William John Bell was born in Creston, Iowa on Christmas Day, 1902. Siblings included three sisters (Sarah Betzner, b. 1898; Ruth Rankin, b. 1900; Alice White Hazeltine, b. 1907) and one brother (Samuel Milligan Bell, b. 1896). Parents were William M. Bell and Nancy Milligan Bell. I know nothing about the origin and/or professional life of his parents. All members of the family have passed on. William Bell died on August 7, 1971 and is buried in Perry, Iowa. In 1977 The Harvey Phillips Foundation established (in Perry, Iowa) an annual William Bell Celebration and installed on Bell's gravestone a bronze plate that chronicles his professional career.

When William Bell was around ten years old, he began playing tuba in a boys band in Fairfield, Iowa. The leader of this band was a local grocer with some musical training. It must be pointed out that in the early part of this century, every town of consequence had its own town band made up of adults and accomplished younger musicians. These town bands had enthusiastic and loyal fans in their respective geographic areas which in combination, served as audiences for the outstanding professional touring bands of the day, the most popular of which was the renowned, internationally acclaimed band of John Philip Sousa; but, there were others: Bohemia Kryl, Arthur Pryor, Patrick Conway, Giuseppe Creatore, etc. The Edwin Franko Goldman Band in New York City (which never toured) was also acclaimed by critics and the patronage of loyal fans, including the wealthy Guggenheim family which built the band shell in Central Park and sustained the Goldman Band for many years. Touring circus bands were also looked up to by every town band musician. Circus bandmasters/composers such as C.L. Barnhouse, Johnny Richards, Karl King, Fred Jewel, and Merle Evans (with their respective entourage of "windjammers") were also musical heroes to town bandsmen. The State of Iowa has always been renowned for its bands and output of great brass, wind and percussion players. Young Bill Bell's persona benefited greatly from the enormous pride expressed by Iowa's citizens for their native bandsmen. The talented and precocious young Bill Bell soon attracted the attention and admiration of adult musicians.

The age of fourteen (1917) Bell was already touring with W. W. Norton's popular area professional bands and orchestras. He continued to perform for Norton after entering the University of North Dakota at age 15 (1918) on a full music scholarship. In 1918 his fame as an outstanding performer came to the attention of Colonel Harold Bachman, leader of Bachman's Million Dollar Band. Bell's assignment to the chair of principal tuba impressed all who heard him perform. In 1921 his fame and performance stature was recognized by none other than John Philip Sousa, whose famous band was, at that time, the most famous and renowned of all the world's musical organizations. The music world was astounded when John Philip Sousa summoned, without audition, 18 year old William J. Bell to accept the position of principal tuba in The Sousa Band. It is interesting to note that an outstanding young piccolo player in The Sousa Band was none other than Meredith Wilson (who later won great acclaim for his Broadway Show and movie The Music Man). Meredith Wilson and Bill Bell became close friends. And, it was not unexpected that William Bell (throughout his life) would gain the warm friendship and loyal, professional admiration of all his colleagues. Young Bell's reputation as a mature, courteous and personable young gentleman was equal to his unparalleled reputation as a great tubist. In the spring of 1924, while The Sousa Band was taking a much deserved rest in New York City, William Bell was informed by one of his musician friends that Fritz Reiner was in town to audition musicians for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra; one of the positions he hoped to fill was that of principal tuba. William Bell promptly borrowed a CC Tuba (the instrument of preference for orchestral playing) and stayed up all night memorizing tuba parts to Richard Wagner's Ein Faust Overture, and Die Meistersinger Overture, both on Reiner' s audition list. The next day he appeared at Reiner' s audition and was asked to play the Ein Faust Overture. On hearing Bell's performance of this one excerpt, Reiner engaged him for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra; there was no need for Bell to play other music in the audition.

From 1924 to 1937, William Bell served as Principal Tuba with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. He also taught at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music and soon established himself as an outstanding teacher of tuba and low brass. During this tenure Bell also played principal tuba on the weekly radio broadcasts of the popular Armco Band directed by Frank Simon. From 1926-1937, during off-season for the symphony, Bell would settle in New York City to play principal tuba in the famed Goldman Band, or his beloved Asbury Park Municipal Band, founded by Arthur Pryor and Simone Mantia. (later conducted, for many years, by Frank Bryan).

In 1927, in Cincinnati, William Bell married the love of his life, Agnes Haacke who became affectionately known to a legion of musicians as "Aggie." With his marriage to Aggie, he gained a step-daughter, Phillipa Solomon (1917-1995). On December 12, 1934 daughter Nancy was born. Bell's adoring wife, Aggie, died in 1963.

