The 31st annual Octubafest celebration to pay homage to the sounds of the tuba and euphonium kicks off this year on Thursday, Oct. 20, and runs through Wednesday, Oct. 26.

Octubafest 2005 includes several appearances by guest artists as part of our annual Center Stage series of concerts and other events.

Martin Cochran

A guest euphonium recital by Martin Cochran begins at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 20. Cochran, a native of New Orleans, is currently assistant professor of instrumental music and low brass at the University of Montevallo. Martin has served as the assistant conductor of the University of Alabama Wind Ensemble and also runs a private studio of low brass players in Birmingham.

Guest artist and alumnus Bryce Edwards will present a euphonium recital at 7 p.m., Monday, Oct. 24. A member of “Mr. Jack Daniel’s Original Silver Cornet Band,” Edwards plays trombone at the Cumberland County Playhouse in Crossville.

Gail Robertson

Gail Robertson will give a guest artist euphonium recital at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 25. Robertson hails from Pompano Beach, Fla., and was one of the founding members of the Walt Disney World group “Tubafours.” Under her guidance, the group released the CD “Tubas Under the Boardwalk.” A member of Symphonia, America’s premier tuba and euphonium ensemble, she is also an instructor of tuba and euphonium at the University of Central Florida.

The highlight of this year’s Octubafest will feature the Tennessee Tech Tuba Ensemble, along with special guest soloists Bryce Edwards and Gail Robertson and Amy Merritt as a featured euphonium student soloist, in a performance at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 26. The program will include such pieces as “Rhapsody for Euphonium” by Jim Curnow and arranged by Jon Oliver, “The Gallant Seventh” by John Phillip Sousa and arranged by Keith Kile and “007 Suite,” selections from famous James Bond movies arranged by Robertson.

The most recorded such group of its kind, the Tennessee Tech Tuba Ensemble is also the only music ensemble in the state to win a Tennessee Board of Regents Academic Award for Excellence and Quality.

Some 15 concerts and recitals are planned for this year's Octubafest. They're all free and open to the public. For a complete schedule, visit TTU news online at www.tntech.edu/publicaffairs/rel/octubafest05.html.