It is class time again, and your professor gets in front of you and your fellow students to begin the lecture. Have you ever wondered what the professor’s life has entailed to get them to where they are today?At 7:30 p.m., Monday, April 20, in the Wattenbarger Auditorium in Brian Fine Arts Building, you will have the chance to learn about the life of a Tech professor. The premier of Tuba U: Basso Profundo, a documentary on the tuba and R. Winston Morris, professor of music and instructor of tuba and euphonium at Tech, will be shown to the public. The show will air nationally on PBS at 9:30 p.m. CT Sunday, April 26.
“The doors will open around 7 p.m., and the Tennessee Tech Tuba Ensemble will begin its concert at 7:30.
“When they finish playing Becky Magura and I will get on stage to introduce the show and thank everyone who contributed. Then we will roll the show for the audience,” said Todd Jarrell, writer and producer of Tuba U. “After the show is done, we will invite people to go the lobby for punch and cookies.”
Jarrell, who works for Two Six Inc., is an independent producer who partners with WCTE-TV. His shows have aired nationally on PBS, and he has received awards for his shows. Becky Magura is the President and General Manger of WCTE-TV, Cookeville’s local PBS affiliate station.
Morris is world renowned as the major authority on the development of the tuba ensemble, and is recognized as the leading authority of literature for the tuba. He is also one of the founding fathers of Tubists Universal Brotherhood Association. He was the recipient of the 2003 Tennessee Technological University Caplenor Research Award, a prestigious award given annually to Tech faculty.
Morris started the Tennessee Tech Tuba Ensemble in 1967, and he is still the director. The TTTE is internationally recognized and has performed all over the eastern United States. The TTTE has performed at Disney World, on Bourbon Street and has made six Carnegie Recital Hall appearances.
At the reception following the premier, tables will be set up for purchase of the show on DVD.