In 1937, General Electric's David Sarnoff invited esteemed conductor Arturo Toscanini to select personnel for a new orchestra to be known as The NBC Symphony Orchestra. This orchestra was to be comprised of the world's greatest musicians. As legend has it, William Bell was the third musician selected by Toscanini, after his concertmaster (Mischa Mischakoft) and principal oboe (Philip Ghignatti). Early in his tenure with NBC the Ein Faust Overture again played a role in the legend of Bill Bell. The overture begins with a three measure soli played in unison by the tuba and contrabass section. The rehearsal began and, after the opening passage, Toscanini stopped and asked that it be played again. Alter four more requests to repeat the passage, Bell was at a loss as to what could be wrong. Toscanini sensed Bell's concern and looked in the direction of his tuba player (Toscanini had very poor eyesight), he smiled, and said, "No, No, there is nothing wrong. It is so beautiful, please play it once more, just for me." Such praise was very unusual for Toscanini and his open admiration of Bell impressed everyone in the orchestra. In the meantime, Bell continued teaching tuba and other low brass in his private studio and became "first call" for all freelance recordings and broadcasts.

In 1943 William Bell finally succumbed to the long standing invitation of his former Sousa colleague Maurice Von Praag, then manager of The New York Philharmonic, to accept the position of principal tuba in the Orchestra. His distinguished career continued, as did his popularity with colleagues, conductors, audience, students, and all who came in contact with him. Leopold Stokowski invited Bell, under his direction of The New York Philharmonic, to perform and narrate George Kleinsinger's famous Tubby The Tuba, and to perform and sing a special arrangement of When Yuba Plays The Rhumba on the Tuba. In 1955 Bell performed the American premiere of Ralph Vaughan Williams' Concerto for Bass Tuba and Orchestra with The Little Orchestra Society.

Bell's favorite extra-curricular performance activities continued to include the Asbury Park Municipal Band and other bands in the New York area. His love for playing in bands continued throughout his life. He was often times provided opportunities to sing as well as play. William Bell had a wonderful bass-baritone voice and could match professional singers in quality and style (which he often did). During his tenure with The New York Philharmonic, Bell maintained his private studio at 119 West 121" Street (NYC) where he taught a steady stream of students from around the world, as well as from The Julliard and Manhattan School's of Music.

In 1961, Wilfred Bain, Indiana University School of Music Dean, decided he wanted William Bell to teach for his school. He commenced calling Bell about this important position and, finally, Bell accepted and moved with his wife Aggie to Bloomington, Indiana. While at Indiana University Bell attracted some of America's most outstanding and promising students. His teaching success at Indiana is well documented and adds to his enormous contributions to the tuba and to music generally. Indeed, virtually every tubist of the twentieth century (and fixture generations) continue to benefit from the teachings, professional stature and persona of William J. Bell.

In 1971, William Bell retired from Indiana University. Following in his footsteps was former student Harvey G. Phillips who, on his appointment, established the William Bell Memorial Scholarship. Shortly after his retirement in May, 1971, Bell became ill and passed away on August 7, 1971. On October 3, 1971, in the IU School of Music's Recital Hall, Phillips hosted a memorial concert (followed by a wake) honoring William Bell. On this program were world premiere performances of works Phillips commissioned especially for the occasion; works by Robert Russell Bennett, Paul Lavalle, Morton Gould, Alec Wilder, Warren Benson, and Gunther Schuller In 1973, in IU's newly constructed Musical Arts Center Phillips hosted the First International Tuba Symposium-Workshop, dedicated to William J. Bell. In 1974, inspired by William Bell's Birth on Christmas Day (1902), Phillips founded the now famous MERRY TUBACHRISTMAS concerts which honor William Bell and, through him, all artists/teachers of the tuba and euphonium; these concerts take place in over 150 cities and often involve as many as 300-500+ players. in 1974 Alec Wilder arranged traditional Christmas carols for the occasion and ironically passed away on Christmas Eve, 1980. Through Alec Wilder, at each concert, grateful tribute is paid to all composers who have embraced the tuba and euphonium with their solo and ensemble compositions. MERRY TUBACHRISTMAS-l 999 (26"' anniversary) celebrates over a quarter century of concerts honoring William Bell.

In May, 1994, Harvey Phillips retired from Indiana University with the title of Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Music. Throughout his professional performance and teaching careers Phillips championed the personal and professional integrity of his teacher, William J. Bell.

In 1994 Daniel Perantoni, world renowned artist/teacher, joined the Indiana University School of Music faculty. During the mid-1960's, while a member of the United States Army Band, Dan traveled to New York City for private study in the Carnegie Hall Studios of Harvey Phillips. Thus the lineage of Bell's influence continues into another century.

It is sad to note that on October 7. 1998, with the death of Arnold Jacobs at age 83, we lost another true icon of brass performance and pedagogy. The enormous influence of Arnold Jacobs - directly and indirectly- on the lives and careers of every wind player of this and future centuries is eternal. On December 17, 1998 the Chicago Symphony Orchestra hosted a memorial tribute to Arnold Jacobs, the Orchestra's principal tubist for forty-five years. Herein, it is worthy and appropriate to note the deep friendship, mutual respect and admiration shared by Arnold Jacobs and William Bell.

Biography - By Harvey G. Phillips

Arnold Jacobs was born in Philadelphia on June 11, 1915 but raised in California. The product of a musical family, he credits his mother, a keyboard artist, for his initial inspiration in music, and spent a good part of his youth progressing from bugle to trumpet to trombone and finally to tuba. He entered Philadelphia's Curtis Institute of Music as a fifteen-year-old on a scholarship and continued to major in tuba.

