International Tuba Euphonium Association
Encyclopedia
The International Tuba Euphonium Association (ITEA), founded in 1973 as the Tubists Universal Brotherhood Association (TUBA), is an international organization dedicated to performers, teachers and friends of the tuba
and euphonium
.
students with their teacher, William Bell
, who played with the NBC Symphony at McSorley's Old Ale House, in Manhattan
, to discuss the tuba
and the art of performance on the same over food and drinks. These informal meetings happened on an irregular schedule during the 1930s. A lighthearted, and unrepeatable name for this group was chosen by Bell that began with "The Royal Order of" for which the participants printed membership cards.
with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra
with the aid of J. Lesley Varner and Winston Morris
. Ryker advertised seeking those interested in forming an organization for tuba
players and quickly received support including funding from Conn
and Miraphone. Three masters were first declared honorary members: Harvey Phillips
(later innovator of Oktubafest and Tuba Christmas), Arnold Jacobs
, and William Bell
, from whom the inspiration had been drawn. The name T.U.B.A. was proposed by Ryker at the outset.
T.U.B.A. became an international movement following The First International Tuba Symposium-Workshop and the beginning of its newsletter, the T.U.B.A. Journal in 1973. A primary goal of the first symposium was to reach-out to composers and facilitate new works for the tuba. Harvey Phillips
later estimated some 150 new works derived from that effort. The euphonium
was added to the scope of the association with a national symposium title being edited to include "tuba-euphonium" in 1974. The constitution drafted in 1973 was revised and adopted in 1975.
In the final years that the association existed as T.U.B.A., it claimed 2500+ members from 50+ countries and had commissioned 27 new works for tuba or euphonium. The stated goals of the organization were and are :
I.T.E.A. membership is open to all with a significant interest in the tuba
and/or euphonium
and requires annual dues. The association has an Executive Committee, a Board of Directors, an Honorary Advisory Board, and a Journal staff with area coordinators. It currently sponsors a biennial symposium, the International Tuba Euphonium Conference, as well as a journal, the ITEA Journal. When the international conference isn't being held, regional conferences throughout the country are held instead.
Harvey G. Phillips (1973 North American Chapter President)
Daniel Perantoni (1974 National President)
R. Winston Morris
(1975-1997)
J. Lesley Varner (1977-1979)
James Self (1979-1981)
Brian Bowman
(1981-1983)
Harvey G. Phillips (1983-1987)
Robert Daniel (1987-1989)
Donald Little (1989-1991)
Martin Erickson (1991-1993)
Fritz Kaenzig (1993-1995)
Jeffrey Funderburk (1995-1997)
Samuel Pilafian (1997-1999)
Scott Watson (1999-2001)
Skip Gray
(2001-2003)
Mary Ann Craig (2003-2005)
Dennis Askew (2005-2009)
David Zerkel (2009-2011)
Baritone Horn
William Bell (tuba player)
Harvey Phillips
Tuba Christmas
Tuba
The tuba is the largest and lowest-pitched brass instrument. Sound is produced by vibrating or "buzzing" the lips into a large cupped mouthpiece. It is one of the most recent additions to the modern symphony orchestra, first appearing in the mid-19th century, when it largely replaced the...
and euphonium
Euphonium
The euphonium is a conical-bore, tenor-voiced brass instrument. It derives its name from the Greek word euphonos, meaning "well-sounding" or "sweet-voiced"...
.
The first association
The International Tuba Euphonium Association traces its roots to meetings of tubaTuba
The tuba is the largest and lowest-pitched brass instrument. Sound is produced by vibrating or "buzzing" the lips into a large cupped mouthpiece. It is one of the most recent additions to the modern symphony orchestra, first appearing in the mid-19th century, when it largely replaced the...
students with their teacher, William Bell
William Bell (tuba player)
William Bell was the premier player and teacher of the tuba in America during the first half of the 20th century. In 1921 He joined the band of John Philip Sousa, and from 1924 to 1937 he served as Principal Tuba with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra...
