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The Armed Forces Tuba-Euphonium Ensemble | The U.S. Army Orchestra

Program

Friday, January 27 | 7:00 pm

SSG David Kirven

SSG David Kirven, originally from Paris, TX, joined The U.S. Army Band “Pershings Own” in 2002. He earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Tuba Performance from Baylor University. SSG Kirven later attended the University of Kentucky where he earned a Master of Music degree in Instrumental Conducting in addition to a Master of Music degree in Tuba Performance.

Prior to joining The U.S. Army Band “Pershings Own”, SSG Kirven served as the Tuba Professor at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, TX. Since joining the Army Band, he has been featured as a soloist with the band as well as performing as a member of The United States Army Tuba/Euphonium Quartet. SSG Kirven currently serves as the Ensembles Coordinator for The United States Army Band Tuba/Euphonium Workshop.

Dr. Dennis AsKew

Dennis W. AsKew currently serves as Professor of Tuba, Euphonium and Music Education and Director of Athletic Bands at UNC Greensboro. Additionally, he is the Coordinator of Educational Activities for the Miraphone Corporation, Brass Consultant for the Spirit of Atlanta Drum and Bugle Corps and President of the Board of Directors for Carolina Gold Drum & Bugle Corps. Dr. AsKew received degrees from the University of Michigan, Penn State University and the University of Georgia. He has served as President for the International Tuba Euphonium Association, Assistant Dean for the UNCG School of Music, and was host of the 2002 International Tuba/Euphonium Conference. In 2003, he was elected an Associate Regent for Pi Kappa Lambda, the music honor society. He has been active as a performer, having given solo performances throughout the United States, Hungary, Canada, Italy, Finland, Australia and the Netherlands, as well as numerous concerts throughout the United States and China as a member of the Market Street Brass Quintet.

SSG Charles Giannelli

SSG Charles Giannelli hails from Glen Rock, NJ. He began his music studies at the Curtis Institutute of Music, earning a Bachelor of Music degree in 1999. Charles then earned a Master of Music Degree from The Manhattan School of Music in 2001, and during that time was a freelance musician in New York City up until 2004, when he joined The United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own.” Currently Charles performs with The United States Army Band in various venues throughout the National Capital Region, and also as a member of The United States Army Band Tuba Quartet.

Adam Frey

One of the elite brass soloists in the world, Adam Frey travels the globe invigorating the international music scene with his virtuoso talent, sensitive lyricism, and connection with audiences. Whether Adam’s performing with orchestras, wind bands, brass bands, or in solo recitals, audiences love his charismatic personality and accessible musical interpretations, and critics rave over his technical prowess and championship of the euphonium.

A native of Atlanta, Georgia, Adam received his musical training at the University of Georgia and the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, England. As a major ambassador of the euphonium, Adam has more than 70 works that have been composed or specifically arranged for him.

Adam has soloed with orchestras the world over, including the world famous Boston Pops, Cheju Symphony Orchestra (South Korea), US Army Orchestra (Washington DC), Harvard Pops (MA), Fort Collins (CO), Indian Hill (MA), the Vaasa Symphony Orchestra (Finland), Cascade (WA), Greensboro (NC), Clemson (SC), LaGrange (GA), Minot (ND), and Northeastern (MA) Symphony Orchestras. He also has been invited to perform major euphonium and tenor tuba features from the standard orchestral repertoire with the Atlanta, Seattle, Oregon, and Charleston Symphony Orchestras. He also performs regularly with wind bands and brass bands that have included Soli Brass in Holland, Point of Ayr in Wales, the National Youth Brass Band of Switzerland, and wind bands from Singapore, Germany, Hong Kong, and the United States.

As a champion for the euphonium, Adam has accomplished many firsts for the euphonium with especially noteworthy success in his early years in Young Artist competitions. Realizing success in these, he afforded audiences the chance to hear the euphonium elevated to the orchestral concert stage and also gain respect for its repertoire and abilities. As a standout figure in the realm of euphonium players, Adam advocates a strong musical education for young players and has published articles internationally and served as an assistant editor of the Euphonium Source Book, a text dedicated to all things euphonium. He serves as president of The Euphonium Foundation Inc., a non-profit established to promote the euphonium, and as Artistic Director of The International Euphonium Institute, a one-of-a-kind experience for young players from around the world to work up close and personal with leaders in the field of euphonium. Adam also serves as Adjunct Professor of Euphonium at Georgia State University and Emory University.

Adam has an impressive collection of recordings that range from his first solo recording, Listen to THIS!!, with piano to Collected Dreams, an enchanting collection of traditional Scottish, Irish, and classical melodies with synthesizer to his pioneering recordings released with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra entitled Majestic Journey and Taking Flight. He also has partnered with former trombonist of the Empire Brass, Scott Hartmann, along with the Metropolitan Wind Symphony, and Lawrence Isaacson in Little Buckaroos, which exhibits two virtuoso soloists and some lovely duets, including an entertaining rendition of the infamous Duelin’ Banjos (really duelin’ euphonium and trombone). In 2007, Adam released Beyond the Horizons featuring new works for the euphonium, many specifically composed for him. He also appears on ten other recordings as a collaborative artist and has been a featured soloist in broadcasts on BBC Radio 2, Swiss Cable Radio, and numerous NPR stations in the US.

Dr. Stacy Baker

Stacy Baker is Professor of Music - Tuba/Euphonium at Morehead State University, Morehead, Kentucky. Originally from Harsen’s Island, MI, she received her M.M. and B.M. degrees from the University of Michigan. She holds a D.M.A. degree from the University of Illinois. 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, Monarch Brass, and SYMBIOSISDUO. She is also a member of the Athena Brass Band and the Horizon Brass Quintet. Dr. Baker has served on the International Women’s Brass Conference Board of Directors.

MAJ Tod Addison

Major Tod Addison comes to The United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own” from the United States Army School of Music in Virginia Beach, Virginia, where he was School Company Commander, Director of Training and Officer Course Instructor. While at the Army School of Music, Maj. Addison designed and instructed the first Commissioned Officer courses and was responsible for all other training to include that of Army Band Soldiers’ Advanced Individual Training, Noncommissioned Officers, and Warrant Officers for the entire Army Band Program. Maj. Addison also supervised the deconsolidation and complete redesign of Advanced Individual Training from a 65 year old Navy course of instruction. Prior assignments include Commander, The United States Army Training and Doctrine Command Band; Deputy Commander of The United States Military Academy Band at West Point, New York; and Executive Officer of The Continental Army Band at Fort Monroe, Virginia.

Born in Washington, DC, to a Navy family, Maj. Addison’s hometown is Mansfield, Ohio. He attended Ashland University and was graduated with a Bachelor of Music Education from The Ohio State University. He continued his education with graduate work at both West Texas State University and East Carolina University, earning a Master of Music degree. Maj. Addison was a student of Craig Kirchoff, Deborah Chodacki, Robert Spring, James Pyne, and Elizabeth Pastor. Prior to enlisting in the United States Army, Maj. Addison was a public school music teacher for 7 years in his adopted home state of North Carolina.

In 1995, he joined the United States Army as a clarinet player and was assigned to the 399th Army Band at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. While at Fort Leonard Wood, Maj. Addison was selected as an Army Band Officer. In 1998, he completed Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia.