Low Brass Workshop
Saturday, March 24, 2024
The UNI Tuba/Euphonium and Trombone Studio will host this one-day event that focuses on low brass performance and pedagogy. Events will include masterclasses and performances by attendees, and guest artists. Open to middle school and up. Registration for this event is $15. Registration deadline is Thursday, March 24 at 5 p.m. Please contact Anthony.Williams@uni.edu to learn more.
Information for 2024 coming soon! See 2023 information below for reference.
Guest Artists
Danielle VanTuinen
Danielle VanTuinen is a performer, educator, and entrepreneur based in Gainesville, Florida. She currently serves as Assistant Professor of Tuba and Euphonium and Director of the University of Florida Brass Band at the University of Florida. Prior to her current appointment, Danielle served as Lecturer of Music at Plymouth State University where she taught low brass methods, chamber music and applied lessons. She also served as low brass faculty at the Portland Conservatory of Music, adjunct staff for the marching band at the University of New Hampshire, private lesson instructor throughout northern New England, and low brass instructor for the Phoenix Youth Symphony. She has been invited to adjudicate at a variety of festivals, including the New Hampshire MEA Solo & Ensemble Competition, the Paul I. Willwerth Brass Competitions, the International Women’s Brass Young Artist Competition, and the AETYB Young Artist Competition in Madrid, Spain. As a co-founder of the internationally acclaimed Moreau | VanTuinen Duo she has been invited to perform at the Spanish Association of Tubas and Euphoniums, Northern Arizona University, Ithaca College, the Miraphone Academy of the Southwest, the United States Pershing’s Own Army Band Tuba-Euphonium Workshop, and the International Women’s Brass Conference. Her commitment to expanding low brass repertoire has resulted in over 15 compositions by composers such as Steven Snowden, James Grant, Shaun Tilburg, and Etienne Crausaz. Danielle earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Music Performance and Master of Music degree in Music Performance from Arizona State University, and a Bachelors of Music degree in Music Performance from Central Michigan University. Dr. VanTuinen proudly endorses S.E. Shires and the Eastman Music Company.
Jason Hausback
Dr. Jason Hausback serves as the Associate Professor of Trombone at Missouri State University. In addition to maintaining the trombone studio, he directs the Jazz Studies Ensemble II. Prior to his arrival at MSU, Jason was active as a teacher and a performer in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, teaching low brass at Eastfield College (Mesquite, TX), and Brookhaven College (Farmer’s Branch, TX). While at North Texas he was both a classical and jazz Teaching Fellow and directed the U-Tubes, who won the 2010 Eastern Trombone Workshop National Jazz Trombone Ensemble Competition. He also issued their first CD entitled “The U-Tubes” in the spring of 2011. Additionally, Jason was a member of the internationally-acclaimed One O’Clock Lab Band and was on the recording “Lab 2009,” which was nominated for two Grammy awards.
In 2008, Jason was the winner of the Eastern Trombone Workshop National Classical Bass Trombone Solo Competition, as well as the ITA Kai Winding Jazz Trombone Ensemble Competition. His trombone quartet “Bell Street Four” also won the 2008 ITA Quartet competition. Additionally, he enjoys travel and has had the opportunity to perform across the United States, as well as in Canada, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Argentina, Brazil, Spain, Austria, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, France, the Netherlands, England, Finland, and Thailand.
Jason is active as a freelancer throughout the mid-south region of the US and performs regularly with The Lone Star Wind Orchestra (TX), Symphony of Northwest Arkansas (AR), The Ozark Lyric Opera (MO), Ionic Brass Quintet (OK), and Fountain City Brass Band (KS). He has filled in with several notable orchestras including the East Texas Symphony, The Tulsa Symphony, The Kansas City Symphony, and the Dallas Opera Orchestra. He has performed solo and quartet recitals at universities and conferences throughout the US as well as in Colombia and Spain. He has also performed in the Southeast Trombone Symposium Professors Choir and in featured ensembles at several different International Trombone Festivals.
Faculty Artists
Anthony Williams
Anthony Williams is Associate Professor of Trombone at the University of Northern Iowa. He teaches courses in applied trombone, chamber music, trombone pedagogy, trombone literature, and low brass techniques. He also serves as a member of UNI’s jazz faculty by teaching courses in applied jazz trombone and directing the UNI Jazz Trombone Ensemble.
Dr. Williams maintains a high frequency of performing in classical, jazz, and new music settings. His debut solo album, “Synthesis,” is a collection of five newly-commissioned works for solo trombone scored with various ensemble settings that combines classical, Latin, and jazz music. Other recent recordings include Dr. Williams performing as lead trombonist with the Mike Waldrop Big Band on recently released albums, “Origin Suite” and “Time Within Itself.” Additional recording credits include “Grosso for Trombone and Electronics” for Mexican-born composer, Jorge Sosa’s album, “Plastic Time,” and albums by UNI alums Ryan Middagh and Dave Lisik.
He is principal trombonist of the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony and performs regularly with other orchestras in the region. His current jazz and commercial music performance activity includes appearances with local and regional groups such as The Des Moines Big Band, Orquesta Alto Maiz, NOLA Jazz Band, Big Fun, and many others. Dr. Williams’ past experiences include engagements with the Memphis Symphony, Memphis Jazz Orchestra, Ray Charles Orchestra, Arkansas Symphony, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Natalie Cole, and Aretha Franklin.
He is a member of the International Trombone Association and the Jazz Education Network.
Stephanie Ycaza
Stephanie Ycaza is the Instructor of Tuba and Euphonium at the University of Northern Iowa, where she teaches applied lessons and conducts the UNITUBA ensemble. She has served as adjunct instructor of low brass at Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia State University, Longwood University, and the University of Richmond. She also taught courses in music theory, aural skills, and world music at VCU, Longwood, and Shenandoah University. Stephanie is a faculty member at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, where she teaches tuba and music theory. Stephanie also regularly serves as a clinician for middle and high school bands.
Stephanie is an active orchestral and band performer, and has appeared with the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony, the Virginia Symphony, the Williamsburg Symphony, the Capital Wind Symphony, and the Virginia Grand Military band. She performs with chamber groups and large brass ensembles, including the James River Brass, Cathedral Brass, and Annandale Brass. She has also contributed to recording projects at Spacebomb Records in Richmond, VA. Stephanie’s recent solo performances have focused on Latin American music, music by women composers, and her own transcriptions and arrangements for low brass. She has appeared as a soloist at the Northeast Regional ITEA Conference, and in ensemble performance at the Army Band Tuba-Euphonium Workshop. Stephanie has researched and written on the topic of mindfulness in the practice and performance of music. She presented "Mindfulness in Practice: Incorporating mindfulness concepts into the practice room and the applied studio" at the Army Band Tuba-Euphonium Workshop, and is also scheduled to present on the topic at the Great Plains ITEA Regional Conference.
Stephanie holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Shenandoah University, a Master of Music degree and Artist Diploma from Yale University, and a Bachelor of Music degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. She studied with Dr. Ross Walter, Toby Hanks, Mike Roylance, Andrew Hitz, and Michael Bunn. Stephanie is a Miraphone tuba artist.