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Tuba-Euphonium Recital - SYMBIOSISDUO

Thursday, January 26 | 1:00 PM

Program

SYMBIOSISDUO

SYMBIOSISDUO highlights the artistic achievements of two of the most accomplished musicians in the field of low brass performance and pedagogy. Gail Robertson (euphonium) and Stacy Baker (tuba) formed SYMBIOSISDUO in 2007 to increase awareness of the tuba/euphonium duo as a performance medium and to promote and disseminate new works for this unique combination of instruments. The duo chose the name “SYMBIOSISDUO” from the concert duet of that name written for them by composer Chris Sharp. In the program notes for the work he writes: “Symbiosis is defined as, ‘A relationship of mutual benefit or dependence … The technical and range-requirements for each solo instrument are comparable, suggesting a ‘separate but equal’ relationship.” This is an innovative and challenging approach to duet writing for tuba and euphonium producing ‘the symbiosis effect’ as the tuba is not relegated to an accompanying role, but is equal in all aspects of music with the other voice in the duo, the euphonium. SYMBIOSISDUO’s eclectic debut recording with collaborative pianist, Alex Thio and Deborah Eastwood (cornet/flugelhorn) was selected as finalist for the 2010 Roger Bobo Award for Recording Excellence by The International Tuba Euphonium Association. Visit symbiosisduo.com for upcoming tour information.

Dr. Stacy Baker

Stacy Baker is Professor of Music - Tuba /Euphonium at Morehead State University in Morehead, Kentucky. Originally from Harsen’s Island, MI, she received both her M.M. and B.M. degrees from the University of Michigan where she graduated summa cum laude as a James B. Angell Scholar. She holds a D.M.A. in Performance and Literature with highest honors from the University of Illinois. She enjoys an active solo career appearing as a featured artist at International Women’s Brass Conferences (IWBC); International Tuba/Euphonium Conferences (ITEC); U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own” Tuba/Euphonium Conferences; Southeast Regional Tuba/Euphonium Conferences (SERTEC), and the International Euphonium Institute and Festival (IEI). Dr. Baker has toured and recorded throughout the United States and Europe as a founding member of the tuba/euphonium quartet JUNCTION, and with the Lexington Brass Band and Monarch Brass Ensemble. She is a member of the Athena Brass Band, the Horizon Brass Quintet, and SYMBIOSISDUO.

Dr. Baker has also performed as principal tubist with the Warren Symphony and the Allen Park Symphony, and as substitute tubist with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the Illinois Symphony, the Champaign/Urbana Symphony, and the Danville Symphony. She served as co-editor of the International Women’s Brass Conference Newsletter from 2000-2003 and has served on the IWBC Board of Directors. Her teachers include Jeff Funderburk, Wes Jacobs, Tommy Johnson, Fritz Kaenzig, and Mark Moore.

Gail Robertson

Gail Robertson earned her B.A. degree from the University of Central Florida and a M.M. in Euphonium Performance from Indiana University while serving as graduate assistant to Harvey Phillips. She postponed her doctoral studies at the University of Maryland with Dr. Brian Bowman to perform with the “Tubafours” at Walt Disney World, Orlando where she served as musical supervisor/chief arranger and produced a highly acclaimed CD, “Tubas Under the Boardwalk.” She has recently resumed her doctoral studies as a University Distinguished Fellow at Michigan State University studying with Phil Sinder and Ava Ordman. She has taught on the faculties of the University of Central Florida, Bethune-Cookman University, the University of Florida, Valencia, and Seminole Community Colleges and remains active as a teacher, adjudicator, composer, arranger and free-lance artist, both nationally and internationally.

Robertson is currently serving on the Board of Directors of the Leonard Falcone Tuba and Euphonium Festival and the International Women’s Brass Conference (IWBC). She has served as President of the IWBC and as a conference host in 2010 and 2006. She has also served on the Board of Directors and as Euphonium and Membership Coordinator of the International Tuba and Euphonium Association (ITEA) and was the featured artist on the cover of the International Tuba and Euphonium Association Journal (Volume 38, Number 1, Fall 2010). In addition, she has served as President, Vice President and Personnel Manager of the Brass Band of Central Florida.

Robertson has toured the U.S., Europe, China, and Japan with Keith Brion’s “New Sousa Band,” the Brass Band of Battle Creek, the Athena Brass Band, and the Brass Band of Central Florida. She has also performed with the Orlando based “Horns and Pipes” Brass and Percussion Ensemble, as well as the River City Brass Band, Jack Daniel’s Silver Cornet Band, Euphoniums Unlimited, Symphonia, and SYMBIOSISDUO. Her published works and arrangements are available through GAR MUSIC, Euphonium.com, and Tuba-Euphonium Press. As a Willson Euphonium Artist, Robertson’s euphonium of choice is a Willson 2950TA with a Warburton/Gail Robertson mouthpiece.

Dr. Eunbyol Ko

A native of South Korea, Dr. Eunbyol Ko is Assistant Professor of Piano at Morehead State University. She maintains an active international performing career as a soloist, chamber musician, and concerto soloist, having performed in Canada, Austria, Germany, Belgium, Italy, the Czech Republic, South Korea, and throughout the United States. As a collaborator, she worked for the renowned Starling String Project and the CCM Vocal Department, and has served as an official accompanist for the Young-Pyong International Clarinet Festival in South Korea, the Henri Marteau International Violin Competition in Germany, and the Mozarteum International Summer Academy in Salzburg, Austria.

Eunbyol Ko has earned top prizes in the South Korea National Piano Competition, the Eum-Yeon Competition in South Korea, the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music Chamber Music Competition, the International Yellow Springs Chamber Music Competition, the Kankakee Young Artists Concerto Competition, and the American Protégé International Piano Competition. She holds a Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Piano Performance (with a Cognate in Chamber Music) from the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and a Masters degree in Piano Performance from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music.

Dr. Deborah Eastwood

Deborah Eastwood serves as Instructor of Music at Morehead State University, Morehead, KY. She earned her D.M.A. in Performance and Literature at the University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign; M.M. in Trumpet Performance from the Peabody Conservatory of Music- John Hopkins University; and B.M. in Trumpet Performance from James Madison University. She has performed and recorded as a member of the Athena Brass Band, Lexington Brass Band, and Horizon Brass Quintet, and SYMBIOSISDUO. She has performed with the Skyline Brass Ensemble, the Virginia Symphony, the West Virginia Symphony, the Danville Symphony, the Champaign -Urbana Symphony, and the Lancaster Opera Company. Dr. Eastwood has also performed at the International Trumpet Guild, International Women’s Brass Conference, International Trombone Association, Southeast Regional Tuba/ Euphonium Conference (SERTEC), North American Brass Brand Competitions, and the Great American Brass Band Festival. She has served as a member of the music faculties of Marshall University, WV; Kentucky Christian College, KY; and Maysville Community College, KY. Her teachers include Michael Ewald, Langston Fitzgerald III, and James Kluesner.