, who played with the NBC Symphony at McSorley's Old Ale House, in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
, to discuss the tuba
Tuba
The tuba is the largest and lowest-pitched brass instrument. Sound is produced by vibrating or "buzzing" the lips into a large cupped mouthpiece. It is one of the most recent additions to the modern symphony orchestra, first appearing in the mid-19th century, when it largely replaced the...
and the art of performance on the same over food and drinks. These informal meetings happened on an irregular schedule during the 1930s. A lighthearted, and unrepeatable name for this group was chosen by Bell that began with "The Royal Order of" for which the participants printed membership cards.
T.U.B.A.
The Tubists Universal Brotherhood Association was started in the spirit of the tavern master classes between 1966 and 1971 by Robert Ryker, who played tubaTuba
The tuba is the largest and lowest-pitched brass instrument. Sound is produced by vibrating or "buzzing" the lips into a large cupped mouthpiece. It is one of the most recent additions to the modern symphony orchestra, first appearing in the mid-19th century, when it largely replaced the...
with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra
Montreal Symphony Orchestra
Orchestre symphonique de Montréal is a symphony orchestra based in Montréal, Québec, Canada, with Montréal's Place des Arts as its home.-History:...
with the aid of J. Lesley Varner and Winston Morris
R. Winston Morris
South Carolinian Ralph Winston Morris , known for his signature "soul patch", is the professor of Tuba and Euphonium at Tennessee Tech University in Cookeville, Tennessee. He is editor of The Tuba Source Book and the Euphonium Source Book...
. Ryker advertised seeking those interested in forming an organization for tuba
Tuba
The tuba is the largest and lowest-pitched brass instrument. Sound is produced by vibrating or "buzzing" the lips into a large cupped mouthpiece. It is one of the most recent additions to the modern symphony orchestra, first appearing in the mid-19th century, when it largely replaced the...
players and quickly received support including funding from Conn
Conn-Selmer
Conn-Selmer, Inc. is a manufacturer and distributor of concert band, marching band, and orchestral instruments. It is a subsidiary of Steinway Musical Instruments and was formed after Steinway bought musical instrument manufacturers The Selmer Company and C.G. Conn.-Founding:In the late 1800s,...
and Miraphone. Three masters were first declared honorary members: Harvey Phillips
Harvey Phillips
Harvey Phillips was a professor emeritus of the , Indiana University, Bloomington and dedicated advocate for the tuba.-Biography:Phillips was a professional freelance musician from 1950 to 1971, winning his first professional...
(later innovator of Oktubafest and Tuba Christmas), Arnold Jacobs
Arnold Jacobs
Arnold Jacobs was an American orchestral tuba player who was most known as the principal Tubist for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra from 1944 until his retirement in 1988....
, and William Bell
William Bell (tuba player)
William Bell was the premier player and teacher of the tuba in America during the first half of the 20th century. In 1921 He joined the band of John Philip Sousa, and from 1924 to 1937 he served as Principal Tuba with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra...
, from whom the inspiration had been drawn. The name T.U.B.A. was proposed by Ryker at the outset.
T.U.B.A. became an international movement following The First International Tuba Symposium-Workshop and the beginning of its newsletter, the T.U.B.A. Journal in 1973. A primary goal of the first symposium was to reach-out to composers and facilitate new works for the tuba. Harvey Phillips
Harvey Phillips
Harvey Phillips was a professor emeritus of the , Indiana University, Bloomington and dedicated advocate for the tuba.-Biography:Phillips was a professional freelance musician from 1950 to 1971, winning his first professional...
later estimated some 150 new works derived from that effort. The euphonium
Euphonium
The euphonium is a conical-bore, tenor-voiced brass instrument. It derives its name from the Greek word euphonos, meaning "well-sounding" or "sweet-voiced"...
was added to the scope of the association with a national symposium title being edited to include "tuba-euphonium" in 1974. The constitution drafted in 1973 was revised and adopted in 1975.
In the final years that the association existed as T.U.B.A., it claimed 2500+ members from 50+ countries and had commissioned 27 new works for tuba or euphonium. The stated goals of the organization were and are :
- To expand performance and employment opportunities.
