Bronco Tuba and Euphonium Choir

David E. Mercedes, Director

The Bronco Tuba and Euphonium Choir is comprised of all members of Western Michigan University's Tuba/Euphonium Studio. The ensemble performs a wide variety of music, giving students the opportunity to perform music that is not only uncharacteristic of their instruments, but uncharacteristic to the "classically" trained musician. As a performing group, they have performed on the WMU campus, as well as at Regional Tuba and Euphonium Conferences. Graduate Teaching Assistants are given the opportunity to conduct this group. This experience trains these music majors to teach varied styles, and how to vary their tone color and style to match the character of a piece.

The ensemble offers the challenge for these accompanying instruments to experience inner harmonic voices as well as melodic lines and bass lines. In contrast with their typical experience—playing in large ensembles with four or more tubas and two or three euphoniums—this ensemble provides an opportunity to play as a unit with attention to chordal intonation, balance, blend, tone quality, clarity and phrase shaping. 

Professor David E. Mercedes conducts the Bronco Tuba and Euphonium Choir, which currently meets every Wednesday from 6:00 to 6:50 p.m. In some instances, this rehearsal time is used as a master class, with students performing for each other and giving each other feedback. This allows students additional performance opportunities, and will give them practice in articulating what they hear to instruction. Occasionally, important topics are presented and discussed. 

Contact

David E. Mercedes
(269) 387-4698