New Hire: Alex Avila, Texas A&M University - Kingsville

Dr. Alex Avila has recently been hired as the Visiting Assistant Professor of Tuba and Euphonium at Texas A&M University - Kingsville. He began this position in August 2018. His duties are to teach applied lessons in tuba and euphonium, teach low brass methods for music education majors, as well as direct the tuba/euphonium ensemble and oversee the TAMUK Chapter of the ITEA student organization. Alex received a bachelor's degree in Music Education from The University of Georgia and graduate degrees in Euphonium and Tuba performance from The University of Texas at Austin. He has won or placed in many solo competitions, most notably earning a gold medal in the Euphonium Artist Competition at the 30th anniversary of The Leonard Falcone International Tuba Euphonium Festival in 2015. In addition to his duties at TAMUK, Alex is a member of the innovative euphonium quartet, FivE and regularly tours with the group, presenting shows at conferences, universities, and public schools.

New Hire: Genevieve Clarkson, Oklahoma City University

Dr. Genevieve Clarkson is the new Assistant Professor of Tuba and Euphonium at Oklahoma City University, a position she began in August 2018. Her responsibilities include teaching tuba and euphonium lessons, studio class, Tuba-Euphonium Ensemble, and Brass Techniques Lab and playing in the Faculty Brass Quintet. Originally from Arlington, Virginia, Genevieve has served as the ITEA's Conference Manager since 2013, assisting with the 2014 and 2016 International Conferences in Bloomington, Indiana and Knoxville, Tennessee, and is currently assisting with preparations for the organization's 2019 Conference in Iowa City, Iowa. A student of John Cradler, Kevin Stees, Timothy Northcut, and Daniel Perantoni, Genevieve has played in regional orchestras across the Mid- and Southwest and toured with performing groups around the world. Prior to her appointment at Oklahoma City University, Genevieve served as the Lecturer of Tuba and Euphonium at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona.

New Hire: Aaron Campbell, University of Tampa

Aaron Campbell is the new Adjunct Professor of Tuba and Euphonium at the University of Tampa. He will begin in this position in Fall 2018. His duties are to oversee the private instruction of all tuba and euphonium students at the university, as well as perform with the faculty brass quintet. Campbell is an active freelance euphonium and trombone performer in the Tampa Bay area. He has performed regularly with various area ensembles including the Florida Wind Band (Tampa, FL), the Florida Wind Symphony (Boca Raton, FL), and as Solo Euphonium with the Brass Band of Central Florida. Campbell is a Besson and Lefreque performing artist.

New Hire: Geoff Durbin, Ouachita Baptist University

Geoff Durbin is the new Visiting Instructor of Low Brass at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkansas. He will begin serving in this role in Fall 2018. His duties include teaching private trombone, euphonium, and tuba; directing the Trombone Ensemble and the Tuba/Euphonium Ensemble; and teaching musicology. In addition to his position at OBU, Durbin is a member of Presidio Brass, based in San Diego, CA and is an XO Brass Performing Artist. He was the 2013 gold medal winner in the Euphonium Artist Competition of the Leonard Falcone International Tuba and Euphonium Festival. He holds degrees from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and the University of North Texas and is currently ABD at the University of Memphis.

New Hire: Joe LeFevre, Kansas City Symphony

Joe LeFevre recently won the position of Principal Tuba with the Kansas City Symphony. He will begin playing with the orchestra in September 2018. Prior to his appointment in Kansas City, Joe was a member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and a 2017 graduate of Michigan State University, where he earned a B.M. in Tuba Performance. His teachers include Phil Sinder, Mike Roylance, Gene Pokorny, Deanna Swoboda, Dennis Nulty, Jacob Cameron, and Bill Short. Joe has performed as a substitute with the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and Lansing Symphony Orchestra and was a fellow of the Tanglewood Music Center in 2016.