TubaHead

Entries from March 2009

Lukas Bratcher: assistive technology euphonium

March 25, 2009 · 1 Comment

Lukas Bratcher  - photo credit

Lukas Bratcher - Photo by Haden Barkley

Edutopia, the website for the George Lucas Educational Foundation has a remarkable and inspirational video of Lukas Bratcher who plays euphonium with assistive technology. I hope we continue to help people follow their dreams regardless of any physical limitations. Please take the time to go to their site and search Lukas Bratcher and check out the site. You can also view it through VodPod here. Thanks to Josh Calkin (Yellow Tuba, White Noise) for the tip.

Categories: Tubas in the News
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Great Plains Regional Tuba Euphonium Conference

March 19, 2009 · Leave a Comment

All Faiths Chapel - Kansas State

All Faiths Chapel - Kansas State

Last week, my students and I attended the Great Plains Regional Tuba Euphonium Conference (GPRTEC) at Kansas State University in Manhatten, Kansas. Collegium Tubum presented a concert of arrangements – some by our own students – and played better than ever. I was very proud of all of my students, but especially of those who entered the competitions. As it turned out, they all received awards, which is fantastic. They included:

  • Blaine Cunningham – 1st place in the over 21 tuba solo competition
  • Karina Ferrera – 1st place in the under 21 euphonium competition
  • Chris Dickey – Honorable Mention in the over 21 euphonium competition
  • The “Corntet” (Karina Ferrera, Melissa Reiff, Kristina Gavin, Pat Bigsby) – 3rd place in the quartet competition
  • Chet Aliga – won the “Tuba Toss”

Many thanks and kudos to Steve Maxwell, who hosted the event, and our colleagues in all of the studios throughout the Great Plains who participated. Also thanks to Barbara York, my pianist for my recital and composer of many beautiful works for tuba.

Categories: Studio · Tuba Stuff
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YouTube Symphony Orchestra

March 2, 2009 · Leave a Comment

You Tube announced today the winners of their Symphony Orchestra audition. (Click on Winners, then on the instrument/sections to view the videos of the winners) Congratulations to Andy Chester, who studies with Floyd Cooley at DePaul University in Chicago. We were all rooting for our buddy Jim Lyons, who sounded great on his audition video, but Andy’s win is well-deserved. Below are a few news items about the announcement:

“First You Tube Symphony Orchestra Picked” (ABC News)

Categories: Tuba Stuff
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