Tuba Camp Times Two!

By Pierre Ngoy

Thanks to the recommendation and assistance from my private teacher Scott Tegge, I was able to attend two band camps over the summer: The Illinois Summer Youth Music (ISYM) camp at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in Urbana, Illinois; and the Eastman Summer Tuba and Euphonium camp at the University of Rochester in Rochester, New York.

The ISYM Program gave me an opportunity to interact and learn from other talented  musicians. The ISYM camps took place from June 20 through July 2. The first week was about rehearsals, lessons, and feedback from experienced professors and musicians. The second week focused on performing in a band what was learned during the first week. A typical day consisted of sectionals, group rehearsals, small groups, technique class, individual practice, low brass quartets. Staying in a dorm and interacting with other students in the cafeteria and professors on campus gave me a taste of what college life is like.

During one of our technique classes, we were taken to a gallery where they kept archives of John Philip Sousa’s music. They also had some old fashioned instruments that were even from the late 19th century and early 20th century that we got to play!

On the last day of the camp, all participants from the Symphonic Band performed this concert, with the program listed below.

​​Rocketship! by Kevin Day

A New Horizon by Cait Nishimura

Folk Song Suite by Ralph Vaughan Williams

• • March – Seventeen Come Sunday
  • Intermezzo – My Bonny Boy
  • March – Folk Songs from Somerset

Symphonic Suite from Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker by John Williams and arranged by Jay Bocook

Hands Across the Sea by John Philip Sousa and edited by James F. Keene

The Eastman Summer Tuba and Euphonium Program allowed me to learn from advanced Tuba and Euphonium musicians and interact with Eastman music professors. The camp at Eastman took place from July 25 through July 29, 2022.

Even though it was only a week long, activities were well organized and consisted of individual and group sessions: small and large tuba/euphonium ensembles, private lessons and practice, master class, and chamber music.

At the end of the camp, all the participants performed a concert on July 29. The program is below.

Suite for Tuba by Don Haddad, I. Allegro Maestoso (b. 1935)
Tuba Solo: Pierre Ngoy

Brazil by Ary Barroso (1903-1964) and arranged by Weichselbaumer
Euphonium: Wayne Kreml
Tuba: Ethan Martin, Pierre Ngoy, Nicholas Weir, Michael Witte

Enterprising Young Men from Star Trek by Michael Giacchino and arranged by Mackenzie
Euphonium: Nathaniel Fals, Wayne Kreml
Tuba: Daniel Bulpitt, Addie Canning, Ethan Martin, Justin Mitch, Pierre Ngoy, Nicholas Weir, Scott Tegge
Conductor: Micheal Witt

Three Bruckner Motets by Anton Bruckner (I. Vexilla Regis; II. Locus Iste; III Langue Langua) and arranged by Stevens
Euphonium: Nathaniel Fals, Wayne Kreml
Tuba: Daniel Bulpitt, Addie Canning, Ethan Martin, Justin Mitch, Pierre Ngoy, Nicholas Weir, Michael Witt
Conductor: Scott Tegge

Tuba VIP Arranged by Schuchat with Eastman Tuba/Euphonium Institute Mass Choir
Euphonium: Nathaniel Fals, Wayne Kreml
Tuba: Daniel Bulpitt, Addie Canning, Ethan Martin, Justin Mitch, Pierre Ngoy, Nicholas Weir, Michael Witt
Conductor: Scott Tegge

A few participants were college students, so this camp gave me the opportunity to perform with older students. Playing alongside college students and accomplished senior highschoolers inspired me to improve my techniques and sound to become like them.

Being in Rochester, New York gave me the opportunity to visit the University of Rochester campus. During the week we had masterclasses on learning creative ways to practice and developing listening skills. We also had special topics on how to think differently about life in music and many different musical careers that could be pursued.

I highly recommend both camps to CMPI fellows. For a first time participant, ISYM is only about three hours from Chicago. Because it is in-state, family and friends can easily drive and attend the final concert and can even visit the campus before heading home. Eastman has the reputation of being a great music school with a long list of notable alumni and faculty.