After his graduation from Curtis in 1936, he played two seasons in the Indianapolis Symphony under Fabien Sevitzky. From 1939 until 1944 he was the tubist of the Pittsburgh Symphony under Fritz Reiner. In 1941 Mr. Jacobs toured the country with Leopold Stokowski and the All-American Youth Orchestra. His was a member of the Chicago Symphony from 1944 until his retirement in 1988.

During his forty-four year tenure with the Chicago Symphony, he took temporary leave in the spring of 1949 to tour England and Scotland with the Philadelphia Orchestra. He was on the faculty of Western State College’s Music Camp at Gunnison, Colorado during the early 1960’s. In June 1962, he had the honor of being the first tuba player invited to play at the Casals Festival in Puerto Rico. Mr. Jacobs, along with colleagues from the CSO were part of the famous 1968 recording of Gabrieli’s music with members of the Philadelphia and Cleveland Orchestras. He was also a founding member of the Chicago Symphony Brass Quintet, appeared as a soloist with the CSO on several occasions, and recorded the Vaughan Williams Concerto for Bass Tuba and Orchestra with Daniel Barenboim conducting the Chicago Symphony.

Mr. Jacobs had the reputation as both the master performer and master teacher. He taught tuba at the Northwestern University School of Music and all wind instruments in his private studio. He was one of the most sought teachers in the world, specializing in respiratory and motivational applications for brass and woodwind instruments and voice. His students include many in orchestras and university faculties around the world.

Mr. Jacobs has given lectures and clinics throughout the world. During the CSO's 1977 and 1985 Japanese tours, Mr. Jacobs presented clinics in Tokyo. In January 1978, he lectured at Chicago’s Michael Reese Hospital about playing wind instruments for the therapeutic treatment of asthma in children. He presented masterclasses at Northwestern University a week each summer from 1980-1998. The Second International Brass Congress presented its highest award to him prior to his lecture to them in 1984. In 1991 he presented a clinic for the United States Marine Band in Washington D.C. Mr. Jacobs presented masterclasses as part of the Hearst Scholar program at the University of Northern Iowa and the Housewright Chair at Florida State University.

The Midwest Clinic presented Mr. Jacobs their highest award, the Medal of Honor in 1985. In 1994, The Chicago Federation of Musicians awarded him for Lifetime Achievement at the first Living Art of Music awards.

During his eightieth birthday celebration in 1995, he presented a lecture to the International Brassfest at Indiana University and the International Tuba-Euphonium Conference at Northwestern University. Northwestern’s School of Music presented him the first Legends of Teaching award. Mayor Richard M. Daley proclaimed June 25, 1995 as Arnold Jacobs Day in the City of Chicago.

Mr. Jacobs was given an honorary Doctor of Music degrees from the VanderCook School of Music in 1986 and DePaul University in June of 1995.

Two books written by students about Mr. Jacobs are available, Arnold Jacobs, The Legacy of a Master by M. Dee Stewart and Arnold Jacobs: Song and Wind by Brian Frederiksen.

On October 7, 1998 Mr. Jacobs passed away but as a performer and teacher his legacy will continue for generations.

Adolph Herseth, principal trumpet of the Chicago Symphony states, "I cannot think of anyone in our exotic world of music, and particularly, of course in the world of brass players, who has made such a contribution to so many facets of our art."

Former CSO trombonist Edward Kleinhammer says, "As a teacher he is world-acclaimed, and as a colleague and musician, I am thankful to God for Arnold Jacobs."

Henry Fogel, the Executive Director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra writes about Arnold Jacobs. "Your achievements are legendary-- something that can be said about few orchestral musicians. As a tubist, as a teacher, as a major influence on generations of brass players, you stand as a model for all who choose to serve the art of music"

In his introduction to the United States Marine Band, conductor Colonel John Bourgeois said about Jacobs, "It is rare to have the master performer as the master teacher. Arnold Jacobs is both."

The Canadian Brass's Charles Daellenbach says, "This man was a great natural teacher who could have probably taught anything, but who just happened to be a wind specialist. He's the kind of legendary teacher that Liszt was for pianists of the 19th century."

Dale Clevenger, principal horn of the Chicago Symphony, states, "Nearly every brass player in America has studied with Arnold Jacobs, whether they know it or not."

Another colleague, former CSO principal oboist Ray Still says, "He is, simply, God's gift to wind musicians everywhere and I hope he lives forever."

The late Sir Georg Solti praised Jacobs, "Through his unstinting support and encouragement of generations of brass players the world over, he has justifiably become a legend in his own lifetime."

Harvey G. Phillips, is described by Gunther Schuller as a "legend among brass players and other instrumentalists... the major progenitor in his field his efforts on behalf of other musicians never cease..." A world renown artist, Phllips' performances include two dozen Carnegie Hall solo recitals, the first tuba recital at the library of Congress, over two hundred clinic/recitals at colleges and universities throughout the world, with international tours of Japan, Australia, Scandinavia and Europe. He has been referred to by the press as the "Paganini of the tuba", "TubaMeister","Iacocca of the Tuba", and "Mr.Tuba", a title conferred upon him by his teacher, the late William J. Bell.