- To enhance the image and role of our instruments and performers.
- To explore pedagogical approaches through new teaching resources.
- To promote activity in new instrument design.
- To generate new compositions for the tuba and euphonium.
- To explore new directions in technique.
- To establish and maintain appropriate libraries of recorded and printed materials.
- To encourage tuba-euphonium workshops and conferences.
- To publish a journal.
Ongoing organization
In 2000, T.U.B.A. changed its name to the International Tuba Euphonium Association (I.T.E.A.). The change was brought about to address concerns regarding the inclusion of women and euphonium players, both of whom had long been members, in the name to be more representative of what the organization is.I.T.E.A. membership is open to all with a significant interest in the tuba
Tuba
The tuba is the largest and lowest-pitched brass instrument. Sound is produced by vibrating or "buzzing" the lips into a large cupped mouthpiece. It is one of the most recent additions to the modern symphony orchestra, first appearing in the mid-19th century, when it largely replaced the...
and/or euphonium
Euphonium
The euphonium is a conical-bore, tenor-voiced brass instrument. It derives its name from the Greek word euphonos, meaning "well-sounding" or "sweet-voiced"...
and requires annual dues. The association has an Executive Committee, a Board of Directors, an Honorary Advisory Board, and a Journal staff with area coordinators. It currently sponsors a biennial symposium, the International Tuba Euphonium Conference, as well as a journal, the ITEA Journal. When the international conference isn't being held, regional conferences throughout the country are held instead.
Past Presidents
H. Robert Rÿker (1973), Founder and International PresidentHarvey G. Phillips (1973 North American Chapter President)
Daniel Perantoni (1974 National President)
R. Winston Morris
R. Winston Morris
South Carolinian Ralph Winston Morris , known for his signature "soul patch", is the professor of Tuba and Euphonium at Tennessee Tech University in Cookeville, Tennessee. He is editor of The Tuba Source Book and the Euphonium Source Book...
(1975-1997)
J. Lesley Varner (1977-1979)
James Self (1979-1981)
Brian Bowman
Brian Bowman
Brian Bowman is a euphonium professor, performer and recording artist notable for having sat lead euphonium in the premier bands of both the United States Navy and the United States Air Force as well as having performed the first euphonium recital at Carnegie Hall.-Education:Brian Bowman was born...
(1981-1983)
Harvey G. Phillips (1983-1987)
Robert Daniel (1987-1989)
Donald Little (1989-1991)
Martin Erickson (1991-1993)
Fritz Kaenzig (1993-1995)
Jeffrey Funderburk (1995-1997)
Samuel Pilafian (1997-1999)
Scott Watson (1999-2001)
Skip Gray
Skip Gray
Dr. Skip Gray ranks among the finest performers and professors of the tuba in the world. Dr. Gray currently serves on the faculty of the University of Kentucky as Professor of Tuba and Euphonium, a position he has held since 1980...
(2001-2003)
Mary Ann Craig (2003-2005)
Dennis Askew (2005-2009)
David Zerkel (2009-2011)
See Also
EuphoniumEuphonium
The euphonium is a conical-bore, tenor-voiced brass instrument. It derives its name from the Greek word euphonos, meaning "well-sounding" or "sweet-voiced"...
Baritone Horn
Baritone horn
The baritone horn is a member of the brass instrument family. The baritone horn has a predominantly cylindrical bore as do the trumpet and trombone. A baritone horn uses a large mouthpiece much like those of a trombone or euphonium, although it is a bit smaller. Some baritone mouthpieces will sink...
William Bell (tuba player)
William Bell (tuba player)
William Bell was the premier player and teacher of the tuba in America during the first half of the 20th century. In 1921 He joined the band of John Philip Sousa, and from 1924 to 1937 he served as Principal Tuba with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra...
Harvey Phillips
Harvey Phillips
Harvey Phillips was a professor emeritus of the , Indiana University, Bloomington and dedicated advocate for the tuba.-Biography:Phillips was a professional freelance musician from 1950 to 1971, winning his first professional...
Tuba Christmas