Memoir
I’m now at the end of my 10 day trip to València, Spain to attend the
2025 International Tuba Euphonium Conference.
It has been a spectacular event. I have had a smile on face all week!
Below is my memoir of that event.
I left a week ago Sunday, in the evening on Iberia Airlines. It was an 11 hour, overnight direct flight to Madrid. I always have trouble sleeping on a plane but this on was especially aggravated by a (nice) little girl next to me who moved constantly in her sleep, kicking me every time. The Madrid Airport was one of the worst I nave ever experienced. Huge crowds and long lines everywhere, confusing signs and going through customs. My commuter line connection was what seems miles on the end of the airport. Even my boarding pass had the wrong gate. I barely made it. I was exhausted when I took a cab to the València Palace Hotel. Then I slept well and the next morning began my several “smiling” days. The hotel was very nice. It had a roof top swimming pool which I used several times and the staff was very helpful. They had a huge breakfast buffet that l enjoyed all week. (Today my return thru the Madrid Airport was much easier).
My room was on the top floor looking out over the meandering Central Park of València, with a close view of the Palau de la Musica across the street. That was the excellent venue where all of the concerts, lectures and instrument displays were held. It was big, sunny, beautiful and had a major concert hall, another large one and several smaller ones. I thought the acoustics were good everywhere. Some say that Valencia is the arts capital of Spain.
View from Valencia Palace Room
Palau de Musica Exhibition Room
Tuesday was my 1st day there and began with a rehearsal of the excellent jazz quintet who were to perform on Thursday. My partner was Euphonium jazz player Gail Robertson. This took place at the Conservatory de Musica—a couple of miles away I was surprised to see former students Zeewoong Munn and Arisa Makita there. They had just finished being judges for solo competitions. This was a great honor for them.
Jazz Quintet Rehearsal
That afternoon a select group of about 30 pro tuba and euphonium guests were invited to a special event and rehearsal at a historic old town of Buñol 30 miles north of València. This was all organized by a dear friend of mine, American composer Greg Fritze. Later in the week we were to play a concert of his very interesting compositions. For many years Greg had composed band music for Buñol bands and was an honorary citizen there. They loved him. The afternoon began with a special, many course Paella lunch followed by a tour of the historic city, it’s 12th century Castle and famous outdoor concert venue—carved out of solid rock. The acoustics were wonderful for music or theater. Our rehearsal of Greg’s tuba/euph ensemble piece, Uluru followed by another traditional Spanish meal and a bus ride back to València.
Buñol Castle
Of special Interest to me was to have 11 of my former students from USC there as “artists”. We all gathered at my hotel on Wednesday morning for buffet breakfast.
Former Students at Breakfast
Doug Tornquist, (USC Tuba Prof.) brought the USC Bass Tuba Quartet (Logan Westerviller, Neha Kudva, Stephanie Megura and Derek Zimmerman)—who played a wonderful concert later in the week.
And others were Beth Mitchell, whose recital included world the premiere of my piece Bethame Mucho for solo tuba and piano.
Beth Mitchell Recital
Arisa Makita Recital
After the USC Bass Tuba Quartet Concert with All the USC Grads
Zeewong Munn, a virtuoso tuba soloist from Korea presented his talent in a recital playing a brand new miniature tuba that he helped design called the Little Dragon. I later played this most unusual tuba and found it really good. Munn is sending me one.
Zeewoong Munn Recital
Munn and Me with The Little Dragon
Afterwards I went over to the Palau de Music for more rehearsals. At the opening ceremony President Oystein Baadsvik’s first sentence commented that I was 82 years old and had just finished my 24th CD.
I was asked to play in the Past President’s Ensemble led by mi amiga Gail Robertson. She opened the concert with me conducting my piece, a two minute Fanfare for a Big Man. I had written this in October 2006 for the memorial celebration of Tommy Johnson’s life. At that event 100 professional and good students played it in tribute to my teacher and mentor.
That concert was Thursday following my own jazz concert feature. I had an excellent local trio of guitar, bass and drums and was joined out front by jazz euphoniumist Gail Robertson. We ended with my signature piece The Basset Hound Blues (where the audience joins in howling”). It was fun for all.
Spanish Brass
Melton Tuba Quartet
James Gourlay Concerto
Sergio Carolino Concerto
Eduardo Nogueroles Concerto
After Jim Self/Gail Robertson Jazz Concert
On Friday DOUG Tornquist and I did a joint clinic on tuba playing in the movies. Doug is the new top tuba player in the Hollywood Studios—and my former student.