His music career began as a teenager with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Band. From 1950–1971 he maintained an enviable freelance career in New York City, performing, recording and broadcasting with famous artists, conductors, bands and orchestras. In 1954, he was a founding member of the New York Brass Quintet. He served as personnel manager for Symphony of the Air, Leopold Stokowski, Igor Stravinsky, and Gunther Schuller. He was New England Conservatory Vice President for Financial Affairs (1967-71). In 1971, he was appointed to the Indiana University faculty. For ten years (1986-96) he served as Executive Editor of The Instrumentalist magazine.

His honors include: Principal Tuba, Circus Hall of Fame Band (selected by Merle Evans); Kappa Kappa Psi Distinguished Service to Music Medal (1979); Association of Concert Bands "first" Mentor Ideal Award (1994); Sousa Foundation Sudler Medal of the Order of Merit award (1995); National Band Association Academy of Wind and Percussion Arts Award (1995); United Musical Instruments Lifetime Achievement Award (1996); American Bandmasters Association Edwin Franco Goldman Award (1996); Rafael Mendez Brass Institute Lifetime Achievement Award (1997); Colonial Euphonium-Tuba Institute Development of Musical Artistry & Opportunities Award (1997); Phi Mu Alpha Orpheus Award (1997); and others. Harvey Phillips Day has been celebrated by the New England conservatory (1971) and by his home town Bi-Centennial Celebration, Marionville, Missouri (1976). In 1985 the Governor of Missouri declared a Harvey Phillips Weekend. He holds Honorary Doctor of Music (1971) New England Conservatory, and Honorary Doctor of Humanities (1987) University of Missouri.

He is founder and president of the Harvey Phillips Foundation, Inc. which administers OCTUBAFEST, TUBACHRISTMAS, TUBASANTAS, TUBACOMPANY, TUBAJAZZ, etc. In May 1994 he retired from Indiana University with the title of Distinguished Professor Emeritus. He continues to serve as a consultant in the arts and to brass instrument manufacturers. He maintains a busy international schedule of concerts, lectures, and clinics. He resides with his wife Carol at TUBARANCH in Bloomington, Indiana.

Dan, or "Mr. P" as his students call him, is a legendary tuba artist, teacher, and pedagogue. He is also well recognized as a trailblazer in a variety of genres including work as a soloist, chamber musician and even jazz musician.

He is a founding member of Summit Brass, a member of Symphonia, the St. Louis Brass Quintet, and the Matteson-Phillips Tubajazz Consort and has released numerous solo and chamber music CDs. Daniel Perantoni has also been a featured artist at Carnegie Hall, the Monterrey Jazz Festival, the Spoleto Festival U.S.A., the Adelaide Festival in Australia, the Banff Centre for the Arts in Canada, the Montreaux Brass Congress in Switzerland, and recently a soloist throughout Japan. He is cited as a "tubist's tubist", featuring in his playing a lyrical, clear, and singing tone, along with his impeccable musical style.

He was given the Lifetime Achievement Award by the executive board of T.U.B.A. (Tubists Universal Brotherhood Association, now the International Tuba and Euphonium Association) and a true legion of former students hold prestigious positions in major performing ensembles and music schools around the world. Their success is the best testimony to his abilities as a teacher, mentor, and friend.

In 1988, Sir Georg Solti appointed Gene Pokorny to succeed Arnold Jacobs as the tuba player of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and he began playing full-time with the Orchestra the following year. During the 1992-1993 season, he took a leave of absence to play as principal tuba for the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra and, while in California, he also worked in the film studios, playing scores for the movies "Toys", "The Fugitive", "The Program", "Jurassic Park" and "Tim Burton's 'Nightmare Before Christmas."

A proud native of Southern California, Pokorny studied tuba with Jeffrey Reynolds, Larry Johansen, Tommy Johnson, Roger Bobo and Arnold Jacobs. After attending the University of Redlands and graduating from the University of Southern California, he played in the Israel Philharmonic, the Utah Symphony, and the Saint Louis Symphony, in addition to his work in Los Angeles. Sir Georg Solti invited him to play with his "Musicians do Monde," which celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the United Nations, as well as with the Solti Orchestra Project at Carnegie Hall. Current Chicago Symphony music director, Daniel Barenboim, invited him to play in the Deutsche Sraarsoper's Berlin production of Wagner's "Ring" cycle in 1997. In September 2000, he participated in reunion of the Musicians do Monde which played a concert for charity in memory of Sir Georg Solti at the Prom Concerts in London.

When he isn't counting rests in the back row of Orchestra Hall, Gene may be found playing with the Chicago Chamber Musicians, Summit Brass, the Grand Teton Music Festival Brass and the Do-It-Yourself Sousa Band (3rd clarinet section), as well as performing solo recitals, playing concerts with his colleagues in the trombone section or teaching masrerclasses. In addition to performing and teaching, his recordings of solo repertoire [Summit Recordings SMT 115-2 (Hindemith) and SMT 129 (Tuba Tracks ) as well as the tuba parts from notable orchestral pieces which are regularly used in auditions [Summit Recording SMT 142] provide a creative outlet. He wrote an exclusive chapter pertaining to orchestral auditions for the Tuba Source Book published by Indiana University Press. He has also written articles for the "Tuba Journal" and "The Instrumentalist."

