Brian Sugrue, Secretary of the Board
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Originally from Newtown, Pennsylvania, Brian Sugrue has been playing and studying euphonium and tuba since 2005. After receiving his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Pennsylvania State University and his Master’s degree in Music Performance from the University of Miami Frost School of Music, Brian currently resides in Boulder, Colorado, where he is working toward his Doctor of Musical Arts in Brass Performance and Pedagogy at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Along this journey, Brian has had the privilege of studying with world renowned performers and teachers Ms. Velvet Brown, Dr. Aaron Tindall, and Mr. Mike Dunn.
Throughout his solo and chamber music career, Brian has had the opportunity to perform on the national and international stage including in the United States, Spain, and Austria. He has competed and performed at several notable venues including the Fischoff Chamber Music Competition, various Music Teacher National Association (MTNA) chamber competitions, the International Tuba and Euphonium Association (ITEA) international and regional conferences, the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) conference, and the U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own” Tuba and Euphonium Workshop. While attending Penn State, Brian was a founding member of the award winning euphonium quartet, FivE, gaining sponsorship by Buffet Group USA and Besson USA. An unprecedented ensemble, FivE paved its own way though original compositions, arrangements, and commissions, establishing the group as one of the first professional euphonium quartets, forming in 2012. The group found success in chamber music competitions, including being the first and only euphonium quartet to be invited to the Fischoff International Chamber Music Competition in 2013. At CU Boulder, Brian is currently the Teaching Assistant for the tuba and euphonium studio where he leads instruction and teaches lessons to undergraduate performance and music education tuba and euphonium students. He is principal tubist of the University’s Symphony Orchestra, Symphonic Wind Ensemble, and plays tuba in the graduate brass quintet, Ensemble Flatirons. Outside of school, Brian sits principal baritone in Colorado Brass, a British-style brass band from the Denver-Metro area. Prior to his role as principal baritone, Brian was solo euphonium for the band’s first full season, taking the group to its first ever NABBA Championship in 2019. He also fulfills an administrative role within the group as Secretary and Executive Member of the Board of Directors for Colorado Brass. Brian performs on a Besson Prestige 2052 euphonium, a Besson Prestige BE2056 Baritone, a Willson 3200S F tuba, and a Walter Nirschl MWN 7 CC tuba. |