Tuba Euphonium Ensemble

David Porter

Ensemble Director: Dr. David Porter

The George Mason University Tuba and Euphonium Ensemble has been in existence for over 15 years. It draws from a diversified student population of both music majors and non-majors.   

The ensemble has appeared in the Mason Community Arts Academy Regional Conference at George Mason, the 2015 Northeast Regional Tuba/Euphonium Conference (NERTEC) in Ithaca, NY, the 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022 United States Army Band Tuba Euphonium Conference, Ft. Meyer, VA, the 2016 International Tuba Euphonium Conference (ITEC) in Knoxville, TN, the 2017 NERTEC in Ithaca, NY, the 2018 Mid Atlantic Regional Tuba Euphonium Conference (MARTEC), Greensboro, NC, the 2019 ITEC at University of Iowa,  Iowa City, the 2020 Virtual International Euphonium Conference, Emory University, Atlanta, GA as well as appearances on and off the George Mason campus.   

The group remains as a front runner of the low brass department for recruiting students to enjoy and play chamber music. They strive to represent the musical capabilities of tuba and euphonium by performing new and commissioned works explicitly for them as well as transcriptions of Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Jazz, Rock, and Modern music.

The Mason Tuba Euphonium Ensemble
The Mason Tuba Euphonium Ensemble

The group is led by George Mason Adjunct Tuba Dr. David Porter and George Mason Adjunct Euphonium Dr. Mark Jenkins. This year highlights the group in diverse and varied musical selections providing a broad scope of delightful and stylistically challenging literature. 

Guest Artist Days

The GMU Tuba Euphonium Ensemble often hosts Tuba Guest Artist Days featuring masterclasses, clinics, and recitals.

In 2022, international music artists Dr. Beth Mitchell and Ms. Avital Handler offered a masterclass to our Mason tuba students, a clinic on the latest tuba techniques, and a spectacular recital featuring the Mason Tuba Euphonium Ensemble, and Mason faculty Dr. David Porter (tuba) and Dr. Mark Jenkins (euphonium). All music directors, students, and families are invited to these informative sessions.

In 2021, the ensemble did not let COVID stop them from "playing together" at the Tuba Euphonium Day

 

Watch the Mason Tuba/Euphonium Ensemble Perform at the 2020 International Euphonium Tuba Festival