ITEA Journal

ITEA Journal Volume 36 Number 1 (Fall 2008)

2008 ITEA AWARDS
Scott Watson & Kevin Wass, Awards Coordinators

Harvey G. Phillips Awards For Excellence In Composition
Roger Bobo Awards For Excellence In Recording

On Saturday, June 28 at 1:30 p.m. as part of ITEC 2008 in Cincinnati, Ohio, conference attendees massed for the long awaited announcement of the winners of both the Phillips and Bobo Awards. The Phillips and Bobo Awards serve roles like the Pulitzer and Grammy Awards for our instruments.


(L-R): Harvey Phillips, Kevin Wass, and Scott Watson

The awards ceremony began with ITEA President Dennis Askew welcoming all present and then introducing Kevin Wass, Director of the Phillips Awards and Harvey G. Phillips, our honored guest. Wass begin the presentation by thanking the international panel of 12 judges who had the very difficult job of selecting the best of over 40 compositions that were nominated in this cycle.

The first Phillips Award given was in the Tuba or Euphonium featured in Chamber Music category. Finalists were Utaki for euphonium and piano trio by Mike Fitzpatrick (Handcrafted Scores Australia), Tuban Kid for tuba and chamber orchestra by Sunao Isaji (Manuscript), and Danças para um Amigo for tuba, saxophone quartet, and percussion, by Jim Self (Basset Hound Music). The award went to Mike Fitzpatrickfor Utaki. Mr. Fitzpatrick was unable to attend, and the award was accepted on his behalf by Australian euphoniumist Matthew van Emmerik, who commissioned the work.


Matthew Van Emmerik accepting a Phillips Award on behalf of composer Mike Fitzpatrick

The next category to be awarded was the Tuba or Euphonium Ensemble category, which again had three finalists: Whirlwind by Brian Balmages (Canzonique Music), Knock Yourself Out by Daniel McCarthy (C. Alan Publications), and Refrains by Gunther Schuller (Manuscript). The 2008 Phillips Award winner in this category was Knock Yourself Outby Daniel McCarthy.



Daniel McCarthy accepting a Phillips Award for his quartet Knock Yourself Out (L-R: Wass, McCarthy, Phillips, and Dennis AsKew)

The Solo Euphonium category finalists were announced next, and these Requiem Paraphrases by Peter Meechan (Peter Meechan Music), Diversions by Richard Prior (Euphonium.com), and Sonata for Euphonium and Piano by James Stephenson (Euphonium.com). The award for this year went to Richard Prior forDiversions.

The Phillips Awards presentation ended with the Solo Tuba category in which the finalists were Concerto for Tuba and Orchestra by Antonio Victorino d’Almeida (AVA Musical Editions), SoNotas for Tuba and Piano by Francisco Loreto (Editions BIM), and Concertino for Tuba and Wind Ensemble by Rob Teehan (Manuscript). The winner of this year’s award was Francisco Loreto forSoNotas. Mr. Loreto was unable to attend, and the award was accepted on his behalf by Sérgio Carolino, who commissioned the piece.


Sérgio Carolino accepting Phillips Award on behalf of composer Francisco Loreto

At the conclusion of the Phillips Awards, Mr. Wass introduced Scott Watson, Director of the Bobo Awards, who briefly outlined the process of both nomination and selection of our finalists. He also thanked the 2008 chairs and members of each judging panel. Judging Panel Chairs were then introduced, these being Gail Robertson (Solo Euphonium Chair) Denis Winter (Chamber music/Large Ensemble Chair), Jeff Hodapp (Jazz Chair), and Fritz Kaenzig (Solo Tuba Chair).

The 2008 Bobo Awards began with the Jazz/Rock/Fusion/Commercial category. Finalists in this category were Harry Salotti for Full Swing Ahead, the Pan-Metropolitan Trio for Isolation, The Tennessee Tech Tuba Ensemble, R. Winston Morris, Director on Mark Records for Phat Bottom Tubas, and Boom Pan on Essay Recordings for Boom Pan. Watson then announced that the winner was the Pan-Metropolitan Trio for Isolation.

The trio could not be in Cincinnati to accept the award. This is the Pan-Metropolitan Trio’s first Bobo.

The next category was the Chamber Music/Large Ensemble category. Finalists were The Tennessee Tech Tuba Ensemble, R. Winston Morris, Director on Mark Records for Legacy; Sérgio Carolino on Afinaudio Records for Steel Alive!, and Nicholas Etheridge on Brass Classics for One Clear Call.

The winner was Sérgio Carolino on Afinaudio Records for Steel Alive! Mr. Carolino then came to the stage to accept his award while music from his winning recording played. This is Mr. Carolino’s first Bobo.

The highly awaited Solo Euphonium category was next. Finalists in this category were

Benjamin Pierce on Ribbet Records for Cheers, Adam Frey on Naxos Records for Majestic Journey, and Steve Mead on Boccinio Records for Euphonium Virtuoso.

The winner of the Solo Euphonium Category was Steve Mead on Boccinio Records for Euphonium Virtuoso.Mr. Mead then came to the stage to accept his award. This is the second time he has received a Bobo Award in this category.


(L-R): Scott Watson, Steven Mead, and AsKew

Our final category was the always hotly contested Solo Tuba category. This year’s finalists were Øystein Baadsvik on BIS Records for Danzas, Benjamin Pierce on Ribbet Records for Wheels of Life, David Zerkel on Mark Records for his Tuba Helper, and then our final two finalists recording both again by Øystein Baadsvik, these being both his Kalevi Aho, Concerto for Tuba, and his Prelude, FNUGG & Riffs, both on BIS Records.

The Solo Tuba category winner was Øystein Baadsvik (BIS Records) for his Kalevi Aho Concerto for Tuba and Orchestra.This is Mr. Baadsvik’s first Bobo.


(L-R): Watson, Baadsvik, and AsKew

Scott Watson then wrapped up the awards ceremony announcing the January 2010 deadline for nominations for our 2010 contest for both the Phillips and Bobo Awards. The Association hopes to see even more entries of our best music and recordings then.