On the final day, Sunday, Zach Collins played a concert with his tuba/euphonium quartet, Brass Mammoth. They played a quartet by Anthony O’toole, Cantus Firmest that I had commissioned for the USC Bass Tuba Quartet. Zach is my doctoral graduate and is Professor of Tuba/Euphonium at my Alma Mater, Indiana University of Pennsylvania. I am extremely proud of each of these former students. They will be making a lot important music in the future tuba world. I also got to hear close friends Norwegian Oystein Baadsvik perform the John Williams Tuba Concerto with Orchestra, Portuguese Sergio Carolino play a concerto with a fine concert band. James Gourlay and Eduardo Nogueroles played wonderful original concertos with the València Symphony.
It was great to have two of my oldest friends at the conference, Bob Tucci from Munich and Chitate Kagawa from Sapporo. Other special friends like Alex Lapin, David Earle and Ben Pierce were there. A special treat was to hear the European premiere of John Steven’s Grand Concerto for Tuba Quartet with Band played in an outdoor concert by the Melton Tuba Quartet. (These 4 German virtuoso tubists had recorded the original version with orchestra conducted by Carl St. Clair. Carl was my conductor in the Pacific Symphony and colleague at the University of Southern California). Last year Carl conducted the American premiere of the band version. In the València audience were three of the 4 USC students who played it with Carl. What a unique experience for them! Afterwards I treated them to a steak dinner.
I heard several chamber groups at ITEC. These are the ones that stood out to me: The Spanish Brass (quintet), the Symbiosis Duo, the Spanish Tuba Quartet, The Brass Mammoth, Quartet, The Indiana University Tuba/Euph Quartet, The USC Bass Tuba Quartet and The Melton Tuba Quartet. I regret having to miss so many recitals and other events as I had too many choicesand could not be everywhere.
Each night a jazzy ensemble ended the evening beginning with The European Tuba Power: Hoffmeir, Szentpali, Mazura, Luccas—followed by Jon Hansen and Van Hange Funk Trio.
Jon Hansen/Victor Hege Trio
My final playing event was as a guest jazz soloist with Antonio Rodriguis and his very unique Jazz ensemble, Jazztubaruis.
During the “Siesta” Friday Bryan Doughty invited the Life Members and Lifetime Achievement Awardees to a special Paella lunch at the Valencia Club Cocina. They insisted that I burn the branches, place them in the Paella and stir it—a special honor!
Me stirring the Paella
At the Awards Ceremony on Saturday night I was asked to present this year’s Jim and Jamie Self “Creative Tuba Award” to the new winner, John Baylies. I took the liberty of saying a few complimentary words to our hosts (in my terrible Spanish) to the audience. Here are the last sentences in English: “I congratulate the Spanish musicians who have worked so hard to make this one so special. We all will remember it forever! It makes me especially happy be part of an event that celebrates diversity and the mixing of cultures. In today’s super-charged political environment we can show the world what we musicians have alway done—work together to create something better”.
Me presenting the Jim and Jamie Self Creative Award
The motto for the conference was
NEVER STOP DREAMING!
I was impressed by the overall excellent organization of this 2025 ITEC. The facilities were ample and well used. The support staff at the venue were very efficient and I was impressed by how fast the stage changes happened. The sound people were on top of everything. But special kudos go to Pablo Fernandez, and the leaders of The Spanish Association of Tubas and Euphoniums. Their vision made it one of the most outstanding ITECs we have ever had and one that emphasized the “INTERNATIONAL” in our name!
After that ceremony they held a super party at the hotel with music by a cool Sir Alligator’s Company Funk band of 4 trombones and 2 tubas. It was a wild, boozy party!!!!
Sir Alligator’s Company
On Sunday night I shared an Italian meal with members of Brass Mammoth—all close friends.
Brass Mammoth Concert
Italian meal with The Brass Mammoth gang
On Monday I hired a private guide (Lucillia) to show me some important sites in València’s historic center old town—including the Cathedral, Mosque and several Squares. It was a very hot 94 degrees — in what was called the hottest times ever in Western Europe.
Valencia Old Train Station
Outside the Central Market with Lucillia
That night I went to Asador de Aranda, a famous “meat” restaurant in València. I was joined by Sumire Tsuruoka, a Japanese Tuba graduate student studying in Lyon, France. This restaurant was recommended to me by my horn playing colleague in the Los Angeles Opera Orchestra, Danny Kelley. It was everything he said about it. Great!
The final night I spent at an airport hotel to make my 6 AM flight to Madrid easier to manage.
All week I was asked to be in photos with dozens of people—most I had never met before. (often “real” Selfies). Many mentioned one of their favorite CD’s of mine that had influenced their musical lives. To know that so many had listened to me on my recordings and in movies left me on cloud nine all week.
Jim Self (still smiling)
07/2/25
On a flight home to Los Angeles