Jeffrey Anderson: Artist at Summer Brass Festival 2011

Local heroes from San Francisco inspired tuba players at the Summer Brass Institute’s Ninth annual Art of Sound Festival on the San Francisco Peninsula in July 2011. Jeffrey Anderson, principal tuba with the San Francisco Symphony, orchestral representative on the ITEA Board and a guest artist in demand at festivals and in orchestral work, engaged audiences with a master class and a solo recital. Anderson’s class began with his stirring account of Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Romanze. Participant tubists performed the Alarum by Edward Gregson, Variations in Olden Style by Thomas Stevens, the Sonata by Hindemith and the Concerto by Arild Plau. When asked the secret of his large, radiant sound, Anderson told a participant, “It’s in the buzz.” Then he asked students to flutter-tongue various parts of their music, in order to build tone.  In his musically adventurous recital, Anderson performed Stevens’ Variations in Olden Style, the Trygve Madsen Sonata Op. 54, the Vaughan Williams concerto, and Suite No. 1 for Tuba, horn and piano, with horn colleague Robert Ward of the San Francisco Symphony. Listeners were engaged by Anderson’s vast sound, which was clear and golden, always musically shaped, and powerful as well as evocative of the emotions in each piece.

Acting as low brass faculty along with Anderson, Peter Wahrhaftig, principal tuba with the San Francisco Ballet Orchestra, and John Engelkes, bass trombone with San Francisco Symphony delighted and enlightened participants and audience alike. Participants benefited from opportunities to study with Jeff Anderson and with Peter Wahrhaftig. Tubists also performed in the many large ensembles and quintets, plus low brass ensembles. Excitement is building for The Art of Sound in 2011;  for more information and to apply for SBI 2011, please visit http://brass.menloschool.org or contact director Vicky Greenbaum at vgreenbaum@menloschool.org

Tribute concert

The Mason Community Band is presenting our annual veterans tribute, and this year, this will be a joint performance with the Sycamore Community Band.  The date of the concert is Sunday, November 13, 2011 at 7:30 P.M. in the Mason Middle School auditorium [6370 South Mason Montgomery Road, Mason, OH 45040-3714].  We are dedicating this concert to celebrate the life of Bill Wilkie, World War II Army Air Corps veteran, a great musician, mentor and teacher; and a wonderful friend to all who knew him.  Bill was a graduate of the [former] Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, and was a featured soloist with Frank Simon's famed Armco Band.  He was regularly heard across the U.S. and Canada thanks to WLW radio, which had the world's most powerful transmitter at the time.

The euphonium sections of each band as well as soloists [Mark Hensler and Jeff Evans] will be featured throughout the concert.  As a final “hurrah,” we are inviting all euphonium players in attendance to join in playing on the finale- “The Stars and Stripes Forever.”  See my contact information below, and please ask all euphonium players to RSVP so that we can plan appropriately.

I would like to invite you to attend and help honor Bill and all of our veterans.  It will be a moving and memorable event.

Yours truly-

Bill Tipkemper

President

Mason Community Band

513-398-6552

tpkmpr@embarqmail.com

The deadline for 2011 ITEA Elections is quickly approaching: March 31, 2011!

Every member can vote for ITEA's next Vice-President/President-Elect as well Proposed Changes to ITEA's Board Structure. Elections are being held entirely online (no hard copy ballots).

Candidate biographies and nomination statements as well details regarding the proposed changes can be found online at http://www.iteaonline.org/elections/.

ITEA Members can cast their vote online by logging in at http://www.iteaonline.org/2008/members/login.php. Each member can vote only once and ballots will remain anonymous. The deadline for voting is MARCH 31, 2011.

It is very important that all members participate in submitting their vote. You will need your ITEAOnline.org member login information (username and password). If you do not have this information, you can recover it using our online password recovery tool at http://www.iteaonline.org/2008/members/pwdremind2.php.

If you have any questions or problems, please contact Adam McFarlin at adam@iteaonline.org or Jason Smith as editor@iteaonline.org.

Sincerely,

Adam McFarlin, Executive Director
International Tuba Euphonium Association

Pokorny Low Brass Seminar
June 7 - 12, 2011
At the University of Redlands School of Music

 Gene Pokorny, tuba, Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Michael Mulcahy, trombone, Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Randall Hawes, bass trombone, Detroit Symphony

Andrew Glendening, trombone, University of Redlands/Redlands Symphony 

Unlike many festival type opportunities, this is an intense workshop for low brass players to really engage a wide range of musical, stylistic, technical and professional issues in-depth with unprecedented access to some of the most respected low brass players.

 In past years the performers have included professional symphony musicians, free-lancers, college teachers, graduate and undergraduate music majors, advanced high school students and dedicated amateurs. These broad perspectives have created wonderfully rich discussions that inspired and energized all of the participants.

 The curriculum consists of:

         Faculty solo and ensemble recitals

         Group warm-up classes

         Individual Masterclasses

         Joint Clinics

         Orchestral section work

 All student performers will play daily in masterclasses, an orchestral section, participate in mock auditions, and have the opportunity to perform a solo or chamber work on the final concert.

 Specifically, here are some of the areas we will explore:

         Warm-ups and warm-ups that go way beyond

         Sensitivity in balancing brass ensembles and particularly an orchestral low brass section Untraditional ensemble skills

         What is correct vs. What is traditional (!)

         What happens in practice doesn\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'t necessarily work in theory (i.e. knowing not just WHAT is musical but HOW to do it)

         Our responsibility to the art and to the future of it

         The importance of clarity "out front"

         The art of listening (i.e. to finally HEAR what you have been listening to)

         Solos and Interpretation (i.e. getting away from fat-free, taste-free, style-free playing)

         Life and Livelihood: the balancing act

         Guacamole, trains, astronomy, Quadrant 2 and "The Search for Intelligent Life in the Modern Day Symphony Orchestra"

 Only a limited number of performers will be accepted by audition or professional recommendation. Auditors may join in the group warm-up sessions, but will not perform in the masterclasses, clinics or concerts.

 To apply as a performer, complete the Pokorny Seminar Application and submit a one-page resume and a recording of 2 contrasting solo passages and 5 standard orchestral excerpts by March 1, 2011. To apply by professional references contact Dr. Andrew Glendening directly. Performers will be notified by March 15, 2011.

 Tuition for performers is $650.

To audit the Seminar, complete the application and return with the appropriate fee. Auditors may choose to attend daily for $75 per day or for the entire workshop for $250. On campus housing is available at reasonable rates. For more information visit the Pokorny Seminar website, flyer or call (909) 748-8700.