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What if you could spend your summer making music at an amazingly high level with students your own age from all over the world? What if you were surrounded by a faculty made up of some of the finest musicians on the planet? What if you made musician friends that could last a lifetime? And what if you could have all of this in one music festival surrounded by the beautiful Catskill Mountains?

Then you would be talking about the 2008 Hartwick Summer Music Festival. For 60 years, students and faculty alike have flocked to Hartwick College in Oneonta, NY to make beautiful music in an equally beautiful setting. HSMF boasts a faculty of some of the finest international artists from the US, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico...the list goes on and on. Our students come from every corner of the world too! This makes for an exciting cross-cultural learning experience for everyone involved.

Students have an abundance of performing opportunities too. Do you love the full, lush sound of a wind ensemble? Maybe you prefer the symphony orchestra repertoire. Or perhaps you aspire to be the next Jon Sass or Howard Johnson. You will have the opportunity to perform in not just one of HSMF's fine ensembles...you can play in a bunch of them. And you don't have to choose between jazz or classical...you can do them both!

"OK," you say. "But, what about the teachers for tuba and euphonium?"

HSMF features 2 tuba/euph faculty: Mr. Willie Clark of the US Air Force Ceremonial Band in Washington DC and NY freelance musician/conductor Gary Press (that's me!).

"But doesn't it cost a lot to go to a summer music festival?" When you consider the musical experience you gain, the amazing faculty and guest artists that you come in contact with, that housing and meals are included, and the wonderful friends you will make, HSMF is real bargain. On top of that there is scholarship money to be had.

Willie and I are intent on making this year the best year ever for tubas and euphoniums at Hartwick.

Check out the Hartwick Summer Music Festival websitefor all the details and come join us for a musical experience you will never forget!

You can also feel free to PM me if you any questions.

See you this summer!

Having attended this institution for the past two years I can speak of the great things going on at the Hartwick Summer Music Festival. HSMF offers a young tuba player an opportunity of a lifetime. The program offers many opportunities to play. By starting the day with Brass Ensemble, the players get to start their day with a warm up while learning techniques with the amazing brass faculty. After Brass Ensemble students travel to Wind Ensemble. Gary Press, in addition to being the tuba faculty, is the Director of Bands at the institution. Gary picks challenging rep. for the whole group but especially the low brass. After going to numerous electives during the day and getting to walk the beautiful atmosphere the campus offers, the students travel to Orchestra. This was an opportunity of a lifetime. The director of the orchestra is, Ligia Amadio, the director of the National Symphony in Brazil. The opportunity to play under this woman was one that I will never forget. She was a string player by trade but picked rep. that challenged the brass players. My first year we did Gershwin's-American In Paris and I was lucky enough to be able to play this part.

In addition, the faculty for tuba are top notch. Having studied with Gary Press and Willie Clark I can speak about both of them. I learned so much from them in such a short time. Their interest in you is evident and their interest in the festival is obvious as well. I can honestly say that the two weeks I spent with each of them made me an infinitely better player.

Overall, this festival is perfect for a tuba player looking for a high quality program at a low price. If anyone has any questions about the festival or just wants to talk about anything about Hartwick don't hesitate to PM me.

-Josh deVries
Tuba, Hartwick Summer Music Festival 05-06, 06-07

I am pleased to announce that Tom Riccobono, the instructor of Low Brass at Interlochen, will be joining us on July 6 to do a master class and recital at HSMF.

Tom has been instructor of low brass at the Interlochen Arts Academy since 1996. He holds degrees from the Eastman School of Music, Penn State University, and the Cleveland Institute of Music. He has performed concertos with the Penn State and Florida State University orchestras, Interlochen Arts Academy Band, Encore Society of Winds and the Traverse Symphony Orchestra. He was a concerto winner and soloist at Pennsylvania State University and Florida State University, and a solo competition winner at the Eastern Trombone Workshop in 1996.

Tom's students have had tremendous success with many gaining entrance into the finest music schools in the country. As well, Carol Jantsch, one of Tom's former students, now holds the post of Principal Tuba with the Philadelphia Orchestra.

Mr. Riccobono has also performed with the Savannah Symphony, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Rochester Philharmonic, Milwaukee Symphony, Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival Orchestra in Salzau, Germany, Spoleto Festival Orchestra, (Italy). Mr. Riccobono is principal trombonist with the Traverse Symphony Orchestra and conducts the NMC Concert Band and the Traverse Youth Symphony Orchestra.

We still have openings and scholarship money available for low brass so apply now!

Gary

Another bump

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Hi folks!

We still have room for 1 or 2 more tubas and 1 more euphonium and could use a few more french horns (tell your friends!). Great scholarships are available!

Get more details and apply online here.

Feel free to contact me directly for more information as well.

Gary