Seven International Tuba Euphonium Association regional conferences will be held in the U.S. in 2013.

Thanks to the efforts of Dr. Michael Forbes, assistant professor of music in the UW–Platteville Department of Performing and Visual Arts, UWP will be hosting the Midwest event in March.

Forbes said this will be the first ITEA-sponsored tuba-euphonium conference in the state of Wisconsin.

“I am very much looking forward to hosting this event, which will bring anywhere from 100 to 300 tuba and euphonium players, students and teachers to our campus from right here in Wisconsin, as well as from Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Michigan,” said Forbes.

Forbes added that the students in the UW–Platteville Low Brass Ensemble, a performance organization he advises that is funded by the Segregated University Fee Allocation Commission, are eager to help bring this prestigious event to campus.

“They are really excited to be in the spotlight and break new ground for a Wisconsin institution hosting this event,” Forbes said.

Conference highlights include concerts by the Isthmus Brass, UW–Madison Tuba/Euphonium Ensemble, UW–Platteville Symphonic Wind Ensemble and BASSically Brass from UW–Eau Claire, as well as master classes from regional and international tuba and euphonium soloists, including Sergio Carolina of Portugal, and the internationally acclaimed Sotto Voce Quartet, of which Forbes is a member.

Performance contests, with opportunities to win monetary awards, will be offered for tuba/euphonium quartet, and solo euphonium and solo tuba at the high school and collegiate levels. The Sotto Voce Quartet is also sponsoring a composition contest for tuba/euphonium quartet music.

Those interested in performing, competing or exhibiting during the event may access www.uwplatt.edu/~forbesm/ for application materials, or contact Forbes, 342-1016, forbesm@uwplatt.edu.