The beauty of the "Bash" is that it continues to mature and improve with each year. Registration now moves like a breeze and the large ensemble continues to sound better as each year passes. The whole event flies by so quickly it is hard to believe it happened. While there is a hard core nucleus of 80+ players who attend regularly; new smiling, happy, faces continue to join each year as well. This year saw 109 participants from all over the Northwest and California. Ages of participants ranged from 11 to 79.

The format continues as outlined in the philosophy of The Harvey Phillips Northwest "Big Brass" Bash as a non-competitive atmosphere where the youngest to the oldest, and the least experienced to the professional continue to share great respect for each other. All participants are treated as equally important and they have continual access to the guest artists for information and moral support. The "Bash" is further dedicated to reaching the unknowing public, and creating new interest in the tuba family by bringing new players to the fold.

The format for BBb consists of a final concert on Sunday afternoon where all participants join together and play a medley of classical, jazz, pop, rock, and patriotic pieces. Two rehearsals on Saturday, and one Sunday morning prepare the group for this final concert. The guest artists and other professionals play side by side with the participants sharing their expertise with everyone. This year, the concert was played in downtown Puyallup in Pioneer Park, only blocks away from Puyallup High School where all rehearsals, recitals and clinics were held.

Eric Ryan, Director of Bands for Puyallup High School was a most successful host for this year's event. His organizational skills contributed greatly to the smoothness of BBbXVI. It must be noted that this is the first time in our history that the event was hosted by a high school.

A highlight of this years event was the appearance of Puyallup’s Mayor, Kathy Turner. She welcomed “Big Brass” Bash to the City of Puyallup and made it known that The City of Puyallup is most interested in hosting this event in the future and being an even larger part of the production. A larger more appreciative audience than usual was in attendance thanks to the location of the event.

Gene Pokorny and Loren Marsteller were featured guests, in addition to Harvey Phillips. It was great seeing Harvey in better health, and having him contribute many new ideas and insights on how the “Bash” can be even more productive in the future.

On Saturday, Loren Marsteller presented a clinic on instrumental musicality and Harvey Phillips presented a session on “Developing Careers for a life in Music”. Gene Pokorny's clinic on Sunday partly featured a session on being a studio musician. He showed an example of the manuscript for a cartoon take featuring a rather difficult tuba solo and invited participants to play the part. He emphasized the fact that Tommy Johnson had only one shot to make it work. Seeing and hearing the actual take was very revealing as to the demands on the freelance musician and to the skills of Tommy Johnson.

Two recitals followed by the traditional ice cream social completed the day on Saturday. The afternoon Young Artists Recital is for young and amateur performers who wish to demonstrate their skills in solo and small ensemble. The recital was opened by 11 year old Emma Day of Puyallup, who began playing euphonium in September of 2001.

Other performers on the Young Artists Recital included ninth grade tubists Jens Peterson of Lakewood and Connor Day of Puyallup. Sophomore Evan Lewis, euphonium, of Puyallup, Senior Kyle Gillett, tuba, of Missoula, Montana and University of Washington tuba students Tyler Benedict and Kevin Pih performed as well. The Studio C Tuba Quartet was comprised of Ed Barker and Steve Harmon, euphoniums and Tyler Benedict and Mark Wiseman, tubas. Golden Lund of Brigham Young University, Matt Carlson of Oberlin University, and Martin Cochran of the University of Puget Sound also performed. For further details on this and the following recital, please refer to programs.

The evening John Baker Founder’s Recital was perhaps the best recital we have had in the history of BBb. This recital opened with all of the glory of the earth bursting forth as Gene Pokorny, Chris Olka, Principal Tubist, Seattle Symphony Orchestra, and Keating Johnson, Washington State University Director of Bands, performed the complete Vaclav Nehlybel "Ludus" with Jeff Turay conducting. Brilliant playing by soloists Keating Johnson, tuba, and Jason Gilliam, euphonium, of Tacoma, followed and continued to contribute immensely to the success of this recital.

A special mention goes to Chris Olka who’s performance of Anthony Plog’s “Three Miniatures” was stunning to say the least. This author has never heard this piece played in live performance or on recording with greater skill or artistry than was presented in this performance. As Gene Pokorny put it in reference to Chris, “He does not have to take a back seat to anyone. He is an extremely fine musician who happens to play the tuba very well”. We are very fortunate to have Chris in our community and as an active member of the board for BBb.

Another special mention goes to our accompanist Kim Russ of Seattle who has one incredibly difficult Saturday. She spends all morning rehearsing with the performers from both recitals and then performs both recitals in the afternoon and evening. Her playing is always admirable, brilliant, and greatly enhances the performance of all artists. Loren Marsteller overheard her rehearsal with Emma Day, and noted the gentleness and encouragement Kim afforded this youngest performer on her maiden solo adventure. It is a great opportunity for these young performers to have such a seasoned professional work with them.

Two local ensembles were featured in the evening concert. The Astoria Tuba Quartet, a long established quartet in the Northwest, had a last minute change of personnel as Bob Joiner, a founding member, was suddenly stricken ill and could not attend. Dave Baldock, a local euphonium player filled in admirably making it unnecessary for the group to cancel their performance. The other members of the group are Sam Blumenthal, euphonium, with Dennis Hale and Lee Stromquist, tubas.

The Oregon Tuba Ensemble, a part of the larger Oregon Tuba Association, is comprised of Steve Katz, Bill Martin, Jeff Turay, and Warren Wellford on euphonium, and Susan Daily, Chuck Guzis, John Huenink, Dean Huston, Dave McKee, and Jim Seaberry, on tubas. The ensemble is conducted by John C. Bigelow. John Huenink's story telling is always fun in his narration for the group. It is interesting to note the continuous refinement in their performance each year as they continue to play together.

Loren Marsteller concluded the first half of the recital with a variety of pieces and instruments. His presentation in addition to his fine musical performance from memory, was most educational for all. He performed on a Boston Instrument Company Civil War Era Baritone, on a French Ophicleide, a Besson Baritone, and finished with his King Euphonium. It is a treat to hear a real baritone in solo performance played with such musicality.

Gene Pokorny concluded the second half of the recital, all on contrabass tuba. It is refreshing to hear an artist who prefers the large tuba for his solo performance. His performance on this most noble of tubas was as smooth and flawless as anyone playing bass or tenor tubas proving that it can be done. His musical phrasing is second to no one in the tuba world and his extensive use of the low register is what tuba playing is all about. The fat round sound of the 6/4 CC tuba and the use of the low register is very instructional to all of the rest of the tuba community who only play BBb tubas.

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