OFFICIAL LIST of horns/players that won a job

[Leto Cruise]

Hoping that this time the thread moves in the right path, here is the list I've compiled so far of players that won a job with their respective equipment. Feel free to add to the list by posting which position you won along with the horn you used to win the position (or someone you know who has won a position). No matter how big or small the professional ensemble as long as it is/was a paying job. Finalists can be included. Does not have to be an orchestra. Can be anywhere in the world. Can be 1,000 years ago, last decade, last month, yesterday, so forth. Can include university positions. Can include contrabass tuba, bass tuba, some form of tuba. Feel free to add corrections. The hope is that this thread will serve to simply gain an idea of how sound concepts have changed through the years as well as what players consider to be "in style" these days

Alexander 155 F - 0.728" bore
Greenwich Village Orchestra - won by Ben Vokits in 2010
Royal Garagarobo Presidential Symphony - won by Mamulas Palangas in 2015

Alexander 163 - 0.808" bore
National Symphony - won by David Bragunier in 1961
Boston Symphony/Boston Pops - won by Chester Shmitz in 1966
Cleveland Orchestra- won by Ronald Bishop in 1967
Cincinnati Symphony/Cincinnati Pops - won by Mike Thornton in 1976
Houston Symphony - won by David Kirk in 1982
U.S. Army Field Band - won by David Zerkel in 1986
U.S. Army Band - won by David Zerkel in 1990
Florida Philharmonic - runner up Lee Hipp in 1991
San Antonio Symphony - won by Lee Hipp in 1991
Oklahoma City Philharmonic - won by Ted Cox in 1993
Greenwich Village Orchestra - won by Ben Vokits in 2010

Alexander 164 CC
Cleveland Opera - won by J.C. Sherman in 2008

B&S 3100 F
Akron Symphony - runner up Bud Holmes in 2008
Opera Cleveland - runner up Bud Holmes in 2008
Westmoreland Symphony - won by Bud Holmes in 2008
Asheville Symphony - won by Bud Holmes in 2009
U.S. Air Force Heritage of America Band - won by Bud Holmes in 2009

B&S PT-3
Pacific Northwest Ballet - won by Ryan Schultz in 2000
Yakima Symphony - won by Ryan Schultz in 2000

B&S PT-5
Sacramento Symphony - runner-up Rod Matthews offered position in 1991

B&S PT-6 (rotor) - 0.748" bore
Boston Symphony - finalist Craig Sutherland in 2001
San Francisco Symphony - won by Jeffrey Anderson in 2002
National Symphony - runner up Stephen Dumaine offered position in 2003
Alabama Symphony - won by Andrew Miller in 2004
Rochester Philharmonic - won by Craig Sutherland in 2004
Columbus Philharmonic (Indiana) - won by Alexander Lapins in 2005
Lafayette Symphony (Indiana) - won by Alexander Lapins in 2005
Terre Haute Symphony - won by Alexander Lapins in 2005
Cleveland Orchestra - finalist Craig Sutherland in 2005
Philadelphia Orchestra - finalist Craig Sutherland (first audition) in 2005
USAF Band of Liberty - won by Adam Porter in 2009
Vancouver Symphony - won by Peder MacLellan in 2011
Iceland Symphony - won by Nimrod Ron in 2011
U.S. Air Force Heritage of America Band - won by Colby Fahrenbacher in 2012

B&S PT-6P (piston) - 0.748" bore
Oregon Symphony - won by JáTtik Clark in 1999
Santa Rosa Symphony - won by Rod Matthews in 2002
Colorado Symphony - won by Steve Dombrowski in 2005
Minnesota Orchestra - won by Steve Campbell in 2005
U.S. Army Band (Pershing's Own) - won by Tim Royster in 2005
Philadelphia Orchestra - won by Carol Jantsch in 2006
Philadelphia Orchestra - runner up David Zerkel in 2006
Philadelphia Orchestra - third finalist Steve Campbell in 2006
Philadelphia Orchestra - finalist Alessandro Fossi (first audition) in 2006
Berliner Philharmoniker - finalist Alessandro Fossi in 2008
Air Force Band of Flight - won by Kyle Huron in 2009
New Jersey Symphony - won by Derek Fenstermacher in 2011

B&S PT-7P (piston) - 0.748 bore
Army Field Band - won by Matthew Nelson in 2000
New Mexico Philharmonic - won by Richard White in 2009
Chicago Lyric Opera - won by Andy Smith in 2011

