Results: 2015 Humboldt State University Brass Chamber Music Composition Contest

Tony Clements, Director of the Humboldt Brass Chamber Music Workshop, announced the 2015 Composition Contest winners on Monday, May 11, 2015.

Dr. Jan Bach, of DeKalb, IL, won the grand prize of US$2000 for his octet “Derivatives.” There were two second prize winners: Zachary Smith, of Fredericksburg, VA, for “Chelsea Suite,” and Jukka Viitasaari, of Tampere, Finland, for “Lord of the Sauna.” Each second-prize winner will receive US$750. Charlie Porter, of Eastsound, WA, received Honorable Mention recognition for “Octet.”

The contest focused on original 8-10 minute works for brass octet. All qualifying entries were played and evaluated by the workshop coaching staff using a blind audition process. Amateur musicians will perform this year’s contest submissions in a workshop format during the July 2015 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.”

The Humboldt Brass Chamber Music Workshop is held each summer in two one-week sessions. 2015 sessions are scheduled for July 19-July 25 and July 26-August 1. 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/

New Hire: Stephen Allen

Dr. Stephen Allen has accepted the position of Adjunct Professor of Euphonium and Musical Director of the Montclair State University Brass Band at Montclair State University. His duties there will include teaching the euphonium studio and developing the new brass band course which is part of the Montclair curriculum. In addition, he will continue serving as a Full Professor of Music at Rider University as a musicologist. Dr. Allen won national awards on the euphonium in the UK during his youth. He studied at the Birmingham Conservatoire and Oxford University and is considered a world authority on Benjamin Britten and brass bands. He founded the national award-winning Princeton Brass Band and is Musical Director of the Lancaster British Brass Band. He was Professor of Euphonium at Rutgers University from 2007 until he accepted this new position at Montclair. He is currently a two-term president of the North American Brass Band Association.

New Hire: Aaron Tindall

Dr. Aaron Tindall, low brass instructor and performing artist for the Meinl Weston and Besson brands, has accepted the position of Assistant Professor of Practice of Tuba and Euphonium at University of Miami’s Frost School of Music. Dr. Tindall will leave his current position as professor of Tuba at Ithaca College where he has hosted two successful regional tuba euphonium conferences during his four-year tenure. While he will miss his students and colleagues there, Aaron is excited not only for this new chapter in his career, but also for his family as both he and his wife have extensive ties in the state of Florida.

ITEA Vice President/President Elect: Kelly Thomas

Congratulations to our new Vice-President/President-Elect, Kelly Thomas. Kelly has been a stalwart of the Association for many years. His work in the conference area has revolutionized our approach to conference organization and has been an important part of getting the Association on sound footing. As most readers know, he was the host of our landmark success with the 2010 conference in Tucson, and he will also be the host of the 2016 ITEC at the University of Tennessee – Knoxville. As Vice-President he brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Association that will benefit every member of the Association over the next six years.

On behalf of the Association, our thanks to Dr. Kevin Wass for standing in nomination for what was the closest election in our recent history. In my conversation with Kevin, he expressed his support for Kelly and his continued commitment to ITEA. Congratulations to Kevin on his recent promotion to full Professor at Texas Tech University and his appointment as Director of Undergraduate Music Studies at Texas Tech, as well. Don’t worry – he also continues as Professor of Euphonium and Tuba, as well.

The future of our Association is bright with outstanding individuals such as Kelly and Kevin in leadership roles. Lend Kelly your congratulations, but more important, give him and our new President, Marty Erickson, your support and participation as they take office on July 1.

Jerry Young
President, ITEA

New Hire: Gretchen Renshaw

Gretchen Renshaw recently accepted the position of Wind Ensemble Conductor and Instructor of Low Brass at Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas. She will begin teaching there in Fall 2015. Gretchen is currently a University Distinguished Fellow at Michigan State University, where she plans to complete her D.M.A. in Tuba Performance and M.M. in Wind/Orchestral Conducting in May 2015. Previously, she earned degrees in Euphonium Performance from the University of Arkansas (M.M.) and Penn State University (B.M.). Her primary teachers include Philip Sinder, Benjamin Pierce, Steven Mead, and Velvet Brown. Gretchen has enjoyed success in major competitions on both tuba and euphonium, including winning the MTNA Young Artist Brass Competition, being named the Low Brass Winner of the Yamaha Young Performing Artists Competition, and being a finalist in the Artist Divisions of both the Leonard Falcone and ITEC competitions. In addition to performing, Gretchen is also a published arranger with Potenza Music. Her most significant publication is A Collection of Works for Euphonium and Piano by Simone Mantia, which she edited based on her research during an archival project of music belonging to this famous euphonium virtuoso. As Gretchen begins her career at Hendrix, she plans to continue being active as a tuba and euphonium soloist and conductor of both bands and orchestras. For more information about Gretchen, visit www.gretchenrenshaw.com

