Brigham Young University’s School of Music will host the 13th annual OcTUBAfest with guest artist Øystein Baadsvik Wednesday through Saturday, Oct. 26-29, at 7:30 p.m. in the Madsen Recital Hall.
Admission is free and the public is welcome.
“OcTUBAfest is a way of celebrating the instrument,” said Steve Call, BYU School of Music professor and director of the festival. “Tuba players don’t get the chance to play a dominant role in most orchestras. This is a way of presenting these instruments to the public and showing what these students can do.”
OcTUBAfest will begin Wednesday with a Student Tuba and Euphonium Recital featuring several BYU student musicians.
The festival will continue Thursday evening with a tuba recital by Baadsvik accompanied by Robin Hancock on piano. He will perform some of his own compositions, as well as selections by Edward Greig, Antonio Vivaldi and John Williams, among others.
Norwegian artist Øystein Baadsvik has played the tuba since the age of 15, and has played with all of Norway’s professional symphony orchestras. A celebrated musician throughout the world, Baadsvik has released several solo CD recordings as well as played with orchestras such as the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra and the Orchestra Victoria in Melbourne.
The Utah Premiere Brass, conducted by Alan Boyer and featuring Baadsvik as guest soloist, will perform Friday evening. Formed in the year 2000, the British-style brass band has a unique sound capable of whispered soft passages and powerful fortissimos. Their music ranges from original symphonies to jazz to Broadway music.
OcTUBAfest will conclude Saturday evening with the Grand OcTUBAfest Concert featuring the BYU faculty brass quintet Brassworks as well as tuba and euphonium ensembles.
Low brass players of all ages are invited to attend a clinic with Baadsvik Saturday morning at 9 a.m. in the Madsen Recital Hall, and then to rehearse and perform with the tuba and euphonium ensembles during the Grand OcTUBAfest Concert.
For more information, contact Steve Call at (801) 422-6116 or stevecall@byu.edu.
Writer: Brian Rust