B&S MRP CC - 0.748" - 0.827" bore
West Virginia Symphony - finalist Matthew Gray in 2014

B&S PT-10 - 0.748" - 0.827" bore
Chicago Symphony - won by Gene Pokorny in 1989
Oklahoma City Philharmonic - won by Ted Cox in 1993
Pacific Northwest Ballet - won by Ryan Schultz in 2000
Yakima Symphony - won by Ryan Schultz in 2000
Santa Rosa Symphony - won by Rod Matthews in 2002
Colorado Symphony - won by Steve Dombrowski in 2005
South Bend Symphony - won by John Elliott in 2007
Berliner Philharmoniker - won by Alexander von Puttkamer in 2008
Honolulu Symphony - won by John Elliott in 2008
Chicago Lyric Opera - won by Andy Smith in 2011
Erie Philharmonic - won by Ken Heinlein in 2015

B&S PT-15 - 0.748" - 0.827" bore
Columbus Philharmonic (Indiana) - won by Alexander Lapins in 2005
Lafayette Symphony (Indiana) - won by Alexander Lapins in 2005
Terre Haute Symphony - won by Alexander Lapins in 2005
Philadelphia Orchestra - runner up David Zerkel in 2006

B&S PT-16 - 0.748” - 0.827” bore
NFM Wrocław Philharmonic - won by Krzysztof Mucha in 2012
U.S. Air Force Heritage of America Band - won by Colby Fahrenbacher in 2012

B&S PT-20P (piston) - 0.748" bore
South Bend Symphony - won by John Elliott in 2007

B&S JBL Classic - 0.748" bore
Iceland Symphony - won by Nimrod Ron in 2011

B&S MRP F - 0.748" - 0.827" bore
Nothing

B&S Symphonie - 0.748" bore
Naples Symphony - won by James E. Jenkins in
Jacksonville Symphony - won by James E. Jenkins in 1995

CG Conn 'Grand Jumbo' 46K
Seattle Sounder FC Sound Wave Band - won by Ian Church in 2012

Getzen CB-50
President's Own Marine Band - won by Chris Tiedeman in 2002

Gronitz PCK - 0.748" - 0.787" bore
Fort Worth Symphony - won by Alan Baer in 2003
National Symphony - won by Alan Baer in 2003
New York Philharmonic - won by Alan Baer in 2003
Canton Symphony - won by Tom Lukowicz in 2007
Springfield Symphony - won by Tyler Schwirian in 2012
Montreal Symphony - won by Austin Howle in 2013
New West Symphony (Los Angeles) - won by Blake Cooper in 2013
Louisville Symphony - won by John DiCesare in 2014

Gronitz PF 125 0.748" - 0.827" bore
Ohio Northern University - won by James Green in 2014

Hirsbrunner HB-2 (rotor)
St. Louis Symphony - won by Gene Pokorny in 1983
Naples Philharmonic - won by Morris Anderson in late 80s - early 90s
Chicago Symphony - runner up Anthony Kniffen in 1989
Greensboro Symphony - won by Dave Nicholson in 1994

Hirsbrunner HB-2P (piston)
Toronto Symphony - won by Mark Tetreault in 1986
President's Own Marine Band - won by Tom Holtz in 1991
Orquesta Sinfónica de Xalapa - won by Eric Fritz in 1992
Metropolitan Opera - won by Chris Hall in 1996
Long Beach Symphony - won by Douglas Tornquist in 1998
National Ballet Orchestra of Canada - won by Sasha Johnson in 2009

Hirsbrunner HB-6
Utah Symphony - won by Gary Ofenloch in 1984
Los Angeles Philharmonic - won by Norm Pearson in 1993
Milwaukee Symphony - won by Alan Baer in 1995

Hirsbrunner HB-50 "YorkBrunner"
Baltimore Symphony - won by David Fedderly in 1983
Chicago Symphony - won by Gene Pokorny in 1989
St. Louis Symphony - won by Mike Saunders in 1991
Indianapolis Symphony - won by Anthony Kniffen in 1997
Navy Band (DC) - won by Tony Halloin in 2003
Cleveland Symphony - won by Yasuhito Sugiyama in 2005
Akron Symphony - won by Kenneth Heinlein in 2008

Holton 6/4 CC
New York Philharmonic - won by Warren Deck in 1979 (with MW 32 in 1st round)
Sacramento Symphony - won by Forrest Byrum in 1991

