Low Brass Day

The first annual IU Southeast Low Brass Day will be an event for all high school and middle low brass students in our area. There will be a warmup session to demonstrate how to properly get ready to play for a rehearsal or practice session. Masterclasses on how to prepare for all state band and solo and ensemble will also be included in the day’s events. There will be a session on how to clean and maintain instruments, as well as why it is important to step up to an intermediate or professional model instrument.

Students will also participate in a mass ensemble that will perform in a recital alongside IU Southeast tuba-euphonium instructor, Chris Schmidt, who will also present a solo recital on the concert finale. Parents and anyone in the area may attend the final concert. A t-shirt and lunch will also be provided to everyone that registers and attends the event.

Chris Schmidt
Chris is currently the instructor of tuba at Indiana University Southeast and has been a low brass instructor in Kentuckiana since 2008. During his time in the area, the Oldham County High School Tuba-Euphonium Ensemble was selected to perform at the 2013 and 2021 KMEA Conferences under his direction. The Tuba-Euphonium Ensemble from the Youth Performing Arts School in Louisville, KY also performed at the Midwest Regional Tuba Euphonium Conference in May of 2022 under his direction. Several of his private students at OCHS and YPAS as well as a number of other Kentucky schools have earned placements in the KMEA All-District and All-State Band as well as numerous honor band and summer camp events under his guidance. Mr. Schmidt also teaches in Southern Indiana and several of his students have also made the Indiana High School All-State Band and Orchestras.

Mr. Schmidt graduated from the University of Louisville with a Master of Music Performance in Wind Conducting in May of 2010. While at U of L he studied conducting with Dr. Fred Speck and tuba with Mr. John Jones. Mr. Schmidt was also a guest tuba soloist with the University Concert Band when he performed The Fantasia for Tuba and Band” by James Curnow under the direction of Dr. Greg Byrne. Prior to his time at Louisville Mr. Schmidt attended Morehead State University where he held the position of Principal Tuba in the MSU Symphony Band and earned two degrees, a Bachelor of Music Education and a Master of Arts in Secondary Education. Mr. Schmidt was the chapter president of ITEA (International Tuba Euphonium Association). He was also awarded placements on the MSU Dean’s List, the KY Intercollegiate Band, the CBDNA Southern Division Intercollegiate Band, and the Lexington Brass Band. His primary teachers at MSU included euphonium virtuoso Dr. Earle Louder and tuba professor Dr. Stacy Baker as well as wind band conducting lessons with Dr. Richard Miles. After graduating from MSU, Mr. Schmidt taught instrumental music for eight years in the Meade County, Owensboro and Scott County School Districts. In each of those eight years his concert bands received Distinguished Ratings at the KMEA Concert Band Assessment and his marching bands advanced to the KMEA Marching Band Semifinals.

In the marching band world he operates his own company CP Schmidt Music, LLC out of Louisville, KY where he operates a studio with sixty private students and creates marching band drill designs and music arrangements for several high school and college band programs since 2008.He also serves as an adjudicator for marching band contests, concert band, and solo and ensemble festivals in KY, TN, and IN. As a low brass musician Mr. Schmidt performs with Chamber Winds Louisville, Commonwealth Brass Band and the Indiana University Southeast Band and Orchestra.

If you have questions or would like additional information, contact the Lifelong Learning office at (812) 941-2436 or lifelong@ius.edu. The Lifelong Learning program reserves the right to cancel a class if there is insufficient enrollment, in which case all fees will be refunded.