Morehead State hosts Spring Tubafest March 18-April 8

Spring Tubafest, a series of concerts featuring instruments in the tuba family, is March 18-April 8.   

Tubafest features guest performances, workshops, clinics, and masterclasses to help students hone their skills. This year’s guest performers will be Dr. Gail Robertson, associate professor of tuba and euphonium at the University of Central Arkansas; Pianist T.O. Sterrett and Dr. Brandon Smith, visiting professor of tuba and euphonium at the University of Kentucky.   

Robertson earned her B.A. degree from the University of Central Florida and an M.M. from Indiana University, where she served as graduate assistant to Harvey Phillips. She completed her D.M.A. as a University Distinguished Fellow at Michigan State University (studies with Phil Sinder and Ava Ordman). Dr. Robertson has taught on the faculties of Eastern Michigan University, the University of Central Florida, Bethune-Cookman University, and the University of Florida and remains active as a teacher, adjudicator, jazz clinician, composer, arranger, and free-lance artist, both nationally and internationally. She is half of the SymbiosisDuo, which she formed with Dr. Stacy Baker, professor of music at MSU.  

Sterrett is a conductor and keyboardist whose work on Broadway includes arranger/orchestrator/music supervisor for “Gutenberg! The Musical!” (featuring Josh Gad and Andrew Rannells), associate conductor, keyboards and cast album for “Shrek the Musical,” assistant conductor and pianist for “Wicked,” and pianist/assistant conductor at “Cats.” He has worked on many other Broadway shows, including “The Book of Mormon,” “The Phantom of the Opera,” “Something Rotten,” “Matilda,” “Elf,” and “Mamma Mia.”  

Smith led the tuba and euphonium studio at Valdosta State University, where he taught applied lessons, studio classes, brass methods, and music appreciation. Smith has given masterclasses at several universities, including Kennesaw State University, Florida A&M University, Mississippi State University, University of Tennessee, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and Reinhardt University. Smith’s students have performed at the Army Band Tuba and Euphonium Conference and the Southeast Regional Tuba and Euphonium Conference.   

The schedule of events is as follows:  

• March 18, Guest Artists Dr. Gail Robertson, euphonium and T.O. Sterrett, piano.  
  • 1 p.m., MSU Tuba/Euphonium Ensemble Rehearsal with Dr. Robertson, 117 Baird Music Hall.  
  • 3 p.m., Arranging and Composing for Tuba/Euphonium Ensemble with Dr. Robertson, 117 Baird Music Hall.  
  • 3 p.m., Musical Theatre Audition Workshop with T.O. Sterrett, Baird Music Hall.  
  • 7:30 p.m., SymbiosisDuo Recital “Dreams, Dances, and Destinations” - Dr. Gail Robertson, euphonium; Dr. Stacy Baker, tuba; and T.O. Sterrett, piano, Baird Music Hall.  
• March 22, 11a.m., Guest Artist Recital, Dr. Brandon Smith, Visiting Lecturer of Tuba and Euphonium, University of Kentucky, Baird Music Hall.  
• April 8, 2:30 p.m., “SPACE TUBAS” celebrating the Great North American Eclipse with the MSU Tuba/Euphonium Ensemble, Dr. Stacy Baker, director, MSU Space Science Center lawn.  

All events are free and open to the public.  

For more information, contact Dr. Stacy Baker at 606-783-2107 or s.baker@moreheadstate.edu.  

Explore programs in the Department of Music, Theater, and Dance by emailing mtd@moreheadstate.edu or calling 606-783-2473.