Humboldt Brass Chamber Music Workshop Announces 2013 Composition Contest Prizewinners

CAMPBELL, CA - Tony Clements, Director of the Humboldt Brass Chamber Music Workshop, announced the 2013 Composition Contest winners on Monday, March 11, 2013.

John Palmer from Kingston, Ontario, Canada, won the grand prize of US$2000 for his septet “Three Shades of Blue.”  This is John’s eighth contest prize.  Zachary Smith, of Fredericksburg, Virginia, won the second prize of US$1000 for his “Zombie Apocalypso.”  Zach was last year’s grand prizewinner.  The US$500 third place prize was awarded to Casey Martin, of Long Beach, California, for “Tales of Brynmor.”  Anthony O’Toole of Indiana, Pennsylvania received Honorable Mention recognition for “Theme and Variations on A Mighty Fortress.”  Roger May, of Reading, England, also received Honorable Mention recognition for his “The Four Temperaments.” 

The contest focused on original 8-10 minute works for college-level brass septet.  All qualifying entries were played and evaluated using a blind audition process by representatives of the workshop coaching staff and other California professional brass musicians. Amateur musicians will perform this year’s contest submissions in a workshop format during the July 2013 Brass Chamber Music Workshop at Humboldt State University in Arcata, Calif.

“We have once again expanded our library with wonderful music,” said Clements. “I am especially excited by the strong response of composers to our call to create new music for brass ensembles. Congratulations to the winners, and many thanks to all the fine composers who submitted works. Please look for a spring announcement of the 2014 contest, which will focus on brass sextets.”

The Humboldt Brass Chamber Music Workshop is held each summer in two one-week sessions. 2013 sessions are scheduled for July 21-July 27 and July 28-August 3. Activities include: daily chamber ensemble rehearsals coached by some of the West Coast’s finest brass musicians; daily performances by participants; brass choir reading sessions; abundant freelance playing time; special-interest sessions on brass-related topics; and spectacular California North Coast scenery. 

For further information regarding the Humboldt Brass Chamber Music Workshop or the Composition Contest visit http://www.humboldt.edu/brass/  .

Marty Erickson at 65 - The Carnegie Hall Recital

Tuba Great Marty Erickson will be celebrating his 65th birthday by performing a recital at New York's Weill Concert Hall at Carnegie Hall on Tuesday, March 26, 2013 at 7:30 (click for venue site and tickets).


Guest performers will include Eli Kalman, Pian as well The Marvin Stamm Quartet

Marty will be performing works by Bach/Floyd Cooley, Thom Ritter George, John Harmon, Enrique Crespo, as well others.

Don't miss this great event!

Rolf Wilhelm (1927-2013)

Composer Rolf Wilhelm, 2012 Lifetime Achievement Awardee by the International Tuba Euphonium Association, composed some 65 film scores, 27 operas and 350 television productions and music go to more than 250 radio plays (a majority for Bavarian Radio). This in addition to his valuable output for tuba and euphonium. On Thursday, January 16, 2013, Wilhelm passed at age 85 at his home in Grünwald, Bavaria.

Among his best known film compositions include music for Die Nibelungen, for Ingmar Bergman's The Serpent and Loriot's Ödipussi and Papa Ante portas. His compositions for tuba/euphonium include his Concertino for Tuba and his Concertino for Euphonium. (Contributing Source: http://www.br.de/radio/br-klassik/sendungen/leporello/nachruf-rolf-wilhelm-100.html)

Concertino by Rolf Wilhelm 1. Allegro ma non troppo
Euphonium : Kazushi Hiraide (15 years old) 2011.12.4 Kitami Art and Culture Hall

Concerto for Tuba and Orchestra by Ron Newman

Philip Sinder, professor of tuba and euphonium at the Michigan State University College of Music, recently presented two performances of the exciting Concerto for Tuba and Orchestra, written by Ron Newman. The premiere performance was held on January 27, 2012, on the MSU campus, with the Michigan State University Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Leon Gregorian. Sinder had an additional opportunity to perform the work on September 30, 2012, in Big Rapids, Michigan, with the Grand Rapids Symphony and conductor John Varineau, as a part of the annual TubaBach festival.

L-R, Leon Gregorian, Ron Newman, Jere Hutcheson, and Philip Sinder

Composer Ron Newman, a member of the faculty at Michigan State University, has written several works featuring the tuba. His compositional approach merges elements of classical and jazz styles in a fresh and unique manner. The tuba concerto is a seventeen-minute work in three distinct movements, with the following titles: 1) "Interactions, with resulting reactions," 2) "Clarity, with a touch of nostalgia," and 3) "Maynard Ferguson played the valve trombone." Set against a liberal dose of percussion effects and grooves, the tubist navigates challenging solo lines and intricate ensemble color voicings throughout the orchestral palette.

The tuba concerto of Ron Newman was written in part to recognize two longtime colleagues at Michigan State University. It is dedicated to composer Jere Hutcheson and celebrates the legacy of conductor Leon Gregorian.

Double Concerto for Euphonium and Tuba by James Grant

As a professional tuba/euphonium duo, SYMBIOSISDUO (Gail Robertson, euphonium and Dr. Stacy Baker, tuba) was enthusiastic to join the consortium, led by Dr. Mark Nelson and Dr. Pat Stuckemeyer, to commission James Grant to write a double concerto for euphonium and tuba with wind ensemble. The concerto is in three movements. The first movement is called "Playground" and, as Grant describes in his program note, the relentless technical challenges may remind the audience of seesaws, sliding boards, and other playground equipment. Grant says that the second movement, "Passage," "is best described as the recollection of a journey," a journey which is followed by the third movement - "Sprint" - which brings the concerto to an exciting close.

James Grant with Stacey Baker, L, and Gail Robertson, R

Dr. Grant was in residence with SYMBIOSISDUO on October 8 and 9, 2012 at Morehead State University in Morehead, KY. Residency activities included a presentation by Dr. Grant on his choral symphony, Such Was the War, based on Walt Whitman's poetry written during the American Civil War when Whitman served as a volunteer nurse. Dr. Grant also gave a presentation on Composition and Business. Robertson directed the MSU Tuba/Euphonium Ensemble in rehearsal of her original composition, A Eupher's Dream for 8 euphoniums and provided her insights into composition versus arranging. The residency culminated in the premiere performance in its final version of Dr. Grant'sDouble Concerto for Euphonium and Tuba and Wind Ensemble by SYMBIOSISDUO with the MSU Symphony Band under the direction of Dr. Richard Miles. SYMBIOSISDUO premiered the version of Dr. Grant's Double Concerto with piano on October 28th, 2012 at Michigan State University on one of Robertson's DMA recitals. (www.jamesgrantmusic.com, www.symbiosisduo.com)

Call for Photographs, Videos, or Recordings from the First International Tuba Symposium and Workshop in Bloomington, IN, 1973.

As part of our documentation of the history of T.U.B.A./I.T.E.A, we are seeking any photographs, videos, or recordings from the 1973 Tuba Symposium in Bloomington, Indiana. There was an official photographer for that event, though to this point, to the knowledge of the author, the photographs have not been located. Additionally, there is some question about whether any of the performances/presentations may have been documented by either audio or video recordings. If you have any photographs or other media from the 1973 Symposium that you would be willing to share, please contact Mike Lynch (mikelynchtubahistory@gmail.com).

PODCAST: Oystein Baadsvik and Tuba Civil Rights

Sam Quinones interviews Øystein before a masterclass at USC. Podcast of the interview is available at the author/journalist Sam Quinones's website: samquinones.com.