Recital & Masterclass: Mark Tetreault & Tom McCaslin, tuba
Low Brass Recital and Masterclass
featuring Tom McCaslin, Principal Tuba, Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra
& Mark Tetreault, Principal Tuba, Toronto Symphony Orchestra
PROGRAM
Cat Affairs
Anna Baadsvik
Music for Two Tubas and Piano
Howard Bashaw
Part 1
- I yes, so…? just what were you expecting
- II just roll with it
- III a tempered divide
- IV nearing combustion
- V in the chimes – it’s those voices again
Part 2
- VI bursting abstractions: 5 microscenes with dancers imagined
- scene 1: balanced scatter no. 1
- scene 2: gear low into shift
- scene 3: the old kaleidoscope finds new light
- scene 4: wee wheedle whee
- scene 5: balanced scatter no. 2 – OK, whatever, just STOP interrupting
- VII distant layers – rethinking time’s canvas
- VIII going 5 rounds with quint’s lucky groove
- IX just hold on – we’re not done yet
Talisa Blackman, piano
Intermission
Sonata for Tuba – mov’ts 1 & 2
Henry Ecclès
Jack Shiels – tuba, Cecilia Lee - piano
Concerto – mov’ts 1 & 3
Barbara York
Elizabeth Fair – tuba, Cecilia Lee – piano
BIOGRAPHIES
Tom McCaslin is the Principal Tuba of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra and the instructor of Tuba and Euphonium at the University of Calgary and the Conservatory at Mount Royal University.
Tom McCaslin, has been described by Fanfare Magazine as "one of the contemporary tuba virtuosos." Tom's playing and teaching have taken him around the globe; he has performed and taught in Canada, United States, Switzerland, Portugal, Finland, New Zealand and Australia. In 2022 he was nominated for “Classical Performer of the Year” by the Western Canadian Music Awards.
As a soloist Tom has appeared with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, the US Army Band and the National Youth Band of Canada. His solo recordings appear on Centrediscs, Crystal Records and Potenza Music labels. All three have been met with critical praise. Critics have said: “Hopefully this CD will serve to inspire the “next generation” of young tubists who will hear and accept this as regular playing, and strive to push the limits even further.” Gramaphone magazine wrote: “lf this recital doesn't convert you to the lyricism of the tuba, nothing will.” “McCaslin's technical abilities are brilliant and his musicianship is inspiring.” Tom has also recorded for the Canadian Broadcast Company, National Public Radio (USA) and performed on Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor.
Mr. McCaslin received degrees from McGill University and Arizona State University, with extensive study with legendary tubists John Griffiths, Fritz Kaenzig, Roger Bobo, Dennis Miller, and Samuel Pilafian.
Tom McCaslin is a Yamaha and Denis Wick performing artist.
A Michigan native, Mark Tetreault studied with Oscar LaGasse and Wes Jacobs of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and then continued his work at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston with Thompson Hanks.
While in Boston, Mark was an active freelance performer, playing with the New Hampshire Philharmonic, Portland Symphony Orchestra, Boston Civic Symphony, Cantabrigia Brass Quintet, the Fellowship Orchestra of the Berkshire Music Festival at Tanglewood, and the Spoleto Festival Orchestra. After graduation, Mr. Tetreault joined the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra in Florida, where he worked until joining the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in 1986. Since then he has performed as a guest with the Pittsburgh Symphony, Iceland Symphony, Irish National Symphony and the Kirov Orchestra.
Mark was a founding delegate of the Regional Orchestra Players Association of the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada , and has served as a Director and later as Secretary of the Toronto Musicians' Association, CFM Local 149. He was also the Director of Symphonic Services for the Canadian Federation of Musicians for 10 years.
Mark is married to violinist Leslie Dawn Knowles, who is the fiddler in the Ontario-based band Wildwood Strings, as well as being a long-tenured member of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra’s first violin section. Together, they play Django jazz, and have a large family of beautiful, bright, and talented children, grandchildren, and cuddly cats.