Musicians work toward success in local community

When graduate student Andrew Tucker became president of IU's chapter of the International Tuba Euphonium Association, he was entrusted with a very serious responsibility: coffee and donuts. \n"We have basically one huge fund-raiser that we do, and that's selling donuts and coffee," Tucker said. "Recently we've gotten a little more into the healthy perspective, with the whole granola bar thing, but the donuts and coffee are a huge tradition. I was told when I took over this position not to mess with it." \nAlthough many students might recognize the members of the William Bell chapter of the ITEA from their weekly early morning fund-raisers, few people are aware of the key role Bloomington has played in the history of the tuba. \nThe ITEA, which has about 3,000 members nationwide, is the brain-child of former IU professor of music Harvey Phillips, who also organized the Bloomington chapter of the organization. \n"We appreciate what Mr. Phillips has done, not only in setting up the chapter, but in bringing the tuba to the forefront and getting people to appreciate it as an instrument, not just something in a polka band," Tucker said. "We owe him a lot for that." \nLaunched in 1973, the Bloomington chapter of ITEA now has about 25 members. With the money raised from donut sales, as well as a sponsorship from Phillips, the organization provides a scholarship and plays host to guest performers and instructors from around the world, including renowned tuba player Oystein Baadsvik. \nProfessor of music Daniel Perantoni said Bloomington, which hosted the first international tuba and euphonium symposium in 1973, is a leader in this field. \n"The whole country has been following the example of the organization that we have here," Perantoni said. \nIn addition to providing guest performers, the organization performs several at annual events -- "Octubafest," which takes place in October, and "Tuba Christmas," which was performed in more than 215 cities worldwide last December. \nPhillips said he helped create the ITEA with several goals in mind. \n"We started the organization with the same high-minded purpose that any organization starts with, which is to serve its members, as well as to generate a public audience for the instruments ... and to give a new sense of pride and commitment to the young people who play these instruments," Phillips said. \nPhillips is not the first influential tuba player to make his home in Bloomington. Perantoni says that William Bell, for whom the organization is named, had a major influence on IU's music program. \n"He was the first professor of tuba at IU and came from the New York Philharmonic," Perantoni said. "He was a leader in the field, one of the great players of all time. When he took the job here at IU, it was the start of a great tuba program that we carry on today." \nAnd although the School of Music might be demanding, graduate student Tucker said the organization isn't all work -- the students also organize basketball games and play for intramural hockey teams. \n"We have social activities, we have barbecues, and we get to know each other, because the school of music here is such an intense environment that sometimes you need a break," Tucker said. "There is a life outside of music." \n-- Contact Staff Writer Hannah Lodge at hjlodge@indiana.edu.