October + Tuba Music = Octubafest!

The Dana School of Music presents Octubafest 2017, starting with a recital by guest artists Michael Forbes on tuba and Eric Jenkins on piano 7:30 p.m. Oct. 9, in Bliss Recital Hall.

The program is free and open to the public.

Honoring the rich heritage of the tuba and euphonium, “Octubafest” was established in Octuba (October) 1973 by Harvey Philips, professor emeritus of Indiana University School of Music and is generally a series of concerts and public recitals showcasing the solo and ensemble repertoire for tuba and euphonium.

“Octubafest is a fun way to celebrate instruments that are usually at the back of an ensemble, bringing them to the forefront,” said Brian Kiser, associate professor, tuba.

Forbes began his career as a tubist with the U.S. Army Band, "Pershing’s Own" and subsequently served on the music faculties at a number of universities before obtaining his current position as associate lecturer of Low Brass at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. Forbes has given performances and clinics at music conservatories and festivals all over the world and is also the Principal Tubist with the La Crosse and Manitowoc Symphony Orchestras in Wisconsin. He has served as the tubist with the “Guy’s All-Star Shoeband” on Garrison Keillor’s popular radio show, “A Prairie Home Companion.”

Currently enjoying a “triple-threat” international career as a performer, composer, and pedagogue, Forbes can be heard on his two Summit Records solo albums, “Forbes Plays Koetsier” (2006) and “Forbes Plays Forbes” (2013) where he exclusively features his many dynamic works for the solo tuba.

Forbes has received numerous awards and accolades for his compositions and is regularly commissioned by notable brass artists and conductors.

Jenkins is a native of Portage, Wisconsin and joined the faculties at Emory University and Kennesaw State University in 2017 as a collaborative pianist and vocal coach. He was previously employed as accompanist and lecturer at the University of Texas–Rio Grande Valley from 2014-2017. Jenkins completed his studies at Florida State University in 2013, obtaining both Master of Music and Doctor of Music degrees in Piano Performance: Accompanying and Chamber Music. He worked as a graduate assistant in accompanying and opera, and as music director with Florida State Opera Outreach.

Jenkins has served as répétiteur and staff pianist for the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria for several years, beginning in 2010. He has been active as a recitalist, collaborating with renowned instrumentalists and vocalists throughout venues in North America and Europe.

Parking for events held at YSU is available in the M30 Wick Avenue parking deck via Walnut Street (GPS address is 100 Wade Street, Youngstown OH 44502) for a nominal fee. Patrons are advised to watch for posted detours as construction progresses on Wick Avenue. More information is available by calling the Office of Community Engagement and Events at 330-941-2307.

Other Octubafest events include:

All performances are free and open to the public.