CIM Student Wins Inaugural Diversity-Focused Fellowship

Tuba player Jason Tanksley, currently pursuing an Artist Diploma from the Cleveland Institute of Music (CIM), has won a two-year fellowship with the Minnesota Orchestra. Tanksley is one of two performers selected as the first-ever Rosemary and David Good Fellows.

This fellowship supports the career development of outstanding young musicians of African American, Latino and Native American descent as they embark on professional orchestral careers, and will provide Tanksley with mentorship, coaching and professional performing experience. Tanksley was one of eight musicians chosen to audition for the fellowship.

Tanksley says: "I am excited to have the opportunity to work with the musicians of the Minnesota Orchestra. Having their wisdom and knowledge shape the next part of my career is a dream come true."

Over the course of the fellowship, Tanksley will observe and participate in Minnesota Orchestra rehearsals, perform within the orchestra at selected concerts, study with orchestra musicians and prepare for professional auditions. In addition, he will also work with students on a variety of music education initiatives.

CIM President & CEO Paul W. Hogle says: "We are immensely proud of Jason for winning this fellowship, and look forward to following his career. He is an excellent young musician who has the talent and drive to succeed.

"In recent years, CIM has deepened its commitment to diversity, with a focus on preparing elite young musicians of color for careers in classical music," Hogle continued. "At the end of August, we'll welcome the most diverse student body in history, with 10% of the incoming class comprised of students of color. We also have developed a strong partnership with the Sphinx Organization-the leader in creating opportunities for African American and Latino orchestral musicians - including hosting the Sphinx Performance Academy for aspiring string players this summer."

JASON TANKSLEY
Tuba player Jason Tanksley, from Eastpointe, Michigan, earned a Master of Music degree in 2016 from CIM and is now a candidate for the Artist Diploma, in the studio of Yasuhito Sugiyama. A graduate of Detroit's Wayne State University, where he studied with Dennis Nulty, Tanksley has performed with the Cleveland Orchestra, Detroit Symphony Orchestra and Jacksonville Symphony, among other ensembles. As a soloist, he has appeared with the International Symphony Orchestra, Birmingham Concert Band and the Wayne State University Symphony Orchestra, as well as its Wind Symphony.

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

ITEA welcomes newly elected Vice-President/President-Elect Gail Robertson

The ITEA Board of Directors welcomes Dr. Gail Robertson as the newly-elected Vice-President/President-Elect.

Gail serves as Assistant Professor of Tuba and Euphonium/Jazz at the University of Central Arkansas where she is tubist in the Pinnacle BraTubas Under the Boardwalk.” She has recently completed her D.M.A. as a University Distinguished Fellow at Michigan State University studying with Phil Sinder, Ava Ordman, and Ricardo Lorenz. She has taught on the faculties of Eastern Michigan University, the University of Central Florida, Bethune-Cookman University, the University of Florida, Valencia, and Seminole Community Colleges, and remains active as a teacher, adjudicator, composer, arranger and free-lance artist, both nationally and internationally.

Robertson is the Chair/Chief Editor of the International Tuba and Euphonium Press, and serves on the Board of Directors of the Leonard Falcone Tuba and Euphonium Festival, the International Tuba and Euphonium Association (ITEA), and the International Women’s Brass Conference (IWBC). She has served as President of the IWBC and as a conference host in 2010 and 2006. She has also served as Euphonium and Membership Coordinator of the International Tuba and Euphonium Association (ITEA) and was the featured artist on the cover of the ITEA Journal (Vol. 38:1, Fall 2010). Two of Gail’s original works have also been featured Gems in the ITEA Journal (Jazz Encounter No. 1 – Gem Series No. 22, Vol. 38:1, Fall 2010, and Allegro et Andantango – Gem Series No. 33, Vol. 41:3, Spring 2014).

In 2015, Gail served as the Euphonium Clinician for the prestigious American Band College in Ashland, Oregon. She was recently awarded the 2014 Clifford Bevan Award for Excellence in Research for her research manuscript, “Restoring the Euphonium’s Legacy as Cello of the Wind Band.” Her original work for brass quintet, Tower Guard Tribute, was awarded honorable mention by the 2014 International Alliance for Women in Music’s Patsy Lu competition. In May 2009, Gail recorded a new CD with Dr. Stacy Baker, Alex Thio, and Dr. Deb Eastwood, called “SymbiosisDuo.” SYMBIOSISDUO released their second CD, “Playground,” in February 2015. Several of the works recorded by the duo were newly commissioned works written especially for the duo, including Composers: Franz Cibulka, Jim Self, James Grant, Christopher Marshall, Brian Balmages, Chris Sharp, Kimberly Archer, T.O. Sterrett, and Phillip Bimstein. In 2007, Gail received Tau Beta Sigma’s highest honor, the “Outstanding Service to Music Award.” Gail has also been a clinician for the MIDWEST Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, the Florida Music Educators Association, the Michigan Music Conference, and numerous ITEA, IWBC, and United States Army Tuba and Euphonium Conferences. Recently, In December 2016, Gail was District VI Jazz Clinician/Artist for Harrison School District in Harrison, Arkansas. Dr. Robertson has acted as euphonium clinician for the American Band College (Ashland, OR) and DIxie Band Camp (Conway, AR).

Dr. Gail Robertson served together with Dr. Stacy Baker as Co-Instrumental Advisor and Co-Curriculum Designer for the Pro-Series Elite Practice Systems for Tuba and Euphonium providing all exercises, instruction, and quartet arrangements as well as performing as on-screen talent alongside some of their students for the revolutionary pedagogical series of 10 DVDs for tuba and 10 DVDs for euphonium. The project was fully funded and released by American Product Group, LLC (2013), along with similar series for each of the wind instruments. Gail has published articles, reviews, and compositions for the online magazine, Bandworld, and the International Tuba Euphonium Association Journal.

Gail Robertson has toured the U.S., Europe, China, and Japan with Keith Brion’s “New Sousa Band,” the Brass Band of Battle Creek, the Monarch Brass, the Athena Brass Band, and the Brass Band of Central Florida. She has also performed as a featured soloist at Carnegie Hall with Jay Gephart, Director, and Purdue University’s Wind Ensemble, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the Ann Arbor Symphony, the River City Brass Band, Jack Daniel’s Silver Cornet Band, Euphoniums Unlimited, Symphonia, the Orlando based “Horns and Pipes” Brass and Percussion Ensemble, and SYMBIOSISDUO. In April 2016, Dr. Robertson was tenor tubist for the Sarasota Orchestra/Sarasota Ballet performance of Balanchine’s “Stars and Stripes.” Her published works and arrangements are available through GAR MUSIC, Euphonium.com, and Tuba-Euphonium Press. As a Willson Euphonium Artist, Robertson’s euphonium of choice is a Willson 2950TA with a bronze Warburton/Gail Robertson mouthpiece.

New Hire: Chance Trottman-Huiet, Fort Wayne Philharmonic

Chance Trottman-Huiet recently won the position of Principal Tuba with the Fort Wayne Philharmonic. Chance will begin playing with the orchestra in January 2017. His duties include performing in the orchestra as well as educational and outreach performances with the Philharmonic Brass Quintet. Chance grew up in Berthoud, Colorado and started playing euphonium when he was 10. He picked up the bass at 12, and nudged by the encouragement of the Berthoud High School band director, he finally began playing tuba at age 14. Chance received a B.M. from DePauw University and an M.M. from Western Michigan University, and he is currently pursuing a D.M.A. at Michigan State University. He teaches tuba and euphonium at Kellogg Community College, Kalamazoo College, and Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne. His primary teachers, who deserve much gratitude, include Orcenith Smith, Jacob Cameron, and Philip Sinder.