Jay Hunsberger is
Professor of Tuba and Euphonium at the University
Of South Florida in Tampa. Mr. Hunsberger is
also the principal tubist with the Florida West Coast Symphony and the
Florida Brass Quintet (both organizations are based in Sarasota). He is frequently heard as a
soloist with the Florida West Coast Symphony and on the orchestra's
extensive chamber music series.
Mr.
Hunsberger received both BM and MM degrees in tuba performance from the
Indiana University School of Music.
Jay
served on the faculty of the Lutheran
Summer Music
Academy during 2002
and 2003.
Jay
recently performed the world premiere of Jan Bach's Concerto for Tuba
(commissioned for him by the Florida West Coast Symphony) as well as the
regional premiere of William Brusick's Concerto for Tuba and Wind Ensemble
(with the USF Wind Ensemble).
In
2004 he premiered a new work for tuba and organ, “Celestial Keys”, by
American composer Gwyneth Walker.
Check
out more about Jay's Tuba commisions at http://janbach.com.ivchost3.com/concerti.htm
http://www.gwynethwalker.com/celestia.html
Jay
performed Jan Bach's "Suite for Tuba and Strings" at the
International Tuba and Euphonium Conference in Budapest, Hungary
during the summer of 2004.
http://www.iteaonline.org/Journal/31N3/31N3Conference.shtml
Also
that year he toured the Midwest and
southeastern US with Euphoniumist Gail Robertson. During the 2005-2006
season of the Florida West Coast Symphony, Jay gave the southeastern US
premiere of Tony Plog’s “Nocturne for Tuba and Strings”. During October of 2006, Jay toured the
Midwest (Northwestern University, DePaul, Northern
Illinois University,
Interlochen Academy) with colleague and horn
virtuoso James Wilson. The centerpiece for their performances was Jan
Bach’s “Suite for Horn and Tuba- The Oompah Suite” (written for Mr.
Hunsberger and Mr. Wilson).
During
his tenure at USF, he has developed a tuba/euphonium studio which rivals
that of any major university in the US. In addition to the
OCTUBAFEST! Series (which features guest and student performances), the
studio brings world-renown tuba and euphonium soloists to the Tampa campus for
recitals and master classes with USF students. Recent tuba/euphonium artists who have
appeared at USF include: Jason Ham, Gail Robertson, Chester Schmitz, Daniel
Perantoni, Marty Erickson, Adam Frey, and Mike Roylance. Guests for the
07-08 year will include Oystein Baadsvik and Adam Frey.
In
May, 2007 Jay and his USF studio hosted the South Region Tuba Euphonium
Conference (SRTEC) in Sarasota,
Florida. The event was met
with rave reviews and featured a prominent line-up of performers, teachers,
composers, and exhibitors from the southern US. In addition to performances
of works by Jan Bach and Gwyneth Walker, Mr. Hunsberger performed Howard
Buss’ “Ballade” (the tuba premiere) as well as important works for
tuba/euphonium by T.O. Sterrett.
Current
commissioning projects include works by Francis Schwartz and Greg
Bartholomew (http://gregbartholomew.com);
composer William Brusick recently composed his “Brass Quintet No. 2” for
Jay and the Florida Brass Quintet.
Mr.
Hunsberger’s teachers have included Dan Perantoni, Harvey Phillips, Roger
Bobo, and Sam Pilafian.
Mr.
Hunsberger has participated in the Grand Tetons, Tanglewood, and Los
Angeles Philharmonic Music Festivals.
“He is a virtuoso on an
instrument that is too often misunderstood and underestimated. Hunsberger
brings the tuba into the spotlight with elegance and dynamism and this (the
Concerto for Tuba by Jan Bach) is the
perfect vehicle for his talents”
-The
Longboat Observer, March, 2003
“Jay Hunsberger’s performance (of James
Grant’s “Three Furies”) was
energetic, Accurate and, at all times, Musical”
- Sarasota Herald Tribune, April, 2002
“Jay Hunsberger is one of
America’s premiere orchestral tubists, an experienced soloist and sensitive
chamber music performer.”
- Harvey Phillips, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Music, Indiana University
“…The most amazing performance
came with Jay Hunsberger’s Tuba Solo…With a voluptuous depth of tone he
navigated all the intricacies…His colleagues provided a rich accompaniment
to Hunsberger’s virtuosity.”
- Sarasota
Herald Tribune, October, 2001
“Jay Hunsberger ranks among the
best in his profession”
- Gwyneth Walker, Composer
To
contact Jay, please email him at Hunsberg@arts.usf.edu
