New Hire: Jeffrey Meyer

Tubist Jeffrey Meyer recently accepted the position of Director of Bands and Brass Studies at Sul Ross State University, to begin in the Fall of 2015. His recent professional activities include performances with the Orquesta Filharmónica del Estado de Chihuahua, Orquesta Sinfónica de la UACJ, and the Roswell (NM) Symphony Orchestra. His composition Metro Chapultepec, for flute/piccolo and electronics, was recently premiered at the 2015 New York City Electroacoustic Music Festival. Meyer holds a B.M. from the Eastman School of Music, M.M. in Conducting and Tuba from Kent State University, and D.M.A. from the Cleveland Institute of Music. His primary teachers include Don Harry, Craig Knox, John Bottomley, Ron Bishop, and Scott Mendoker.

In Memoriam: David Bragunier

Tubist David Bragunier passed away at home earlier this week. He had been diagnosed with a brain tumor late last year, and in spite of a surgery in December that gave him some more time, his condition worsened over the last few months. Dave was Principal Tuba of the National Symphony Orchestra from 1961 to 2004 and was Personnel Manager from 1974 to 2000. He approached both jobs with love, dedication, and enthusiasm and was a great “war story” teller at Personnel Manager gatherings. Even after retiring, he remained a very active volunteer contributor to the NSO by shepherding the alumni organization, being an archivist, singing in the chorus, and helping in many other ways.

Pictured, L-R: David Bragunier, James Kraft, Milton Stevens, Lorin Maazel, Matthew Guilford, John Huling, and Steven Dunkel (2004)

Photo credit: www.matthewguilford.com

In Memoriam: Tom Walsh

On 2 June 2015 Thomas Walsh passed away. Tom was tubist of the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra, a founding member of Blechschaden, and instructor at the Hochschule fuer Musik in Munich. For all that knew him – a great loss as a person, friend, musician and colleague.

A detailed biography will be printed in a future ITEA Journal.

In Memoriam: Herbert Fischbach

Herbert Fischbach, former Stadtmusikdirektor in Klingenthal and production manger of „B & S“ Markneukirchen-Klingenthal, passed away on 10 June at the age of eighty-six. He once said: “Music is my life's fulfillment.” He was well known beyond the boundaries of the Vogtland as an instrument maker, musician, composer, and orchestra leader.

Herbert Fischbach began his lifelong profession as an apprentice at the Sachsen Music Instrument factory in 1946. This was integrated into VEB Blechblas- und Signal-Instrumenten-Fabrik Markneukirchen and is now known worldwide as “B & S” Markneukirchen-Klingenthal. He worked there for forty-seven years in all capacities and was responsible for the development of the “B & S,” “B & S” Perantucci, and “Weltklang” brands.

Herbert Fischbach joined the Klingenthal Stadt Orchester in 1947. In 1980 he assumed musical leadership and in 1991, on the occasion of Klingenthal's 400th Anniversary and the 125th anniversary of the orchestra, was named Stadtmusikdirektor.

In 2012 the Bundesvereinigung Deutscher Musikverbände awarded him their Golden Badge of Honor, with Diamond. When Herbert Fischbach passed away, Klingenthal lost a truly great instrument maker and musician.

A detailed biography will be printed in a future ITEA Journal.

In Memoriam: Robert Jorgensen

We mourn the loss of Robert Jorgensen, former euphonium soloist with The United States Army Field Band and longtime director of bands at The University of Akron. Please visit this link for a story by the Akron Beacon Journal: http://www.ohio.com/news/break-news/community-band-gives-fond-farewells-and-posthumous-performance-to-late-director-robert-jorgensen-1.605627

In Memoriam: Eugene Dowling

Eugene Dowling, principal tubist with the Victoria Symphony and professor at the University of Victoria (British Columbia), recently passed away after a two-year battle with cancer. The Times Colonist newspaper has a nice story about Dowling, which is available at this link: http://www.timescolonist.com/news/local/victoria-s-tuba-king-succumbs-to-cancer-1.1986511

In honor of Dowling's tremendous legacy in the tuba and euphonium community, please consider donating to the Eugene Dowling Scholarship Fund at the University of Victoria. The purpose of this fund is to support and inspire future generations of students passionate about studying tuba or euphonium in UVic's School of Music. For more information, visit this link: https://extrweb.uvic.ca/eugene-dowling-scholarship

Zach Collins Receives Distinguished Faculty Award

Excerpted from a news story in The Indiana Gazette

Four Indiana University of Pennsylvania faculty members have been selected for the 2015 University Senate Distinguished Faculty Awards. Since 1969, IUP has presented these awards to honor faculty members who make significant contributions to the university. Dr. Zach Collins is one of the winners of this prestigious award. Collins is an active musician as a performer and composer. In addition to performing on the IUP campus, he has recently appeared as a soloist with the Johnstown Symphony Orchestra and the IUP Wind Ensemble as well as in solo recitals at the International Tuba Euphonium Conference (ITEC - 2010, 2014), the South Central Regional Tuba Conference (2010), and the Northeast Regional Tuba Euphonium Conference (NERTEC -
2011, 2013, 2015). He is also active as an orchestral and chamber musician throughout Pennsylvania and neighboring states. As a composer, Collins has several of his compositions for brass instruments published by Cimarron Music Press and Eighth Note Publications. His compositions have been performed by various collegiate ensembles at conferences including the Southeast Regional Tuba Conference, NERTEC, and ITEC.

New Hire: Matt Tropman

Dr. Matt Tropman has accepted the position of Assistant Professor of Tuba and Euphonium at the University of Arizona. Matt served as a Lecturer of Tuba and Euphonium at the University of Arizona during the 2014/2015 academic year and will begin as Assistant Professor in August 2015. His duties there include teaching the tuba/euphonium studio and brass methods courses, coaching chamber music, and performing with various faculty and student ensembles. In addition to his role as a college professor, Tropman is an active freelancer, soloist, and chamber musician. His performances have been praised in numerous publications such as the New York Times, which stated, “Tropman makes a serious case for the euphonium as a solo instrument.” Following his early career in the U.S. Marine Band (President’s Own), he has performed on both euphonium and tuba with numerous bands, orchestras, and chamber groups such as the San Francisco Symphony and Detroit Symphony. Dr. Tropman received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Euphonium Performance from the University of Michigan and Arizona State University, respectively, and the Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Tuba Performance from the University of Michigan.