https://www.phoenixsymphony.org/updates/

Oh look, they also need $10,000,000...

A DMA in tuba?

In this economy?

Eastman seems to have mastered the art of flooding the market and attaching big names to their instruments to generate hype.

There's a lot of FOMO involved. People see prominent players endorsing them, convince themselves they're getting the next best thing, and jump on the bandwagon. Then a year ...

bisontuba wrote: Thu Oct 22, 2026 11:47 am Screens are needed...
so that the best person wins.
And depending on the orchestra, a music director can have final say, have a weighted vote, or in two large orchestra sections, no vote at all...

A screen only does so much. A prearranged cough or throat clear could tell someone on the panel exactly who’s playing. I’ve heard of that happening at a pretty reputable orchestra, though obviously I can’t verify it.

bloke wrote: Wed Oct 21, 2026 3:46 pm

AvrTuba wrote: Wed Oct 21, 2026 3:29 pm It’s a business selling a product.

When nobody wants the product, why would the business keep selling it?

You have just stumbled across the definition of a "non-profit".

Apparently they’ve taken the name a little too literally.

It’s a business selling a product.

When nobody wants the product, why would the business keep selling it?

Timtamtuba wrote: Wed Oct 21, 2026 1:10 pm
it feels like these orchestras decide who they want before the fact

Aren't the principal trumpet and tuba player in The Phoenix Symphony married?

Surely that's just a coincidence.

Wealthy donors and patrons who are passing away and leaving their money to their children. Those heirs perhaps don't see the same value in classical music and are maybe moving their wealth to other parts of society that would have a more meaningful impact on their community.

Why donate $10,000,000 ...

Hard to get butts in the seats for anything other than movie soundtracks I guess.

tubanh84 wrote: Tue Oct 13, 2026 12:41 pm the textures they were able to bring out of the music.

Can you explain what this means?

Price will follow, I'm sure.

Don't want to scare people off in the middle of an affordability crisis.

Tony Robbins vibes.

Seems what sells tickets these days are Star Wars movie soundtracks and an attractive, young person, burning a lot of calories in front of the orchestra.

Whichever tuba sounds the best after you spend an hour buzzing first.

He dead

Ask Roger Rocco

I have a funny Ellis anecdote.

I was studying with Gene Dowling and Ellis was teaching at UBC in Vancouver. Gene was giving a lesson to one of Ellis' students who came over to Victoria and was telling Gene a story (I don't remember all the details, just trying to convey to absurdity) that went ...

I'm not smart enough to even speak to buzzing how/if it relates to dystonia.

I used to buzz a lot because that's what my teachers had me do. I didn't take lessons until I started my first year University so I listened to my teacher. Gene Dowling was a Jacobs student and taught in that style. That ...

When I was playing in the air force band, I switched from C to Bb. Nobody said boo, except for the trombone section who immediately noticed how much easier it was to blend and play in tune with an instrument on the same harmonic series.