Students

Student Success

We are very proud of all of our students. Below is a list of some recent alumni of the tuba euphonium studio and their accomplishments.

Dr. Josh Calkin - Graduated with DMA in 2014, is the Instructor of Low Brass and Assistant Director of Bands at Wayne State College in Nebraska.

Dr. Jeremy Crawford - Graduated Spring 2008, received his Doctoral degree at Northwestern University, and is currently the Instructor of Tuba/Euphonium at The University of Alabama, Adjunct Instructor of Tuba at Shelton State Community College and Adjunct Instructor: Tuba & Euphonium at Alabama State University Department of Music. Dr. Crawford returned in 2016, during our "Coming Home" year to celebrate the opening of our new Voxman Music Building, and performed a solo recital and masterclass. He has released two solo CDs;    To Bring to Bloom and Hummingbrrd.

Dr. Christopher Dickey, euphonium and tuba - Graduated with a Masters degree in May 2009, received his Doctoral degree at Northwestern University, and is currently Professor of low brass at the University of Washington. Dr. Dickey returned in 2016, during our "Coming Home" year to celebrate the opening of our new Voxman Music Building, and performed a solo recital and masterclass. He has released two solo recordings, including Just a Thought and Dulcet Voice

Chet Aliga -  Graduated in 2009, received his Masters degree from Western Michican University in 2016, and  is now the Director of bands at Douglas County High School in Castle Rock, Colorado

Dr. Michael Hart - Director of Bands at California Lutheran College

Patrick Bigsby - Graduated Spring 2010, attended graduate School at USC for Journalism and returned to the University of Iowa to pursue his post graduate work in Journalism and Law. He is currently  a Law Clerk for the Sixth Judicial District of Iowa.

Dr. Kristina Gavin Bigsby - Graduated Spring 2010, and teaches at the University of Iowa  as a Lecturer of Business Analytics at the Tippie College of Business.

Blaine Cunningham - Has completed his coursework for his Doctoral degree (ABD), is the principal tuba with Orchestra Iowa, and teaches on the faculty of the Orchestra Iowa School and Kirkwood Community College.

Steven Neilssen - Graduated in 2012 and teaches music at a public school in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Dr. Katharine Wohlman - Received her Doctoral degree in 2013 and is currently the Music Director of the Salvation Army in the Washington D.C./Virginia area.

Will Emrich - Graduated with a Bachelor's degree in music in 2017 and joined the United States Marines and is currently stationed at Marine Corps Base Hawaii as a member of the US Marine Corps Forces Pacific Band.

Matt Ehler - Completed his course work for his Bachelor of Music Education and teaches band and general music at LaSalle Middle School in Cedar Rapids, IA.

Ben Reid - Graduated in 2013 and is a member of the U.S. Navy  7th Fleet Band in stationed in Yokosuka, Japan.

Bo Atlas - Serves on the faculty of the University of Nebraska Lincoln and is the Principal Tuba of the Des Moines Symphony

Wiatt Cariveau - Completed his Masters degree in 2020 and is the  Low Brass Instructor at Cornell College in Mt. Vernon, Iowa. He is also a member of the Braeburn Brass Quintet.

David Mercedes - Was appointed to the faculty of Western Michigan University in Fall 2023