COOKEVILLE – The Tennessee Tech School of Music celebrates the Tennessee Tech Tuba Ensemble on their 55th anniversary during OKTUBAFEST 2021 this week with a concert, recitals and a guest performance by Gail Robertson in a solo euphonium recital.
As part of the annual OKTUBAFEST celebration on the Tech campus, the internationally acclaimed Tennessee Tech Tuba Ensemble will present their annual fall concert Wednesday, Oct. 27, at 7:30 p.m. in the Wattenbarger Auditorium.
The performance will consist of a variety of compositions and arrangements, all done specifically for the Tech ensemble. In addition to a number of established pieces the ensemble will present the world premiere performance of two pieces by Roger Jones and the program will conclude with Tech’s own Greg Danner’s famous composition for the tubas titled “Beast!”
Josh Whited, a recent Tech graduate, will be featured on a lyrical solo titled “Song for Ina” featuring the solo euphonium. Additional arrangements by former members of the ensemble will be performed also.
The celebrations will continue on Saturday, Oct. 30 with a tuba recital by Brennan Angus and Gracie Smith at 1 p.m., followed by the tuba freshmen recital coached by Preston Light at 2:30 p.m.
International euphonium star, Gail Robertson will conclude the OKTUBAFEST festivities with a special performance beginning Saturday at 4 p.m. Robertson will be accompanied by Paul Thurmond from the Tech School of Music and will be joined for several pieces by Preston Light, adjunct instructor of tuba at Tech.
Robertson has a distinguished reputation as a euphonium artist and teacher, soloist and clinician. She has also amassed worldwide attention for leadership, her work as composer/arranger and as a musical talent.
She serves as associate professor of tuba and euphonium at the University of Central Arkansas. She is past president of the International Tuba and Euphonium Association and is past president of the International Women’s Brass Conference.
Her appearance at Tech is co-sponsored along with the School of Music by Tech’s Women’s Center.
The concerts are open to the public and free of charge. Masks and social distancing practices will be in place for the safety of the audience.
Wattenbarger Auditorium is located in the Bryan Fine Arts Building, 1150 N. Dixie Ave.