Pokorny is a member of the Union Pacific Historical Society and spends time as a foamer (watching and chasing trains). He is a card-tarrying member of "The Three Stooges Fan Club" (a 'victim of soicumsrances!') and is an avid enthusiast of his good friend David "Red" Lehr, the greatest Dixieland sousaphonist in the known universe.

Gene, his wife Beth Lodal (a musician who happens to have a real job), his basset hound, Angel, and golden retriever, Kennelly. (non-musicians who happen to have a real lives), regularly forage from their refrigerator which is located in Oak Park, Illinois.

Best known as a founding member of the internationally renowned Empire Brass Quintet, Samuel Pilafian now enjoys a rich career both inside and outside the classical music world. He has performed and recorded with such diverse organizations as the Boston Symphony, Pink Floyd, the Metropolitan Opera, the New York Philharmonic, the Duke Ellington Orchestra, Lionel Hampton, the Orchestra of St. Luke, composer Philip Glass and actress/ singer Bernadette Peters. In 1994 he was appointed Professor of Music and Conductor of the Concert Jazz Band at Arizona State University and their summer Tanglewood Institute.

As a solo jazz artist, Pilafian has recorded more than 10 compact discs on the Telarc, Summit, and Concord Jazz labels. He has recorded a series of wind music compact discs for the Angel/EMI label with trumpeter Mark Gould. Recently, Pilafian became a member of the Summit Brass . Recital and concerto performances this year will take him to Canada, Sweden, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, Japan, Italy, Austria and England as well as the United States.

Sam Pilafian is past president of T.U.B.A:, a world wide tuba/euphonium interest organization with over three thousand members.

Warren Deck has been the Principal Tubist of the New York Philharmonic since 1979. Warren began playing tuba at age nine in the Denver public schools. His family moved to Ann Arbor Michigan when he was twelve and he went on to attend the University of Michigan where he studied with Abe Torchinsky, former tubist with the Philadelphia Orchestra.

Before his appointment to the Philharmonic, Warren held the positions of Principal Tubist with the Houston Symphony, and Teacher of Tuba at Rice University for two seasons.

Warren made his solo debut with the Philharmonic in 1989, performing the world premier of Roger Kellaway's Songs of Ascent for Tuba and Orchestra, commissioned by the Philharmonic.

Currently on the faculty of The Julliard School, he is active with students, and has given master classes in many regions of the world including the former Soviet Union, the Far East, and South America.

Apart from the orchestral records Warren has made with the Philharmonic, he has made four recordings with The Canadian Brass for Sony Classical and Philips labels, and Tuba, a recording of leading tuba and euphonium players from Germany and the U.S. on EMI Angel Records.

R. Winston Morris has been internationally recognized for the past three decades as one of the leaders in the advancement of the tuba. He is Professor of Music and Instructor of Tuba and Euphonium at Tennessee Technological University, in Cookeville, Tennessee, where he has been on the faculty since 1967. Morris is regarded as the leading authority on literature for the tuba, was one of the founding fathers of the Tubists Universal Brotherhood Association (T.U.B.A.), and acknowledged worldwide as the major authority on development of the tuba ensemble. He is the Senior Editor for the recently published Tuba Source Book, conductor of the large professional tuba/euphonium ensemble, Symphonia, and has been awarded the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award by Tubists Universal Brotherhood Association.

As a performer on the tuba, Morris has toured throughout the United States, Australia, Europe, and Japan. He is a member of the acclaimed TUBAJAZZ CONSORT, has performed and toured with the Mr. Jack Daniel's Original Silver Cornet Band and is the tubist with the Tennessee Tech University Brass Quintet.

Morris is also very active as a soloist and presenter of tuba clinics and master classes. He has been the featured clinician at state conventions throughout the United States; at regional, national, and international tuba workshops; and appeared as soloist with such ensembles as the United States Army Band, the Sapporo Wind Ensemble, the SL's Musikkar Concert Band of Stockholm, and the Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra.

The Tuba Music Guide by Morris was published in 1973 by the Instrumentalist Company and was highly regarded throughout the brass world as a definitive publication and reviewed as "the most comprehensive annotated bibliography of music ever compiled for any one instrument." Other publications of Morris include the Introduction to Orchestral Excerpts for the Tuba published by Shawnee Press and a large number of transcribed and arranged solo and ensemble works for tuba published by the Brass Press, Southern Music Company, and a signature series of publications, the R. Winston Morris Solo and Ensemble Series, currently being released by Ludwig Music Publishing Company.

R. Winston Morris was one of the founders of the Tubist Universal Brotherhood Association, a 2,500-member professional international organization of euphoniumists and tubists. He has served as President, Vice President, Past President, Publications Coordinator, Journal (Newsletter) Editor, and currently serves on the Honorary Advisory Board of T.U.B.A.

