Geoffrey Hash’s love for music has afforded him many opportunities, but none like the week he spent in Atlanta at the 20th annual International Euphonium Tuba Festival at Emory University.
Geoffrey, who is the son of Kelly and Tonya Hash, excels at playing the euphonium. This instrument is a medium-sized brass instrument that is a member of the tuba family. The IET Festival was held June 18-25.
The incoming CCHS junior was exposed to a unique set of musicians from all over the globe, including Japan, Australia, Belgium, England and Sweden as well as professionals from across the United States. Each of them offered instruction to the 120 participants at the festival through group and individualized opportunities. Geoffrey also took a private lesson from Japanese-born artist Kimiko Yamada, who plays the same instrument as Geoffrey and works as a freelance musician. Students spent 12-14 hours a day on the Emory University campus working on their craft.
"Having the opportunity to attend the IET Festival is an absolutely amazing experience,” Geoffrey said. “The opportunity to play in large ensembles with other talented musicians from around the country is truly inspiring.”
Through this seven-day event Geoffrey had the chance to attend multiple master classes, breathtaking concerts and numerous rehearsals. In addition, he had the opportunity to perform with a group of 16 musicians from Kentucky and Indiana in an ensemble formed by Chris Schmidt, professor of tuba/euphonium from Indiana University Southeast. Schmidt is one of Geoffrey’s private instructors and was one of the artists featured at the festival. He invited Geoffrey to attend IET.
Geoffrey also got to perform with a medium-sized ensemble of about 60 participants and the mass ensemble of all 120 participants in Emory's Emerson Concert Hall at the Donna and Martin Schwartz Center for the Arts multiple times. “Playing in the ensembles has been the best part of the festival,” according to Geoffrey.
Throughout the week Geoffrey had the opportunity to take master classes, in which one of the professionals presented specific techniques to help him further his development. “The master classes and instructional sessions are incredibly valuable and I have learned so much about playing the euphonium and tuba from the world-class professionals who lead them,” said Geoffrey. “Additionally, the chance to meet and network with other musicians and professionals in the field has been invaluable.”
Geoffrey said he hopes to utilize the skills he learned at IET to improve his playing and take his musical performances to new heights. “Having opportunities like this will make an already talented and gifted musician even better,” said former CCHS Band Director Brad Howard. “I can’t wait to see how much he has improved from this experience and I am looking forward to him bringing that knowledge to improve our program.”
Geoffrey studies regularly with Chris Schmidt of Floyds Knobs, Indiana and Russell Shartzer of Louisville. Brad Howard and Kelly Hash have been his Band Directors while at Carroll County.
