tuba quartet - Chicago area?

[Mitch]

I'm reposting for the sake of clarification.

Thanks to those who've pm'd. In order to provide as clearly as possible the impetus and intention of this "project," I'd like to offer some more information.

Anyone interested in forming a tuba quartet in the Chicago area? I'm in the western 'burbs and am looking to do some serious playing. I've been away from heavy-duty playing for a while but was once known to have some chops.

(MM, Tuba performance, Michigan; graduate teaching fellow. I would be looking for either 3 other tubists, or 1 tuba 2 euphs, etc. Or a whole bunch of 'em. No reason Chicago couldn't have its own tuba choir.)

I'm looking at this as a let's-make-some-real-music-and-real-opportunities sort of thing, rather than a let's-hang-out-and-read-some-stuff-then-have-a-beer sort of thing.

(The intention is a serious, professional-level ensemble.)

Of course, beer (and food) can always be a part of it.

PM or email me if you're (still) interested (and in the Chicago area) and we'll go from there.


Thanks,

Mitch

[Biggs]

PM'ed.

[tofu]

[tofu]

[brianf]

METRO-CATS lasted a few years, started by Richard Frazier and Greg Fox who was at Elmhurst College. We were based out of Elmhurst College until Greg Fox took off for another job.

Where to do things was a major problem for this group. Chicago is deverse and there are those from the burbs, who chase around all the time and those from the city proper who have public transportation and most everything close by. Elmhust is at the central junction for a few major expressways and was a central point for those from the north and south burbs - maybe an hour's drive. There was no public transportation.

Here's what happened - a lot of people said "This is a great idea but can you do everything in MY neighborhood." People in the burbs did not want to drive and there were those in the city who thought the world ended at the Chicago city line! To compound matters, this was in the old days before email and communications was difficult, especially if there was a last minute change. Attendance faded and the group is history. maybe this happenned because the Chicago area is so huge - there are many tuba groups in smaller towns that thrive.

I always felt that for a large city there should be small groups formed in varios towns and neighborhoods. Every so often these groups should get together at a central location, play individually for each other then combine for a large ensemble. That is probably the only way a group like this will survive.

[tofu]