In 1967, Morris organized and founded the now internationally recognized Tennessee Tech Tuba Ensemble(TTTE). The TTTE has performed extensively throughout the eastern half of the United States. They have presented performances at regional, national and international symposia and workshops sponsored by T.U.B.A., the International Brass Congress, and the Music Educators National Conference. They have seven commercially produced recordings that have received the highest accolades from members of the music profession. The TTTE is responsible for numerous arrangements and compositions for tuba ensemble and for providing the inspiration and leadership for the formation of such ensembles internationally. The TTTE has performed on Bourbon Street and at the New Orleans Jazz Festival, Disney World, the National MENC Conference in Chicago, the International T.U.B.A. Conference in Austin, the Kennedy Center in Washington, the Spoleto Festival in Charleston, and five unprecedented Carnegie Hall appearances.

Morris serves as a consultant and clinician for Orpheus Music, a leading distributor of professional and student caliber brass instruments. He is Coordinator of Brass Instruction at Tennessee Tech and responsible for a large and very active tuba/euphonium studio. His students have been very successful in the music education field and have won many national auditions in the performance area.

Øystein Baadsvik was born 1966 in Trondheim, Norway.

He studied for Michael Lind at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm 1986-87, and took private lessons for John Fletcher, Roger Bobo, Harvey Phillips and Arnold Jacobs. In 1993 The Swedish Academy of Music awarded him the largest scholarship ever offered to a brass player in Sweden.

1991 Baadsvik was awarded two prizes in the prestigious Concours International dExécution Musicale (CIEM) for soloists in Geneva. Shortly after that his first solo CD was released. It received excellent reviews in international music magazines all over the world. American Record Guide says: "This spectacular recording establishes Baadsvik as one of the best tuba soloists in the world." He has premiered several new works for tuba by composers from USA, Russia, Switzerland, Norway and Sweden. Baadsvik has given recitals and clinics in USA, Japan, Australia and all over Europe, and has appeared on radio and TV in several countries. His interests also embrace other types of music; he has played in big bands and with rock bands and in 1997 he received first prize in the Street music competition in Verso Il Millennio, Italy.

Baadsvik has also a great interest in teaching, and from 1997 to 1998 he held the position as Associate Professor and leader of the Brass/Woodwind-department at Trondheim Conservatory of Music. The last few years he has combined tuba playing with conducting, and appears regularly as a guest conductor with both professional and amateur symphony orchestras and symphonic bands.

Velvet Brown has served as professor of tuba and euphonium at Bowling Green State University since 1995. In addition to her teaching schedule, she enjoys a professional career as an international solo and chamber ensemble, recording artist, conductor and orchestral player. As guest soloist with ensembles, recitalist, instructor, adjudicator and conductor, Brown has made appearances throughout Europe, Japan and the United States. She has been featured at the 1999 Swiss Brass Week, the Italian Wind Festival in Rimini, the 2000 and 1999 Mid-Europe Conferences, as well as a frequent featured soloist at the International Tuba and Euphonium Conferences among others.

Ms. Brown has served as principal tubist with the New Hampshire Music Festival Orchestra from 1989-1999, as well as substitute or additional tubist with the Detroit Symphony, Saint Louis Symphony, and the Fort Wayne Philharmonic. She has also garnered high praise as a founding and current member of the Monarch Brass Quintet and Brass Ensemble as well as one half of the "Garda Duo" with Italian pianist Roberto Arosio. Prior to joining the faculty at Bowling Green State University, she taught at Ball State University (Indiana), and served as an associate director of University Bands at Boston University.

Currently Ms. Brown is a member of the Board of Directors as well as Program Editor for the Tubists Universal Brotherhood Association (T.U.B.A.), with prior service as a board member and vice-president of the International Women's Brass Conference. She was graduated from Boston University and West Virginia University and also attended Indiana University for doctoral studies. Ms. Brown is also noted for receiving the 1999-2000 William Fulbright Fellowship Vinciguerra Award. She has released a solo CD ('Velvet') on the Crystal Records label (CD 692) and can also be heard on the Nicolai Music Label performing music by the award winning composer Neal Corwell and on the New Hampshire Music Festival Orchestra's "Summer Lightning" CD recording.

Patrick Sheridan was ten years old when he started playing the tuba. He made his solo orchestral debut at the age of 15 playing a Mozart Horn Concerto on the tuba. Sheridan studied tuba and conducting at Northwestern University, Arizona State University and George Mason University. He made his professional solo orchestral debut with Minnesota Orchestra. Sheridan was the solo tubist with "The President´s Own" United States Marine Band from 1989 until 1993. He has performed and taught masterclasses throughout the United States as well as England, Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Norway, Austria and Japan.

Skip Gray joined the faculty of the University of Kentucky School of Music in the Fall of 1980 and holds the rank of Professor of Music. He has appeared as a tuba soloist and clinician throughout the United States, Europe, Japan, and Australia. He is also Principal Tuba with the Lexington Philharmonic. Skip Gray earned the Doctor of Musical Arts degree and Master of Music from the University of Illinois where he was a student of Daniel Perantoni. He earned a Bachelor of Music from Baldwin-Wallace College in his hometown, Berea, Ohio studying the tuba with Ronald Bishop of the Cleveland Orchestra. During the 1988-89 season and in the Spring of 1990, Gray served as Principal Tuba in the Orchestra Sinfonica di Torino della RAI in Turin, Italy. In 1982 he was presented in Carnegie Recital Hall by Twentieth Century Innovations in a program of five new works for tuba and woodwind quintet. A special interest has been inducing new works for the solo tuba. He has commissioned and given premiere performances of many new works including the Fantasia for Solo Tuba and Brass Ensemble by Allen Vizzutti, Variations on an Aboriginal Melody for Tuba and Woodwind Quintet by Jim Curnow, and the Sonata for Tuba and Piano by Kent Holliday.

