UA Tuba Quartet Hits all the Right Notes, Wins International Competition

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The University of Alabama’s Tuba quartet recently brought home a first-place award from the International Tuba Euphonium Association conference in Greensboro, N.C., where they competed against quartets from across America and around the world.

Members of the tuba quartet are leader Martin Cochran, a doctoral student from New Orleans, La.; Chad Entrup, a junior from Trussville, Jamin McPhetrige, a junior from Helena; and Martin Hill, a senior from Trussville. The tuba quartet consists of a Bass tuba, a Contra-Bass tuba and two Euphoniums — which is Latin for “beautiful sound.” The Euphonium also is known as the Tenor tuba and has the closest correlation to the human voice.

The four have played together as a serious quartet only since November of 2001. “The competition is the biggest gathering of tuba and euphonium from around the world,” Cochran said. “All the famous players are there. We really didn’t expect to win because we’re considerably younger than other quartets and far less experienced.”

The group sent a demo tape in December of 2001 and received confirmation of their acceptance into the competition that same month. They worked for an hour a day, six days per week in preparation for the competition.

These four are building on a tradition of winning tuba quartets at UA. Three years ago a quartet finished second in the competition. Four years ago a quartet placed second, and five years ago a quartet won the competition.

“The tuba is the youngest of the brass instruments,” said Michael Dunn, an associate professor in the School of Music in UA’s College of Arts and Sciences. “It was not invented until 1835, so there isn’t as much music written for the instrument. This competition gives students a place to hear and learn about great tuba music as well as a springboard to professional careers.”

International Tuba Euphonium Association conventions draw students and professionals from all over the world. The next convention will meet in Budapest in two years. As winners of this year’s competition, the quartet has been invited to present at the next conference.