The International Tuba-Euphonium Conference takes place from June 20 though 25 on the University's Evanston campus. And it is guaranteed to shatter many questions and misconceptions about the tuba, which, at 160 years of age, is one of the youngest instruments in the modern symphony orchestra. In fact, despite drastically diminished lung capacity, Arnold Jacobs, professor emeritus at Northwestern's School of Music, remains one of the world's greatest performers. Certainly, it's not because women can't play it, says Rex Martin, distinguished tuba player and professor at Northwestern's School of Music. It's got to do with the image.
People think of tuba players as hefty, bald guys huffing and puffing in the back of the orchestra.
Yes, there are parts for tuba besides Tubby the Tuba. Great tuba parts have been written by Berlioz, Brahms, Wagner, Mahler, Tchaikovsky and others. The instrument has been featured very prominently in film scores such as Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Jaws and Star Wars. Conference registrants are coming to hear live performances of the finest players and witness the teaching of the greatest tuba pedagogues. Among them will be renowned tuba performer and teacher Roger Bobo.