Cookeville – This year Tennessee Tech University’s internationally acclaimed Tuba Ensemble celebrates their 56th anniversary and will continue the annual tradition of OkTUBAFest, a series of tuba recitals.
This year’s OkTUBAFest is under the new direction of Preston Light, a Tech alumnus who is thrilled to be able to continue the tradition. He is particularly excited about “Pinnacle,” the feature piece of the performances which was written for the 40th anniversary of the Tuba Ensemble by Greg Danner, professor of music at Tech, and will be performed at the performance on October 19.
“It is a substantial piece of music for tuba ensemble,” Light said, “Danner uses beautiful harmonies and textures which truly showcase what a tuba euphonium is capable of.”
In addition to “Pinnacle,” the ensemble will perform a variety of pieces written by Tech alumni Aldo Forte and Kenyon Wilson, pieces composed by Danny Elfman and Modest Mussorgsky which are inspired by Halloween, and an even larger variety of pieces which aim, not only, to show the range of the Tuba but also the range and skill of Tech’s Tuba Ensemble.
Performances included a tuba euphonium recital by Audrey Wakefield and Gracie Smith and a faculty tuba recital with Light.
Remaining scheduled performances are:
· October 19 — Tennessee Tech Tuba Ensemble, starting at 7:30 p.m.
· October 22 — Isaac Dortch, Michael Harris, and Jacob Watson, Tuba Euphonium Recital, starting at 1 p.m., followed by Hannah Eitzen and Jonah Hammontree, Tuba Recital at 2 p.m.
All performances will be in the Wattenbarger Auditorium in the Bryan Fine Arts Building on Tech’s campus at 1150 N. Dixie Ave., Cookeville. All are open to the public and free to attend.