Kalison Daryl Smith CC
USAF Band of Liberty - won by Steve Skov in 2001

Kalison Pro 2000
President's Own Marine Band - won by Cameron Gates in 1993

Kanstul 5/4
Nothing

Kurath CC
U.S. Coast Guard Band - won by Adam Crowe in 1998

Marzan CC
Delaware Symphony - won by Mike Herman in 1980
Canton Symphony - won by Gary Adams in 1984
Cleveland Pops Orchestra - won by Gary Adams in 1995

Marzan BBb
Jacksonville Symphony - won by James E. Jenkins in 1995
Alabama Symphony - won by James E. Jenkins in
Naples Symphony - won by James E. Jenkins in

Meinl Weston 45SLP
Orquesta Sinfónica de Xalapa - won by Eric Fritz in 1992
Fayetteville Symphony - won by Brett Parris in 2004

Meinl Weston 197/2 (BBb)
Berliner Philharmoniker - won by Alexander von Puttkamer in 2008

Meinl Weston 2000
Louisville Symphony - won by Daryl Johnson in 2001
Akron Symphony - runner up Bud Holmes in 2008
Opera Cleveland - runner up Bud Holmes in 2008
Westmoreland Symphony - won by Bud Holmes in 2008

Meinl Weston 2155 (prototype)
Fayetteville Symphony - won by Brett Parris in 2004

Meinl Weston 2165
Dallas Symphony - won by Matthias Good in 1995
Tacoma Symphony - won by Paul Evans in 2000

Meinl Weston 2182
New Mexico Philharmonic - won by Richard White in 2009

Meinl Weston 2265
Nothing

Meinl Weston 3450
West Virginia Symphony - won by Seth Horner in 2014

Meinl Weston 4460
Auckland Philharmonic - won by Lai Tak Chun in 2014

Meinl Weston 45SLP
Polish National Radio Symphony - won by Jakub Urbanczyk in 2002
Łódź Philharmonic - won by Michał Walczak in 2014

Meinl Weston 5450 "Thor"
The Jackson Symphony - won by Joseph Sellmansberger in 2014
Erie Philharmonic - won by Ken Heinlein in 2015

Meinl Weston 5450RA "Tuono"
Nothing

PART 2 OF LIST CONTINUED ON PAGE 9 OF THIS THREAD

[Kory101]

Montreal was Austin Howle

[Leto Cruise]

Montreal was Austin Howle

Thanks Kory. Added it to the list.

[joh_tuba]

My understanding is that Warren Deck used a MW32 for the first round of his NY Phil audition and a 6/4 franken-holton of his own creation for the final round.

I feel like I recall Jay Bertolet saying he won his job in whatever Florida symphony using a Cerveny 601 CC... might be making that up.

I would imagine that a lot of euro orchestra auditions are still won on a big BBb.

Still.. interesting list.. thanks for pushing forward.

Without taking anything away from your effort I would suggest creating another thread that might actually be a bit more interesting:
What are the core commonalities that an audition committee is looking for and which horns offer the least impedance to those objectives and why?

My theoretical answer:
Non-tuba players judge us with no understanding or concern for the physicality of the instrument. In addition, they are not accustomed to listening to low pitches all day. A tuba sound that is CLEAR(easy to hear beginnings of notes), in tune, and even(sounds the same note to note and register to register) is what wins. Many non-tuba players hear a change between registers as poor intonation or a lack of mastery of the instrument. Non-tuba players are not impressed by big tubas because they all sound big to them. They are very impressed when they are played cleanly and in tune with good time. They don't particularly care how pretty our sound is... it all sounds like a tuba to them.

With that in mind:
A tuba that is EASY to play cleanly(quick even response), EASY to play in tune, and sounds the same in every register(even if it's boring) is probably the best tool for winning the job. It's noteworthy that the much maligned(and personally not my favorite) YFB-621 fits this description perfectly(other than some intonation issues) and is often seen in the final rounds of symphony auditions.

6/4 tubas are inherently less clear and painfully out of tune. It's a testament to the dedication of the tubists that have won jobs playing them. THE reason that the PT6 has historically done well in auditions is that it is the largest(almost sounds like a 6/4) tuba that has very good intonation and some semblance of clarity(still not ideal but easier to handle). 6/4 tubas make life easier only AFTER the job is won.

