her research at Michigan State led to the Clifford Bevan Award for Excellence in Research, which she was awarded in 2014. Prior to her doctoral studies, Dr. Robertson performed for 10 years with the “Tubafours” at Walt Disney World. Her other performance activities include the SYMBIOSISDUO with Dr. Stacy Baker, an ensemble which has recorded two CDs. In addition, she has toured the U.S., China, and Japan with Keith Brion’s “New Sousa Band," is a member of the Brass Band of Battle Creek, and has recently performed with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Dr. Robertson is a Willson Euphonium Artist and uses a bronze Warburton/Gail Robertson mouthpiece.

Friday, January 8, 2016

New Hire: Itai Agmon

Beginning in January 2016, Itai Agmon will make his debut as the Principal Tubist with the Minnesota Opera Orchestra. Agmon is currently a sophomore at Indiana University. His primary teachers include Daniel Perantoni, Shmuel Adi Hershko, and Avital Handler. During his military service in the Israel Defense Forces Band (2011-2014), he was an avid freelancer and was the primary tuba player for various regional orchestras across the state. He recently toured with the IU Wind Ensemble to the National CBDNA Convention in Nashville, Tennessee and performed with the IU Philharmonic Orchestra and the IU New Music Ensemble. He has been supported by the America-Israel Cultural Foundation since 2011.

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

New Hire: Dr. Albert Miller

Beginning in January 2016, Dr. Albert Miller will be the new Instructor of Tuba and Euphonium in the Lionel Hampton School of Music at the University of Idaho. His duties there include teaching applied tuba and euphonium lessons and studio classes. A native of Columbus, IN, Dr. Miller received his D.M.A. from the University of Kansas, an M.M. degree from the University of Arkansas, and a B.M.E. from Indiana State University. Prior to his move to the Pacific Northwest, he was the Director of Jazz Studies and Instructor of Low Brass at Kansas Wesleyan University. His primary teachers include Scott Watson, Ben Pierce, Alex Lapins, and Brian Kiser.

New Hire: Dr. Alexander Lapins

Dr. Alexander Lapins has recently accepted the position of Assistant Professor of Tuba and Euphonium at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. He is currently serving as the Lecturer of Tuba and Euphonium at UT-Knoxville for the 2015-2016 academic year. His duties as assistant professor will include teaching applied lessons, leading the tuba/euphonium ensemble, teaching chamber music, and playing in the faculty brass quintet. Dr. Lapins was born in Washington D.C. and grew up in the suburbs of northern Virginia. He studied at James Madison University, the University of Michigan, and Indiana University, as well as the Henry Mancini Institute and the Tanglewood Music Center. He has performed with the Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Chicago and Flagstaff Symphony Orchestras, the Cincinnati and Indianapolis Opera Orchestras, the New Mexico Philharmonic Orchestra, and many professional brass quintets. He has also performed as a session musician on hundreds of recordings. In addition to his duties at UT-Knoxville, Dr. Lapins is on the faculty of the Miraphone Academy and the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp and was previously on the faculty of Northern Arizona University, Indiana State University, and the University of Indianapolis. His principal teachers include Daniel Perantoni, Fritz Kaenzig, Kevin Stees, Tony Kniffen, and Mike Bunn. Dr. Lapins is a Miraphone artist.