Gray is well known for his arrangements and transcriptions for tuba-euphonium ensemble. Many of his works for this medium have been recorded by groups including the British Tuba Quartet, the Gerhard Meinl Tuba Sextet, and the Melton Tuba Quartet. Currently President-elect of the international tuba-euphonium association (T.U.B.A.), Skip Gray served the organization as Corresponding Secretary from 1982 to 1987 and became its first Executive Secretary, serving two terms in that office from 1987 to 1991. He hosted the 1992 International Tuba-Euphonium Conference held in Lexington at the University of Kentucky.

Characterized by a virtuosic technique and a warm, rich, velvet tone, Brian Bowman's playing has thrilled audiences for more than a quarter of a century. His superb musicianship and dedication to fine brass playing have made him one of the foremost euphonium soloists in the world today. His history of euphonium "firsts" is impressive:

• First euphonium recital in New York's Carnegie Recital Hall, 1976
• First euphoniumist to serve as president of the TUBISTS UNIVERSAL BROTHERHOOD ASSOCIATION (T.U.B.A)
• First euphonium concert tour of Japan
• First Guest Euphonium Artist-Falcone International Euphonium Competition
• First euphonium master class at the Paris Conservatory Superior of Music, France
• Master teacher at the first Deutsche Tubaforum workshop to include the euphonium, tenor horn and bariton, Hammelburg, Germany, 1991

Dr. Brian L. Bowman enjoys a distinguished career as a soloist, clinician, recording artist, educator and administrator. Dr. Bowman has held the principal euphonium position, in addition to being a featured soloist, in each of the bands he has been associated with: THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN SYMPHONY BAND, THE UNITED STATES NAVY BAND, THE UNITED STATES BICENTENNIAL BAND, THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE BAND and THE RIVER CITY BRASS BAND in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

He is in demand as a guest soloist with high school, university, municipal and professional ensembles. He has performed as a soloist in all 50 states, Canada, Mexico, The Virgin Islands, Norway, Finland, Germany, Belgium, Great Britain, France, Italy, Switzerland, Australia, Japan, Taiwan and the People's Republic of China. He has appeared as tenor tubist with the National Symphony, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, the Colorado Symphony, the San Francisco Symphony and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. He has performed concertos with the Lexington Kentucky Symphony, the Sapporo Japan, Symphony Orchestra and the North Carolina Symphony.

In addition to his live performances, Dr. Bowman can be heard on over 35 service band recordings and his six solo albums. He has appeared as featured soloist on Iowa Public Television with the Karl King Fort Dodge Municipal band and performed with the New Sousa Band in the Wolftrap PBS television special.

Perhaps it is his dedication to outstanding musical performance that makes him such an inspiring clinician and educator. Currently, professor of music (Euphonium) in the College of Music at The University of North Texas, Dr. Bowman has also served on the music faculty of eight other universities. His students occupy prominent positions in professional organizations world wide. He is the author of PRACTICAL HINTS FOR PLAYING THE EUPHONIUM/BARITONE HORN and he frequently publishes articles in professional journals. His edition of the ARBAN COMPLETE METHOD is the only complete bass clef edition of this famous brass method. His work as a clinician and soloist at such conferences as the Mid-West International Band & Orchestra Clinic, The British Association of Symphonic Bands & Wind Ensembles and many national and international brass symposia have won him international recognition. In 1989 he was awarded the British Magazines "EUPHONIUM PLAYER OF THE YEAR", and in 1995 was given the LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD from the Tubists Universal Brotherhood Association. He is the only living euphoniumist to be included in the book TWENTIETH-CENTURY BRASS SOLOISTS by Michael Meckna.

As an authority in the field of euphonium performance, Brian Bowman has been asked to serve as adjudicator of many national and international euphonium competitions over the past thirty years. He has been a member of competition juries for international professional music competitions in the United States, France and Japan. He was the president of the TUBAMANIA euphonium solo competition in Australia in December 1999. In 1994, an annual competition in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan, was named the Brian L. Bowman Euphonium Solo Competition in his honor.

Brian Bowman is a member of the SYMPHONIA Ensemble, a Tuba/Euphonium ensemble of professional players and teachers, which has performed throughout the United States and in Europe and recorded two compact discs with that group. He is the euphonium member of the SUMMIT BRASS ENSEMBLE, composed of the leading soloists, chamber musicians and orchestral players in the country. He is a regular artist faculty member of the RAFAEL MÉNDEZ BRASS INSTITUTE. Each summer he is the euphonium artist faculty at the INTERNATIONAL TUBA-EUPHONIUM SUMMER WORKSHOP at the University of Oklahoma.