Soo.. if you could create a few more lists.. I would put together one that attempted to quantify which horns have:
1) Tubas with the most point and shoot intonation
2) Horns with the most even 'midi-like' sound production(even if it sounds like a Yamaha)
3) Cleanest/clearest horns

Then you could compare those lists and see which tubas pop up on the most lists. In order to create those lists you could certainly ask folks on this board BUT you'll almost certainly get too many conflicting opinions for it to make any sense. Your best bet is to play a LOT of tubas. Also, along the way, you'll form your own list of priorities.. for me, intonation trumps everything.. I've sold waaay too many tubas because I wasn't willing to fight to play in tune. You might be fine with that but absolutely demand that your tubas having amazing quick response in every register.. those are the choices we make.

IF I thought chasing auditions was a useful endeavor I would probably by looking very hard at either a Miraphone 188 or 1293 OR a MW2000. I've never owned one but in my mind those are the ultimate audition tubas. Because of the history of successes I would also consider a PT6 or Gronitz but I'm not convinced they 'win' jobs.

Worth pointing out at this point that I'm just some random guy on the internet and while my opinions are formed from a lot of time around a lot of great tubas... my opinions run counter to a lot of conventional wisdom proffered on this forum.. it's worth exactly what you paid for it.

Hopefully that was helpful!

Good luck!!

[toobagrowl]

Just off the top of my head...


Alexander 163

Boston Symphony/Boston Pops - Chester Schmitz - 1966
Cleveland Orchestra - Ron Bishop - 1967
National Symphony - Dave Bragunier - 1961


Holton 6/4 CC & M-W 32

New York Philharmonic - Warren Deck - 1979

[joh_tuba]

Now that I think about it.. Mark Mordue won and kept the Oklahoma Symphony job with a Miraphone 188 and Yamaha 321 Eb.

Couldn't tell you the year. 80 something?

[Leto Cruise]

Thanks for the contributions guys, we're making a pretty good list. Keep 'em coming!

if you could create a few more lists.. I would put together one that attempted to quantify which horns have

Great suggestion and observations. You make very valid points regarding audition tubas vs. playing tubas. I've updated the list to add those questions in.

[Leto Cruise]

I would opine that PT-6 and PT-6p warrant separate entries.

Right you are. I'll make sure to correct that. Good call.

[Kory101]

Some others I can think of:

Dennis Nulty won Detroit in 2008 with a Nirschl
Sasha Johnson won National Ballet Orchestra of Canada in 2009 with an HB-2P
Derek Fenstermacher won New Jersey Symphony in 2011 with a PT-6P
Peder MacLellan won Vancouver Symphony in 2011 with a PT-6

[Leto Cruise]

Some others I can think of:

Dennis Nulty won Detroit in 2008 with a Nirschl
Sasha Johnson won National Ballet Orchestra of Canada in 2009 with an HB-2P
Derek Fenstermacher won New Jersey Symphony in 2011 with a PT-6P
Peder MacLellan won Vancouver Symphony in 2011 with a PT-6

Added to the list. Also edited to mention it can include outside of USA and not just orchestras.

[Biggs]

Since we're being official, I should disclose that I once lost an audition while playing a 186.

[Leto Cruise]

Since we're being official, I should disclose that I once lost an audition while playing a 186.

Did you advance to the finals?

[TubaNerd88]

Seth won the West Virginia Symphony audition with a Meinl Weston 3450, not a 6450 Baer. I should know. I was in the final round with him.

[Leto Cruise]

Seth won the West Virginia Symphony audition with a Meinl Weston 3450, not a 6450 Baer. I should know. I was in the final round with him.

Thanks for the correction, Matthew. It has been fixed now.

[michael_glenn]

Ken Heinlein won the Akron Symphony on a YorkBrunner, not a nirschl York.

[Leto Cruise]

Ken Heinlein won the Akron Symphony on a YorkBrunner, not a nirschl York.

Sorry. Fixed it. The last thread was deleted so I couldn't remember the instrument.

[doublebuzzing]

I'm pretty sure another player you can add to the PT6 is Steve Campbell who won the Minnesota Orchestra job.

[Leto Cruise]

I'm pretty sure another player you can add to the PT6 is Steve Campbell who won the Minnesota Orchestra job.

Good good. Do you know if it was rotor or piston and the year?

[doublebuzzing]

Piston and I'm not positive but either 2004 or 2005.

[Leto Cruise]

Added to the list. A quick google search on him said he toured with the symphony in '04 but officially assumed the position in fall of '05. Thanks for your contributions, friend.