New Hire: Franz Langlois, Hagen Philharmonic Orchestra

Franz Langlois is the new Solo Tuba with the Hagen Philharmonic Orchestra. He began in this role in October 2021. Duties include playing on all opera productions and symphonic concerts, including doubling on contrabass tuba and cimbasso as necessary. Franz grew up in the north of France to musician parents and began playing tuba at age 8. He took lessons at the conservatory in Lille and then pursued a Bachelor's degree at the National Supérieur de Musique in Paris. He then moved to Germany to pursue a Master’s degree in Karlsruhe with his mentor Dirk Hirthe. Prior to winning this position, Franz had been a finalist in many other orchestral auditions.

New Hire: Jerome Stover, Sam Houston State University

Jerome Stover is the new Assistant Professor of Tuba at Sam Houston State University School of Music. He began teaching there as an adjunct professor in August 2019 and went on to earn the Assistant Professor role, which started in August 2021. His duties include teaching applied tuba, co-directing the tuba and euphonium ensemble, playing in the faculty brass quintet, and teaching the History of Rock, Jazz, and Popular Music. Prior to joining the Sam Houston State University School of Music, Jerome held several adjunct teaching positions and maintained a large private tuba and euphonium studio. He is a former member of the Honolulu Symphony and has played with the Chicago, Boston, Detroit, Houston, Oregon, Jacksonville, New Mexico, and Korean Broadcasting System Symphonies. Jerome has performed and taught throughout North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia. He is an Adams Brass Artist and also the owner of Professor Mouthpiece, an online store that specializes in tuba and euphonium mouthpieces.

New Hire: Dirk Hirthe, Stockholm Chamber Brass

In January 2022, Dirk Hirthe will join Stockholm Chamber Brass as the ensemble’s new tuba player. Dirk was born in Germany. After his studies with George A. Monch and Prof. Jens Björn-Larsen, he played one year at the State Opera in Stuttgart. Since 2008 he has been the tuba player of the Badische Staatskapelle Karlsruhe and is regularly invited to perform with the leading orchestras in Germany. He has also played with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe and Lucerne Festival Brass Ensemble as a guest member. As a soloist he has appeared with the Frankfurter Museumsorchester, the Bochumer Sinfoniker, and the Badische Staatskapelle, amongst others. Since 2014 Dirk has served as the Professor for Tuba at the Musikhochschule Karlsruhe. Many of his students have won international competitions and play in orchestras across Europe. In addition, Dirk has given master classes at universities in almost every country in Europe including: Conservatoire Superieur Paris, Hochschule für Kunst und Musik Wien, Mozarteum Universität Salzburg, Musikhochschule Krakow, and Musikhochschule Vilnius. Dirk performs on tubas from the German brass manufacturer, Miraphone, and since 2014 he has helped them to develop their tubas. He particularly helped them with the development of their Elektra model F Tuba and their Hagen model BB-flat Tuba. Dirk became an official Miraphone Artist in 2015.

New Hire: Corentin Morvan, Conservatory Maurice Ravel

Corentin Morvan is the new tuba, euphonium, and saxhorn teacher at the Conservatory Maurice Ravel in Levallois-Perret, France. He began teaching in this position in September 2021. Solo saxhorn at the Republican Guard Orchestra and the 2018 first prize winner at the Jeju International Euphonium Competition, Corentin is an adventurous musician. He graduated from the Paris National Conservatory (CNSMDP) in the class of Philippe Fritsch, and he leads an eclectic career in chamber music with the Opus 333 quartet and orchestra. He is regularly invited by the main French symphony orchestras (Radio France Philharmonic Orchestra, French National Orchestra, Paris Orchestra, and others) and all over the world (Berlin Konzerthaus, Granada Orchestra, and others). As a soloist, he performs regularly in recitals with piano or with orchestras.

New Hire: Pedro Castaño, Conservatorio Superior de Música

Pedro Castaño is the new Professor of Music and Performing Arts, Tuba, at the Conservatorio Superior de Música. He was engaged by the Andalusian Government, Education Department, to begin serving in this role in September 2021. Pedro studied tuba at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London and has performed with numerous orchestras across Europe. He has given master classes in many Spanish conservatories, as well as in Brazil, Mexico, France, Portugal, and the United Kingdom. From 2001-2007, Pedro was a member of Spanish Brass.

New Hire: Brandon Smith, Valdosta State University

Brandon Smith is the new Tuba/Euphonium Artist in Residence for Valdosta State University, in addition to being the new Principal Tuba of the Valdosta Symphony Orchestra. He began serving in these roles in August 2021. Brandon will teach the tuba and euphonium students at Valdosta State University while also performing with the Valdosta Symphony Orchestra as principal tubist. He is a native of Madison, VA and holds degrees from Shenandoah University, the University of Tennessee, and Florida State University. His primary teachers have included Michael Bunn, Alexander Lapins, and Justin Benavidez. He received a bronze medal in the 2020 Leonard Falcone International Euphonium & Tuba Festival and was the first prize winner of the Arnold Jacobs Mock Orchestral Competition at the 2019 ITEC. Brandon has additionally been a finalist for professional ensembles such as the Florida Orchestra, U.S. Navy Band, and Austin Symphony Orchestra.

New Hire: David Mercedes, Texas Southern University

David Mercedes is the new Adjunct Instructor of Low Brass at Texas Southern University. He began serving in this role in September 2021, and his duties include teaching applied tuba and euphonium lessons, leading studio classes, and conducting the Tuba-Euphonium Ensemble. David holds degrees from The Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam (BM), University of North Texas (MM), and is currently ABD at the University of Iowa for his DMA. A proponent of contemporary music and living composers, he continues to commission new works for tuba, including Drown for Solo Tuba (2015) by Matthew Pellegrino (revised in 2016), Shadow of Sky for Tuba and Live Electronics (2019) by Wenxin Li, Lull for Solo Tuba (2020) by Jean-François Charles, and Quintet for Tuba and String Quartet (2021) by Ethan Cypress.