Brian Bowman has contributed significantly to the field of euphonium instrument design and was instrumental in the development and success of the WILLSON euphonium, produced by the Willson Musical Instrument Company in Flums, Switzerland. He has also been a frequent consultant for other musical instrument companies and has designed a special line of Brian Bowman euphonium mouthpieces distributed by DEG Music Products.

Dr. Bowman has contributed significantly to the body of literature available for euphonium performers today. Not only have composers written new works at Bowman's specific request, but also many compositions have resulted merely from the composer being acquainted with Bowman and having heard his performance capabilities. Of the seven new euphonium works commissioned by the Tubists Universal Brotherhood Association since its inception in 1974, Bowman has premiered four. A major thrust of Bowman's career has been working to generate quality new compositions for his beloved instrument.

Many of Dr. Bowman's accomplishments and contributions have been documented in a doctoral dissertation, "The Life and Career Contributions of Brian L. Bowman through 1991," written by Sharon Elise Huff at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1994.

Dr. Bowman believes that music is a most effective art form when used to communicate. To hear him or study with him is to know he is a powerful communicator and a master of that art form. Dr. Bowman's current and future projects include: performing solo/clinic/teaching tours throughout the world; creating CD recordings of all levels of literature for euphonium; commissioning and inspiring composers to write for the euphonium; and working to create performance, teaching and research opportunities for future generations of euphoniumists.

Steven Mead has been a professional euphonium soloist for some 15 years after a successful career with some of the top British brass bands and as a full time music teacher. It is this wealth of experience that has helped to create a musician who communicates with his audiences. Born in Bournemouth , February 26th , 1962, he grew up at this popular south coast seaside town, attending Bournemouth School for Boys from 1973-1980.

His earliest brass 'training' began at the age of 6, with the Boscombe Salvation Army Junior Band. The euphonium was too big at that stage (!) and over the next few years, gravitated lower, onto tenor horn, then baritone, then at the age of 11 to the euphonium. From the age of 8 to 12 he took singing lessons passing his Grade 8 singing exam with distinction, as a boy soprano!

His love for the euphonium seriously developed from the age of 13 and he was entering competitions at local music festivals from this time. Early teachers included Bernhard Roberts and Glyn Bosanko at the Boscombe SA. From the age of 17 Steven took lessons from brass band euphonium legend Trevor Groom, travelling by train from Bournemouth to Kettering regularly, a round trip of 7 hours on Saturdays.

Dr. Mary Ann Craig is Director of Bands at Montclair State University in New Jersey, where she also teaches applied euphonium conducting. Dr. Craig is Secretary of TUBA and founder of the Colonial Euphonium and Tuba Institute. As a member of the Colonial Tuba Quartet. Dr. Craig and the quartet present numerous concerts annually in schools to promote the tuba and euphonium. The educational skit presented by the CTQ has exposed thousands of young students to our instruments. In addition, many new works have been commissioned by the CTQ and premiered from Japan through the United States to Europe.

Dr. Craig has appeared as soloist and clinician throughout Japan, Europe, Australia, and the U.S., including the Mid-West Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago.. Her second solo recording, Euphonium...Out On A Limb, is receiving worldwide acclaim. Having commissioned numerous composers to write for the euphonium, Dr. Craig premiered Anthony Plog's Erica and the Euphonium with the Arizona State University Symphony Orchestra.

As a conductor Dr. Craig has recently traveled several times to Russia, where she has guest conducted the Volga Band of Saratov and the Symphonic Band at the prestigious Gnessinaes Academy in Moscow. In May she will guest conduct in Ukraine and in August she will conduct the World Honors Euphonium-Tuba Ensemble at ITEC 2001 in Finland. In the US she has adjudicated, guest conducted, and given numerous clinics for bands from the Midwest to the Northeast. Dr. Craig and has served as Eastern Division Chair for the Society for Music Teacher Education.

Euphonium player Matthew Tropman of Ann Arbor, MI, joined "The President's Own" United States Marine Band in July 1996.

Gunnery Sergeant Tropman began his musical training at age 12 and graduated from the Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor. He earned a bachelor of musical arts in performance degree from the University of Michigan and is pursuing a master's degree in performance from Arizona State University in Tempe.

He has studied with Samuel Pilafian of Arizona State University and the Empire Brass Quintet, Fritz Kaenzig of the University of Michigan, and Luis Maldonado of Interlochen, MI.

GySgt Tropman has won several prestigious competitions, including the Colonial Euphonium and Tuba Solo Competition in 1996, the Leonard Falcone International Euphonium Competition (Artist Division) in 1993, and the International Euphonium-Tuba Conference Solo Competition in 1992. He appears frequently as a guest soloist and clinician at various festivals in the United States, Canada and abroad.

With the Marine Band, GySgt Tropman frequently performs at the White House, in the Washington, DC, area, and across the country during the band's annual concert tour. In 1998, he was a Marine Band tour soloist.

GySgt Tropman, the son of John and Penelope Tropman of Ann Arbor, currently resides in Arlington, VA.

The Marine Band is America's oldest musical orgazation. Founded in 1798, the band has performed for every U.S. President since John Adams. Given the title "The President's Own" by Thomas Jefferson, the Marine Band's primary mission is to provide music for the President of the United States.