David Zerkel and Liz Ames will present a recital of original works written for tuba and piano. The program will begin with the outstanding Tuba Sonata written by Norwegian composer Trygve Madsen. The Madsen will be followed by a very expressionistic work, Lamento, by the great Russian composer Sofia Gubaidulina. The first half will close with John Harmon's Silhouette for tuba and piano. The main feature of the second half is the Tuba Concerto written by the American Trombonist Raymond Premru. The piece was composed in memory of the late John Fletcher, a British tubist who has served as David's inspiration throughout his professional career. It is an unusually touching piece. The second half also includes a hauntingly beautiful work by the Japanese-Canadian composer, Cait Nishimura.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

DAVID ZERKEL is Professor of Tuba and Euphonium at the University of Michigan, leading an active career as both a performer and educator. Before his arrival at Michigan, he taught in a similar position at the University of Georgia. His students have distinguished themselves by winning international and national competitions and attaining positions with professional performing organizations. He is a Past President of the International Tuba Euphonium Association and was selected as the inaugural recipient of the ITEA Teaching Award.

David began his performing career as a member of the United States Army Field Band and The United States Army Band, both located in Washington, DC. He has had the good fortune to perform with many orchestras, to include the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, the St. Louis Symphony, the Utah Symphony, the Detroit Symphony, the Atlanta Symphony, the National Symphony, and the Baltimore Symphony. He was a founding member of the Washington Symphonic Brass, and has performed in concert with the Burning River Brass and the Brass Band of Battle Creek.

David has performed as a featured soloist at many workshops and symposia, including the Leonard Falcone Festival, several International Tuba Euphonium Conferences, and the United States Army Band Tuba Euphonium Workshop. In addition, he has performed as a solo recitalist at many of the leading colleges and conservatories in the United States. He has released three solo CDs: American Music for Tuba, Tuba Helper, and his latest CD, Journey, which features the music of John Stevens.

David has served as the President of the International Tuba Euphonium Association. He lives in Dexter, Michigan with his lovely bride, Kristin.

LIZ AMES is a celebrated pianist who is passionate about performing and working with instrumentalists, vocalists and composers. She has concertized worldwide, including in Belgium, the United Kingdom, Canada, Spain, Peru and France. Ames has served as a staff pianist for the North American Saxophone Alliance Biennial Conference and the United States Navy Band International Saxophone Symposium. Her publications and projects include piano reductions of large-scale works, including Wynton Marsalis’s Tuba Concerto, Henry Brant’s Concerto for Saxophone and Orchestra, and concertos and oratorios by Steven Bryant, Joel Puckett, Donald Grantham, David Biedenbender, and John Mackey. Ames completed her doctorate in collaborative piano at Arizona State University and is currently living in Ann Arbor, Michigan, performing with musicians throughout the Midwest and serving on the collaborative piano staff at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance. She has recorded for Neuma Records, XAS Records, and Naxos Records, among others.