Tuba Recital Premiers New Works

Pima Community College's Performing Arts Department will present Dr. Mark Nelson in a faculty tuba recital on Thursday, April 12 at 7 p.m. 

The recital will feature three world premieres of tuba and piano music written for Dr. Nelson over the past year.  The new works are “Tuba Sonata” for tuba and piano by Carson Cooman, “Convergance” for tuba and piano by Ronald Hanson, and “Mark My Words” for tuba and piano, a celebration of the past 14 years of collaboration with composer James Grant.

Other works on the program include: “Fantasia Breve” for tuba and piano, written for Dr. Nelson in the 1980's by his former tuba instructor, Barton Cummings; a new transcription of George Gershwin's “Three Preludes for Piano,” written for tuba and piano by Los Angeles Philharmonic trombonist Ralph Sauer; and “Midnight Variations for Tuba and Tape” by Walter Ross, the first composition for tuba and tape, written in 1971.

Professional pianist and teacher Marie Sierra will provide accompaniment for the recital.

Dr. Nelson has been on the faculty of PCC since the fall of 2000. At present, he is the chair of performing arts and director of bands. He also maintains the electronic music laboratory where he teaches MIDI based classes. Nelson has been a pioneer in the development of new music for solo tuba and to date has had nearly 30 works written for and premiered by him. He has two solo tuba CD recordings featuring many of these premieres and is currently working on releasing a third solo album. His doctorate is in tuba performance from Arizona State University where he studied with world-renowned pedagogue and soloist, Daniel Perantoni.

The Center for the Arts is located on the College's West Campus at 2202 West Anklam Road.  Tickets prices are $5 and $6.  For ticket information, contact the box office at 206-6986 or centerforthearts@pima.edu.

PRESS CONTACT: David Irwin, Executive Director for Public Information
(520) 206-2845