Tuba & Euphonium Institute
One-Week Summer Program
The MPulse Tuba & Euphonium Institute is a one-week program focusing on a wide range of educational topics catered to serious high school low brass players. The program includes private instruction, chamber music, classes on tone and technical development, and intensive work on developing musicality. There will be an opportunity for each student to work with an accompanist and there will be student and faculty performances throughout the week. Special attention will be given to preparation for college auditions and competitions.
Dates: July 6 – July 12, 2025
Tuition (including room & board): $1,950
Application Status: OPEN
Non-Refundable Application Fee: $75
Fill out this form through Acceptd Support if an application fee waiver code is needed due to financial need.
Priority Application Deadline: February 1, 2025*
Priority Admissions Notification: March 1, 2025
*Applications will remain open until all spots are filled in the program. Please check the application status above to see if we are still accepting applications on a rolling basis. Rolling basis applications will be reviewed on a monthly basis following the priority application.
Faculty
David Zerkel
Professor of Tuba & Euphonium, Institute Faculty Director
David Zerkel is Professor of Tuba and Euphonium at the University of Michigan, leading an active career as both a performer and educator. Before his arrival at Michigan, he taught in a similar position at the University of Georgia. His students have distinguished themselves by winning international and national competitions and attaining positions with professional performing organizations. He is a Past President of the International Tuba Euphonium Association and was selected as the inaugural recipient of the ITEA Teaching Award.
David began his performing career as a member of the United States Army Field Band and The United States Army Band, both located in Washington, DC.
He has had the good fortune to perform with many orchestras and brass ensembles through the course of his career.
David has performed as a featured soloist at many workshops and symposia, including the Leonard Falcone Festival, several International Tuba Euphonium Conferences, and the United States Army Band Tuba Euphonium Workshop. In addition, he has performed as a solo recitalist at many of the leading colleges and conservatories in the United States. He has released three solo CDs: American Music for Tuba, Tuba Helper, and his latest CD, Journey, which features the music of John Stevens.
David has served as the President of the International Tuba Euphonium Association. His summer teaching activities include a position at the Interlochen Arts Camp. He lives in Dexter, Michigan with his lovely bride, Kristin.
Dr. Alex Avila
Professor of Tuba and Euphonium at Columbus State University
Dr. Alex Avila is one of few tuba/euphonium doublers and has distinguished himself internationally as a solo artist, chamber musician, and educator on both instruments. He was a gold medal recipient in the prestigious Falcone Festival Competition and has placed in several other regional, national, and international competitions. Alex maintains an active recital schedule across the country and has also been featured as a soloist with The University of Georgia Wind Ensemble, The Austin Symphonic Band, The Schwob Wind Ensemble, and The Schwob Philharmonic. As an orchestral tubist, Alex has performed with the Austin Symphony Orchestra and the Victoria Symphony Orchestra in Texas as well as the Columbus and Albany (GA) Symphonies.
As a chamber musician, Alex is a member of both the innovative FivE euphonium quartet and classically-oriented Isomer Quartet. FivE creatively blurs the lines between the classical tradition and popular media in producing high quality music videos as well as engaging and interactive live performances. Isomer Quartet, however, challenges preconceptions of what is possible for low brass by tackling reckless transcriptions of existing music and breathing new life into contemporary music.
Dr. Alex Avila is Lecturer of Tuba and Euphonium at Columbus State University’s Schwob School of Music. Prior to this appointment, he served as Visiting Assistant Professor of Tuba and Euphonium at Texas A&M University – Kingsville. Alex!s students have distinguished themselves by earning spots in the Falcone and MTNA competitions and enjoy a variety of careers as public school music educators, college professors, and freelance musicians. Alex earned a bachelors degree in music education from The University of Georgia and graduate performance degrees in both euphonium and tuba from The University of Texas at Austin.
Alex is a Besson performing artist.
Program Sample Schedule
The 2024 program schedule can be found here. While schedules vary year-to-year, this will provide insight into the programming provided.
Eligibility & Audition Requirements
Eligibility
The MPulse Tuba/Euphonium Institute is open to students entering grades 9 (nine) through 12 (twelve) in Fall of 2025.
Audition Video
Euphonium:
- Any lyrical etude from Rochut Melodious Etudes for Trombone, and
- Any technical etude from Voxman Selected Studies, and
- 3-8 minutes of a solo of your choice (does not need to be accompanied, but may be if the candidate wishes so)
Tuba:
- Any lyrical etude from Bordogni Complete Vocalises, and
- Any technical etude from Blazhevich 70 Studies, v. 1, and
- 3-8 minutes of a solo of your choice (does not need to be accompanied, but may be if the candidate wishes so)
Recommendation
Please include a letter of recommendation from either your band director or private teacher.
MPulse Scholarships
Application Fee Waivers
Those who qualify may reach out to the Acceptd Support team to request a waiver code to waive the $75 application fee. Please view this page on how to apply for a waiver and the documentation you will need to provide. Fill out this fee waiver form to request a code.
Merit Awards
A limited number of scholarships are available for extremely talented students based on Faculty discretion. Consideration for these scholarships is automatic for applications received by the priority application deadline.
Need-Based Awards
A limited number of need-based scholarships are available to families with an Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) of $120,000 or under in the previous calendar year, or with special circumstances due to the pandemic. To be considered you must upload your financial aid materials by the application deadline as part of your application. This includes:
- Monthly Expenses
- Previous Year’s Tax Return
- Statement of Need
Watson Scholarship (For Michigan Residents Only)
In the spirit of the life of a graduate of the University of Michigan Medical School (1942) and Michigan physician, the Watson A. Young Scholarship promotes academic excellence and college aspiration among students with financial need. These need-based scholarships support middle and high school students’ participation in summer opportunities at U-M that seek to develop students’ interests and abilities in academic disciplines and expose students to the experiences and possibilities provided by higher education.
- Information about the Watson Scholarship can be found at: ceo.umich.edu/youthhub
- The Watson Scholarship Application opens in February.
Questions?
MPulse Summer Performing Arts Institutes
Office of Engagement & Outreach-Youth & Adult Programs
University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance
Stearns Building │ 2005 Baits Drive │ Ann Arbor, MI 48109
Phone: (734) 936-2660
Email: [email protected]