The LSU School of Music Tuba-Euphonium Studio is welcoming three guest musicians to teach master classes and lessons and perform recitals for students this fall. The three guests include world famous Norwegian tuba player Oystein Baadsvik, euphonium player Demondrae Thurman and tuba player Charles Villarrubia, New Orleans native.
“Being exposed to some of the best musicians and teachers in our field is one of the best ways we can improve,” said graduate assistant for the LSU Department of Bands Tuba-Euphonium Studio Chasse Duplantis. “Musicians are self-reflective of how they perform and are always seeking ways to improve their craft.”
Baadsvik has performed recitals and conducted clinics in Japan, Australia and Europe. He is one of the only tuba players in the world who has a career solely based on being a solo player.
Baadsvik has performed with orchestras around the world, including Australia’s Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.
Thurman is a professor of music at Samford University, where he conducts the wind ensemble and specializes in low brass. Thurman is also an active chamber musician and plays trombone and euphonium in “Sotte Voce Quartet.”
Villarrubia is a New Orleans native and has toured internationally with the Dallas Brass. A founding member of Rhythm & Brass, he has traveled with the group both domestically and internationally.
“As a musician, it’s very important to get as many opinions as possible, so having 3 professional musicians come and teach us is an honor, and it’s three more opinions for each of us to grow from,” said sophomore tuba player Collin Breaux.
The musicians will be visiting LSU in the following order: Thurman from Sept. 15-17, Baadsvik from Oct. 27-30 and Villarrubia in after Thanksgiving. Their recitals are open to all students and will be performed in the recital hall of the School of Music.
“This is a really cool experience because when I would listen to professional recordings of pieces in high school, I often listened to Demondrae Thurman,” said Matt Hurtado, a euphonium graduate assistant for the LSU Department of Bands.
By watching and listening to the recitals, student musicians will get a better idea of what a professional performance should look and sound like, Hurtado said.
“This is very unique to LSU, and I can personally say I never got chances like this during my undergrad at Texas State University,” Hurtado said. “LSU’s School of Music is extremely prestigious, and I think it’s excellent that they want their musicians to be so well-rounded and be exposed to many different perspectives.”