New Hire: Jacob Hilton, U.S. Air Force Academy Band

Jacob Hilton recently won a tuba position with the U.S. Air Force Academy Band in Colorado Springs. He will begin playing with the band in Fall 2017. Duties will include performing with the Concert Band, which serves the U.S. Air Force Academy, the Colorado Springs Community, and surrounding states during annual tours. Raised in Northwest Arkansas, Jacob began studying the tuba at the age of 12. He received a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Arkansas and recently completed a Master of Music degree at Illinois State University. Previously, Jacob has performed with the Arkansas Philharmonic and has competed in a number of regional conferences, including being named a semifinalist with his tuba quartet in the ensemble competition at the 2016 International Tuba Euphonium Conference. Jacob's primary teachers include Dr. Benjamin Pierce and Dr. Andy Rummel.

New Hire: Dr. Justin Benavidez, Florida State University

Dr. Justin Benavidez is the newly appointed Assistant Professor of Tuba and Euphonium at Florida State University beginning in Fall 2017. His duties will focus on teaching applied tuba and euphonium. He held a similar professorship appointment at Ithaca College and recently hosted NERTEC 2017. Dr. Benavidez is the acting Principal Tuba of the Syracuse Symphoria Orchestra, the Tuba-Artist Faculty at the Round Top Music Festival, and a B&S/Meinl Weston artist and clinician.

New Hire: Dr. Chris Combest, Middle Tennessee State University

Dr. Chris Combest has been appointed Assistant Professor of Tuba at Middle Tennessee State University beginning in the Fall of 2017 where he will be teaching applied tuba, music theory, coaching brass chamber music and performing with the MTSU Faculty Brass Quintet. Prior to his appointment to the MTSU faculty, Dr. Combest held teaching appointments at the University of Texas-San Antonio and Southern Illinois University. He holds degrees from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the University of Louisville, and Eastern Kentucky University. Currently Principal Tuba with the Wintergreen Festival Orchestra and former tubist with the Louisville Orchestra, Combest has performed with the Indianapolis Symphony, San Antonio Symphony, and the Dallas Wind Symphony. He is a Life Member of the International Tuba Euphonium Association where he is Competitions Chair and also serves on the board for the Leonard Falcone International Euphonium-Tuba Competition as Tuba Competition Music Chair.

RELOCATION OF THE R. WINSTON MORRIS TUBA EXHIBIT

October 21, 2016, was a momentous day for anyone who ever knew the name R. Winston
Morris. For it was on this day that the R. Winston Morris Tuba Exhibit opened at the Regions
Bank Building in Cookeville, TN. The Exhibit displays an unprecedented collection (a Guinness
World Record Collection, we might add) of Tuba related figurines, artwork, books, etc. We were very pleased with the room at the bank, but have been asked to vacate the
space. The TTU Foundation has agreed to lease the entire third floor to Science Applications
International Corporation (SAIC) that will bring over 300 jobs to the Cookeville area over the
next five years. SAIC will partner with the University in the training of our students who may
ultimately become SAIC employees.

Thanks to President Oldham, the Exhibit will move to the campus and occupy prime space within the Roaden University Center. We will be located just behind the Information Center on the first floor. This area has a high traffic flow of students, faculty and staff as it is a main thoroughfare through the building. The Exhibit will have a much greater visibility than the Bank ever would. This is great news for the Exhibit!

The University has agreed to renovate the space at its cost and move the collection in. Some
additional office moves must take place before the renovation can begin. Unfortunately, the
Exhibit will be closed until these moves and renovations can be completed. However, the end product, space on the first floor of the Roaden University Center, is worth the wait.
For those of you that donated funds that helped renovate the space at the bank, your gifts will not
go in vain. Previous donations paid for the display and preparing the room for the exhibit. In this
next phase of the exhibit, the University assumes all financial responsibility for the room and
operation of the exhibit. While we are still seeking funds to establish an endowment to help care
for the exhibit in the long-term, the University is responsible for expenses related to the
relocation.

The University promises to make the space at the Roaden University Center just as appealing. In
speaking with Winston about the change, he is disappointed that we have to temporarily close the
Exhibit, but pleased with its new location. If you recall, the Joan Derryberry Art Gallery is just
across the hallway from this space. Both Exhibits will complement each other nicely.
The Foundation is honored to house this treasure and delighted that the Exhibit will have a home
on campus.

Kevin H. Braswell, Ph.D.
Vice President for University Advancement
Tennessee Technological University

John W. Smith
JWSmith@tntech.edu
Executive Director University Advancement
Tennessee Technological University