Ten members of the IUP Tuba and Euphonium Studio recently traveled to Atlanta, Georgia, to participate in the International Euphonium and Tuba Festival, held June 19–26, 2022, at Emory University.
The IUP tuba and euphonium players, all members of the IUP Tubaphonium Ensemble, were invited, along with their professor, Zach Collins, to be featured performers during the festival. Zach Collins was also featured as a resident composer.
The IUP Tubaphonium Ensemble performed a concert on Thursday, June 23. Their program included Tubaphonium Overture by Zach Collins, Emma Catherine by Omar Thomas, and Little Danc, by IUP alumnus Reed Hanna. The IUP tuba and euphonium students also performed throughout the week in the Nighthawk and Eagle tuba-euphonium ensembles and the IET Mass Ensemble.
Students had the opportunity to give solo performances during the festival. Graduate student Wayne Eldred performed Midnight by the Harbor by Daniel Despins in the participant recital. Kayla Holsopple and Dylan Opalinski competed in the Artist Division Solo Competition. Senior music education and performance major Kayla Holsopple advanced to the final round and earned second place.
Students also had the opportunity to take one-on-one lessons from world-renowned artists, including Warren Deck (former tubist with the New York Philharmonic), David Childs (UK-born euphonium soloist and professor of euphonium at the University of North Texas), Adam Frey (American euphonium soloist), Oystein Baadsvik (Norwegian tuba soloist), and many others.
Zach Collins was featured as both a performer and composer. He performed Soliloquy X by Christopher Wiggins, Frivol I Tease by IUP alumnus Jim Self, and Cat Affairs by Anna Baadsvik on three separate solo recitals. His compositions Tubaphonium Overture and Cinematic Fantasy were performed in evening concerts and his composition It’s Just More Fun… received its world premiere at the Saturday evening gala concert.
The students’ travel was supported through grants from the University Graduate and Undergraduate Research Grants, student fundraising, and a generous alumni donation.