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.

New Hire: Josh Bishop, Frostburg State University

Josh Bishop is the new Lecturer of Low Brass at Frostburg State University. He began serving in this role in August 2021, and his duties include teaching the euphonium, trombone, and tuba students, as well as coaching the brass ensemble. Josh is a euphonium and trombone player currently residing in southern Pennsylvania. He earned his B.M. at East Carolina University and then his M.M. at the Jacob’s School of Music at Indiana University. Josh has been active as a soloist, performing with high school bands across North Carolina, the Triangle Brass Band, the ECU Wind Ensemble, and the IU Wind Ensemble. He is also a founding member of the Sequence Quartet, a professional euphonium quartet based in southern Indiana. He has taught clinics to middle and high school students across the east coast and given masterclasses to collegiate students in the US and Canada.

New Hire: Donald Palmire, East Carolina University

Donald Palmire is the new Teaching Instructor of Euphonium at East Carolina University. He began serving in this role in August 2021, and his duties include teaching applied euphonium lessons. Don has been an active euphonium soloist, clinician, and educator for more than thirty years. He is a past member of The Marine Corps Recruit Depot Band at Parris Island, SC, The United States Marine Band “The President’s Own,” The Dallas Winds, The United States Army Band "Pershing's Own," and the Royal Hawaiian Band. Don released his solo debut double CD entitled Amber and Musk in 2014 and is an Adams Performing Artist.

New Hire: Josué Jiménez, Austin Peay State University and Tennessee State University

Josué Jiménez is the new Adjunct Professor of Tuba and Euphonium at both Austin Peay State University and Tennessee State University. He began serving in these roles in August 2021. In addition to teaching tuba and euphonium students at both institutions, he will also conduct the Tennessee State University Tuba Euphonium Ensemble. Josué was born in San Jose, Costa Rica. He has performed with The Cleveland Orchestra, Palm Beach Opera, Cleveland Opera Theater and Atlantic Classical Orchestra, among others. He is also a recipient of the Cleveland Institute of Music Future of Music Faculty Fellowship, an initiative to elevate Black and Latinx educators within the music academy. He has given masterclasses in Costa Rica, United States, Panama, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala, Belize, and Trinidad and Tobago. Josué is an Associate Member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, and he also serves on the faculty of the pre-college department at Indiana University for the College Audition Preparation Workshop. He was previously an Associate Instructor at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where he is now a candidate for the doctorate degree in music performance with a minor in music education.

New Hire: Arturo Galvan, Point University

Arturo Galvan is the new Adjunct Instructor of Tuba at Point University. He began serving in this role in August 2021. At Point University, Arturo will teach weekly applied tuba lessons and oversee student recital preparations as assigned. Arturo is an active teacher and performer in Georgia and Texas. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi, a Master’s in Music Performance from Columbus State University, and is currently pursuing his Doctor of Music Degree at the University of Georgia. Arturo’s primary teachers include Dr. Dan Sipes, Dr. Alex Avila, and Dr. Matthew Shipes.

New Hire: Nathan Wood, Albion College

Nathan Wood is the new Adjunct Instructor of Euphonium & Trombone at Albion College in Michigan. He began serving in this role in August 2021. His duties and responsibilities include teaching applied euphonium and trombone lessons and active recruitment of euphonium and trombone students as well as other brass students. Nathan is originally from Houston, Texas. He holds a bachelor's degree in Instrumental Music Performance from Sam Houston State University, a Master of Music in Music Performance, and is currently a candidate for the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Euphonium Performance at Michigan State University, where he is studying with Professor Phil Sinder. Nathan has previously studied with Bud Johnson, Dr. Irving Ray (Euphonium, US Army Band), Dr. Henry Howey, and Dr. Gail Robertson. In addition to his duties and responsibilities at Albion College, Nathan teaches tuba, euphonium, and trombone privately in East Lansing, Lansing, and DeWitt, Michigan.