ADAM FREY, euphonium
One of the elite brass soloists in the world, ADAM FREY travels the globe sharing his talents as a performer and advocate for live music. Adam has soloed with orchestras and bands the world over, including the world famous Boston Pops, Cheju Symphony Orchestra (South Korea), US Army Orchestra (Washington DC), Harvard Pops (MA), Fort Collins (CO), Indian Hill (MA), the Vaasa Symphony Orchestra (Finland), Atlanta Philharmonic (GA), Camerata Eleutheria (Argentina), Cascade (WA), Greensboro (NC), Clemson (SC), LaGrange (GA), Minot (ND), Bellevue Philharmonic (WA), and Northeastern (MA) Symphony Orchestras. He also performs regularly with wind bands and brass bands that have included Soli Brass in Holland, Point of Ayr in Wales, the National Youth Brass Band of Switzerland and wind bands from Singapore, Thailand, Brazil, South Korea, Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, Columbia, Peru, Australia, Russia, Finland, China, Germany, Hong Kong, and the United States.
Adam has been guest soloist at festivals around the globe, including four times at the Midwest Clinic (USA), the WASBE Convention (Singapore), Melbourne International Festival of Brass (Australia), Trombonanza (Argentina), Carlos Gomez Festival (Brazil), Jeju International Wind Festival (South Korea), Asia Pacific Band Directors Conference (South Korea), Westby Low Brass Workshop (Norway), Peru Low Brass Festival (Peru), Colombia Festubal (Colombia), Tubmania (Thailand), and Orquesta Latinoamericana de Vientos (Colombia) to name a few.
A native of Atlanta, Georgia, Adam Frey received his musical training at the University of Georgia, the Royal Northern College of Music, and the University of Salford. As a major ambassador of the euphonium, Adam has more than one hundred and twenty works that have been composed or specifically arranged for him. Most are published by Euphonium.com Publications or Absolute Brass.com.
Dr. Frey is Assistant Professor at the University of North Georgia. His website, www.euphonium.com, contains sound files, performance schedules, photos from his world travels, and his recordings and publications.
Adam Frey is a Yamaha Performing Artist and Guest Clinician
JAMES GOURLAY, tuba
James Gourlay was born in Scotland, where, at the age of ten, he was "volunteered" to play in his school brass band. Being the tallest in class, he was serendipitously given the tuba, an instrument he loves and continues to promote all over the world.
After much success as a solo champion, Gourlay entered the Royal College of Music but left after a short time to become the Principal Tuba of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra at the age of eighteen. He continued working at the BBC Symphony Orchestra for ten years, then performed for an additional ten years with the Orchestra of the Zurich Opera. Gourlay's career as a chamber musician and soloist continues to flourish. He has been a member of the Philip Jones and English Brass ensembles with which he has toured the world, and also continues to perform as a soloist extensively. He has recorded five solo CDs, the latest being British Tuba Concertos recorded for the Naxos label with the Royal Ballet Sinfonia, which has since received international critical acclaim.
Gourlay's early work within the Brass Band Movement forms a vital component of his creative output. After early success with the Brass Band Berneroberland, he became music director of the Williams Fairey Band with which he won the English Masters and British Open contents. Gourlay has also been the professional conductor of the Grimethorpe Colliery and the Etoiles, with which he has won the Swiss National Championships, the Swiss Open Championships, and second place at the European as well as at the World Brass Band Championships.
Gourlay's commitment to music education is a continuing passion. He has been Head of Wind and Percussion at the Royal Northern College of Music and Deputy Principal and Music Director at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Salford University, a Masters degree from Leeds University, a Fellowship of the Royal Northern College of Music, a Fellowship of the London College of Music, and is also a recipient of the Henry Iles Medal, presented by the Worshipful Company of Musicians for services to the Brass Band Movement. Currently, Gourlay is International Vice President of the International Tuba and Euphonium Association and Artistic Director of the River City Brass.