COMPETITION ANNOUNCEMENT!!

As many of you know, I am the Competition Coordinator for the ITEA, and am currently working on the 2010 ITEC Competitions. A number of people have asked about electronic submissions. Yes, I am willing to accept electronic (emailed) submissions of the RECORDINGS and APPLICATIONS. However, we are not currently able to take payment electronically. As a number of people (especially overseas) are concerned with submitting on time, I will accept RECORDINGS AND APPLICATIONS received in either mail or email by no later than February 1, 2010. For those submitting electronically, I will accept payments (must be mailed) if received by February 7, 2010 to allow for any mail delays. If payment is not received by February 7, the electronic files will be erased and removed from consideration. We are striving to make the competitions accessible to as many people around the world as possible. To those who have already mailed the packets, thanks, and my apologies for not posting this sooner. In the future we hope to be able to do the complete submission electronically. Also, a number of competitors have contacted me regarding the awards. We are working to increase the awards, and I am holding off posting amounts until we have a better idea of the final tally. Best of luck to all who enter!! ~Tim Olt (Questions: TubaMan246@aol.com)

Synergy Brass announces open auditions for Tuba

Synergy Brass is seeking a tuba player possessing very high technical and musical abilities, strong performance skills, and an agreeable personality. This final point is very important, as the group lives an almost exclusively touring lifestyle which keeps the members of the group in very close contact with one another throughout much of the year.

On the musical front, the ideal candidate will have strong intonation and rhythm as well as impressive technical abilities on the tuba, including good multiple tonguing ability. Some programs are completely memorized, so memorization experience is a plus. This position will start in summer 2010 pending availability of the winner. The Synergy Brass Quintet performs nearly 300 engagements per year coast-to-coast and internationally. Notable past engagements have included a summer performance on Nantucket Island with the Boston Pops Orchestra and Natalie Cole, a publicly televised appearance with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and master classes at some of the nation's most respected music schools. In the past two years the group has seen their first international performances in Asia and Europe. Additionally, Synergy has also performed as part of the Tanglewood and Ravinia music festivals' community outreach programs, performing in inner-city and underprivileged school programs to bring music to disadvantaged young people. Interested applicants should send the following e-materials to synergybrass@gmail.com: -a current resume (including phone number) -3-4 audio files of your playing in MP3 format. Examples should include something technical, something lyrical, and something demonstrating intonation relative to other instruments -A completed questionnaire, which can be found at http://www.synergybrass.com/questions.pdf After receiving your materials they will be reviewed by the ensemble, and, if selected, you will be contacted for phone interviews and a possible live audition. Many thanks for your interest in SBQ! Contact: Greg Lloyd Synergy Brass (617) 838-7949 synergybrass@gmail.com