New Hire: James Green

Tubist James Green was named Lecturer of Tuba, Euphonium, and Bass Trombone at Ohio Northern University in Ada, OH. He is also a founding member of the Columbus BrassWorks, a new professional brass quintet in central Ohio. James is currently ABD in his Doctorate of Musical Arts Degree at The Ohio State University, received his Master of Music degree at Miami University, and received his Bachelor of Arts degree at Abilene Christian University. His primary teachers have been Jim Akins, Tim Olt, and Dr. Jeffrey Cottrell.

Past Event: UCA Low Brass Day

UCA Low Brass Workshop in Review
by Benjamin Scaccia

On November 14-15, 2014, the University of Central Arkansas Department of Music and low brass professors, Justin Cook (trombone) and Dr. Gail Robertson (euphonium, tuba, and jazz), hosted the first annual Low Brass Workshop, featuring some incredible guest artists and some of the exquisite UCA music faculty. The workshop proved not only to be an educational and stunning experience for the students of UCA, but it also catered to a handful of young low brass students, with their levels ranging from middle school to high school.

The event kicked off with Low Brass Night, the Friday night before the Saturday workshop. The recital featured Indiana University’s Professor of Trombone, Peter Ellefson, accompanied by UCA’s own Kazuo Murakami on piano. The second half of the recital then featured the SymbiosisDuo, consisting of Dr. Robertson on euphonium, Morehead State University’s Professor of Tuba and Euphonium, Dr. Stacy Baker on tuba, and Cincinnati freelance collaborative pianist, Alex Thio.

Then, on the clear and mild morning of November 15, 2014, the main festivities of the Low Brass Workshop commenced. The day started at 9:00am with a mass warm up, separated into a giant tuba/euphonium ensemble and an equally big trombone ensemble, mixing collegiate, high school, and middle school musicians. At 10:00am, the Arkansas Select Tuba-Euphonium Ensemble and Arkansas Select Trombone Ensemble broke away from the group to rehearse for the upcoming concert. Meanwhile, the rest of the Low Brass Day participants met for a question and answer session with Dr. Baker and Professor Ellefson. Moving on to 10:45am, all of the participants then merged into the recital hall to rehearse for the Combined Ensemble portion of the program, followed by a break for lunch.

The day continued at 12:30pm, with separated master classes for tuba/euphonium and trombone. Professor Ellefson lead the trombones, while Dr. Baker and Dr. Robertson showcased the Pro Series Elite Practice System to the tubas and euphoniums. The students, younger and older, seemed to really enjoy the demo of the at home practice tool. Following this, the concerts began around 1:45pm, starting with a reprise of the Guest Artist Recital from the night before. At 3:15pm, the UCA Tuba-Euphonium Ensemble performed several of Dr. Robertson’s arrangements of various James Bond favorites. You Only Live Twice showcased Professor Justin Cook on trombone, Dr. Gail Robertson on euphonium, Dr. Stacy Baker on tuba, and the UCA Director of Bands, Dr, Ricky Brooks as the conductor. The UCA Bear Bones Ensemble played Ave Maria by Franz Biebl next, later to feature Peter Ellefson on Cogent Caprice by Tommy Penderson as well. To showcase several All-District and All- State students, the Arkansas Select ensembles took the stage, displaying the young talent that is present in the state of Arkansas. The day then concluded with a massive combined ensemble with Robertson’s arrangements of Ave Verum Corpus and Batman, as all of the participants gave one final performance to close the books on a wonderfully musical day.

A special thank you goes out to the UCA Department of Music, Professor Justin Cook, Dr. Gail Robertson, the BearBones Trombone Choir, the Tuba/Euphonium Krewe, and the Student Government Association for making this day possible.