JUSTIN BENAVIDEZ
EASTMAN TUBA AND EUPHONIUM STUDIO
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How many students are in the tuba and euphonium studio?
The studio typically includes 10 tuba students and 6 euphonium students.
How does the audition process work?
Prescreen recordings are due December 1. Students that are invited for the final audition round will have options for an in-person audition at the Eastman School in Rochester in January/February or a remote audition via Zoom. All applicants audition for Dr. Benavidez. Additional information regarding application materials, repertoire, and audition dates can be found on the Eastman admissions webpage.
Are there scholarship opportunities?
Eastman provides a robust scholarship program in which nearly all accepted students receive scholarship. The Office of Financial Aid works with students and families through the process of applying for scholarship and other types of financial aid through a completion of the FAFSA and CSS profile. Fellowships and awards for graduate study are available based on studio needs. Additional information about financial aid can be found at the Eastman financial aid webpage.
What performance opportunities are there for students at Eastman?
Large ensemble opportunities at the Eastman School are vast and diverse. These include our two wind ensembles, the Eastman Wind Ensemble and Eastman Wind Orchestra, and two orchestras, the Eastman Philharmonia and Eastman School Symphony Orchestra. The Eastman Musica Nova Ensemble performs contemporary music by the leading composers of our time, and the Eastman Opera Theatre Orchestra performs two productions every year. Additionally, students may choose to perform in the Eastman Studio Orchestra, the Beal Institute for Film Music and Contemporary Media, or the student led Empire Film and Media Ensemble.
Chamber music opportunities abound. All members of the studio participate in Tuba Mirum, a tuba/euphonium ensemble that performs a concert each semester. Students also often participate in smaller chamber groups such as a brass quintet, tuba/euphonium quartet, or brass trio.
What are the Eastman performance facilities like?
The Eastman School facilities are state of the art. Click on the images below to view a virtual tour of Kodak Hall, Kilbourn Hall, Hatch Recital Hall, and the East Wing Rehearsal Hall.
Why should I attend Eastman?
The Eastman School is internationally recognized as one of the finest music conservatories in the world. It is a musical community rich with cultural, social, and intellectual diversity. Students receive an intensive professional education in their musical discipline and are prepared with a solid foundation in music and an expansive education in the liberal arts.
Dr. Benavidez is deeply invested in the success of every student. He challenges them through a rigorous and unfaltering standard and is devoted to the pursuit of the highest level of musical artistry. The tuba and euphonium studio is built on a combination of enthusiasm and esprit-de-corps, and it has an incredible legacy of alumni.
Graduates from the Eastman School are distinguished in nearly every aspect of the musical community throughout the world, from the concert stage to the public school classroom, from the recording studio to the collegiate classroom and administrative offices.
Accomplishments of Eastman School of Music Tuba and Euphonium Studio Alumni
Cherry Beauregard
Principal Tuba, Bavarian State Opera and Rochester Philharmonic
Professor, Eastman School of Music
Ron Bishop
Principal Tuba, Buffalo Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, San Francisco Opera, and Cleveland Orchestra
Professor, Oberlin Conservatory, Baldwin Wallace Conservatory, and Cleveland Institute of Music
Roger Bobo
Principal Tuba, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Rochester Philharmonic, and Concertgebouw Orchestra
Professor, Masushino Academy of Music (Japan), Fiesole School of Music (Italy), Lausanne Conservatory (Switzerland), Rotterdams Konservatorium (Amsterdam), and Royal Northern College of Music (England)
International Solo Artist
Sam Buccigrossi
Principal Tuba, River City Brass
Glenn Call
Euphonium, United States Marine Band “The President’s Own”
Larry Campbell
Euphonium, United States Coast Guard Band
Professor, Louisiana State University
Mark Cox
Professor, Central Michigan University
Chuck Daellenbach
Tuba, Canadian Brass
Professor, University of Toronto
William Dietz
Principal Tuba, Bangor Symphony Orchestra
Professor, University of Southern Maine
Paul Droste
Director of Marching Band, Ohio State University
Euphonium Solo Recording Artist
Paul Erion
Principal Tuba, Opera Philadelphia
Toby Hanks
Tuba, New York Brass Quintet and New York City Ballet Orchestra
Professor, University of Maryland, Peabody Conservatory, Yale University, New England Conservatory, and Manhattan School of Music
Chris Hotaling
Professor, SUNY Fredonia
William Kearney
Principal Tuba, San Antonio Symphony and Buffalo Philharmonic
Bill Keck
Principal Tuba, Mexico City Philharmonic
Professor, University of Southern Mississippi
Mark Kellogg
Professor, Eastman School of Music
David Kuehn
President, Music Academy of the West
Dean, Conservatory of Music and Dance, University of Missouri-Kansas City
Professor and Assistant Dean, University of North Texas College of Music
Jay Krush
Tuba, Chestnut Brass Company
Professor, Temple University
Grammy Award Winner
Steve Lamb
Tuba, United States Coast Guard Band
Principal Tuba, Rhode Island Philharmonic
Robert LeBlanc
Principal Tuba, Columbus Symphony Orchestra
Professor, Ohio State University
John MacEnulty
Principal Tuba, St. Louis Symphony
Justis Mackenzie
Tuba, United States Air Force Band of Flight
Fred Marzan
Professor, Eastern Illinois University and Morehead State University
Instrument Designer
Dennis Nulty
Principal Tuba, Detroit Symphony Orchestra
Professor, Oberlin Conservatory
Ray Nutaitis
Principal Tuba, Buffalo Philharmonic and Phoenix Symphony
Professor, University of Illinois and Arizona State University
Andrew Payton
Tuba, United States Air Force Band of the West and United States Air Force Band of the Golden West
Daniel Perantoni
Principal Tuba, San Antonio Symphony
Tuba, United States Army Field Band
Professor, University of Illinois, Arizona State University, and Indiana University
International Solo Artist
David Randolph
Professor, University of Georgia
TJ Ricer
Principal Tuba, Hawaii Symphony Orchestra and Royal Hawaiian Band
Professor, University of Hawaii at Manoa
Michael Sanders
Principal Tuba, San Antonio Symphony and St. Louis Symphony
Jim Shearer
Professor, New Mexico State University
Phil Sinder
Principal Tuba, Lansing Symphony Orchestra
Professor, Michigan State University
John Stevens
Professor, University of Miami
Professor and Director of School of Music, University of Wisconsin
Scott Tegge
Tuba, Gaudete Brass Quintet
Professor, Northern Illinois University, DePaul University, and University of Illinois