UMKC
The UMKC Tuba and Euphonium Studio (at the University of Missouri – Kansas City Conservatory) is a group of welcoming, thoughtful and of great musicians and people. Students participate in large ensembles (the Conservatory is home to two wind bands and an orchestra), chamber groups, and the UMKC Tuba Band (UMKC’s Tuba and Euphoium Ensemble).
UMKC Conservatory
For more than a century, UMKC Conservatory has been a leader in creating Kansas City’s cultural riches and in extending UMKC’s reach nationally and internationally. Focused upon creativity, performance, scholarship, and learning in the arts, UMKC Conservatory is, at heart, a community of warm and fiercely dedicated people.
FAQ
How many students are in the studio?
The goal is to have 14 students in the studio – approximately 8 tubas and 6 euphoniums. This allows us to fill our two wind bands, orchestra, and the Tuba and Euphonium Ensemble (UMKC Tuba Band).
How many openings do you anticipate for Fall 2026?
We are looking to add 3–4 tubas and 1–2 euphoniums.
What does the audition process look like?
All auditions will be live. To schedule your audition date, you must first apply to the Conservatory. Application deadline is December 15, 2025. Details can be found on our website.
Audition Dates:
Saturday, February 7, 2026
Monday, February 16, 2026
Separate audition dates are available and encouraged so as to experience all that UMKC has to offer, like seeing our large ensembles, studio class and getting a demo lesson with Professor McCourt.
Audition Repertoire:
TUBA
Undergraduate Applicants
Two contrasting solos of your choice (examples below):
Air and Bourrée (J.S. Bach arr. Bell)
Serenade No. 12 (Persichetti)
Honor and Arms (Handel)
Concerto for Tuba (Gregson)
Alternate works may be approved by contacting
Professor Jarrett McCourt.
Graduate Applicants
A concerto or major work (examples):
Vaughan Williams
John Williams
Arild Plau
Eugene Bozza
2–4 standard excerpts (at least one orchestral and one band):
Orchestral: Wagner (Die Meistersinger, Ride), Prokofiev (Symphony No. 5), Mahler (Symphony No. 1), Berlioz (Hungarian March)
Band: Grainger (Lincolnshire Posy), Vaughan Williams (Toccata Marziale), Hindemith (Symphony in Bb), Holst (Suite in Eb), Sousa (Stars and Stripes Forever)
EUPHONIUM
Undergraduate Applicants
Two contrasting solos of your choice (examples below):
Morceau Symphonique (Guilmant)
Sonata in F or C Minor (Marcello)
Andante and Rondo (Capuzzi)
Rhapsody (Curnow)
Alternate works may be approved by contacting Professor Jarrett McCourt.
Graduate Applicants
A concerto or major work (examples):
Horovitz
Curnow (Concerto or Symphonic Variants)
Sparke (Concerto or Harlequin)
Barfield
2–4 standard excerpts (at least one orchestral and one band):
Orchestral: Strauss (Don Quixote, Ein Heldenleben), Mahler (Symphony No. 7), Holst (The Planets), Mussorgsky/Ravel (Bydlo)
Band: Grainger (Lincolnshire Posy), Vaughan Williams (Toccata Marziale), Hindemith (Symphony in Bb), Schoenberg (Theme and Variations), Sousa (Stars and Stripes Forever)
Are there good scholarship opportunities?
Yes. We anticipate ample scholarship availability for both undergraduate and graduate students on both tuba and euphonium, including full-tuition scholarships.
A graduate assistantship is currently available for tuba, offered through the Volker Brass Quintet. This includes a full tuition waiver and $7,000/year stipend.
Why Kansas City?
Kansas City is an affordable and vibrant city with a rich musical scene. Our students frequently perform with local orchestras, military bands, chamber groups, and other professional ensembles. The studio itself is a welcoming, supportive, and high-achieving community. We also host guest artists throughout the year and maintain strong ties to professional networks across the country.
