Alan Baer joined the New York Philharmonic on June 21, 2004, as Principal Tuba. He was formerly principal tuba with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Long Beach Symphony Orchestra, and Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra. His other performing credits include recordings with The Cleveland Orchestra led by Vladimir Ashkenazy, performances with the Peninsula Music Festival of Wisconsin, New Orleans Symphony, Los Angeles Concert Orchestra, Ojai Festival Orchestra (California), Los Angeles Philharmonic, and Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He has also performed as a featured soloist, touring several countries in Europe, including Switzerland, Austria, Germany, and France.

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Baer began his undergraduate work at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he studied with Dr. Gary Bird. He completed his bachelor of music degree with Ronald Bishop at the Cleveland Institute of Music, and has done graduate work at the University of Southern California, Cleveland Institute of Music, and California State University, Long Beach, where he studied with Tommy Johnson. While in Long Beach, Baer taught at California State University, where he also directed the university tuba ensemble and the brass choir. In Milwaukee, Baer was adjunct professor of tuba and euphonium at the University of Wisconsin and director of the Tuba-Euphonium Ensemble.

Dr. Vincent (Vince) Kenney currently serves as Director of Bands and Associate Professor of Low Brass at Drake University in Des Moines, IA, where he conducts the Drake Wind Symphony and directs low brass studies.

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As a conductor, soloist, and chamber musician, Vince has been invited to present clinics, lectures, and recitals at the finest music conferences and universities throughout the United States, including the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic, the Texas Music Educators Association All-State Conference (TMEA), the United States Army Band Tuba/Euphonium Workshop, the International Tuba/Euphonium Conference, the Iowa Bandmasters Association Conference, the Eastman School of Music, and many others.

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Dr. Kenney is a contributing author to the Teaching Music Through Performance in Band Series published by GIA, and In 2020, was appointed Music Director and Conductor of the Des Moines Metro Concert Band, Iowa’s only professional concert band, which presents its annual Summer concert series “Music Under the Stars – Iowa” on the steps of the Iowa State Capitol. A strong advocate for music technology and interdisciplinary collaboration, Vince is the owner of VOCE Custom Recording and the VOCE record label, which specialize in educational and professional recording projects for wind bands of all levels.

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As a euphonium soloist, Vince has been featured on two albums with the Drake Wind Symphony, both released on the Mark Custom record label, and in 2022 he commissioned and premiered composer Aaron Perrine’s Euphonium Concerto with the same ensemble. Dr. Kenney’s students have found success at all levels, including winning major competitions such as the Leonard Falcone International Euphonium Competition.

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As a member of the North Texas Euphonium Quartet, Vince has helped to establish the euphonium quartet as a viable chamber medium through performances, commissions, premieres, and educational outreach. To date, the group has aided in creating over 100 new works for euphonium quartet along with a host of new arrangements. The group released their first album “Machines” in 2019.

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Vince is a member of the College Band Directors National Association, The Iowa Bandmasters Association, and the International Tuba Euphonium Association. He received undergraduate degrees in Music Education and Performance from the University of Illinois, and Masters and Doctoral degrees in Euphonium Performance from the University of North Texas, under the tutelage of Dr. Brian Bowman. Dr. Kenney is a Willson performing artist, playing exclusively on the Willson 2900-TA euphonium.

Eric W. Bush is Associate Director of Bands and Director of the Hawkeye Marching Band in the School of Music at the University of Iowa, where he also serves as Associate Director for Instructional Support and Enrollment Management. He leads the athletic band program, conducts the Iowa Concert Band, and teaches various other courses, including marching band techniques and band arranging.

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During Bush’s tenure as Director of the HMB, the ensemble has earned national recognition for innovative show design, dynamic collaborations, and exponential growth in engagement among students, alumni, and the Hawkeye community. He is proud to have designed noteworthy shows such as the national runner-up in Metallica's inaugural Marching Band Competition in 2023, and 2022’s celebration of the 120th anniversary of the birth of Meredith Willson, featuring 76 trombones. He designed and implemented an entire season of “Virtual Game Days” at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The Hawkeye Marching Band collaborated with The Ohio State University Marching Band in the 2022 season to perform a fully integrated halftime show celebrating the music and career of Sir Elton John, which gained national attention and recognition from Elton John himself.

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As Associate Director of Bands, Bush continues a tradition of excellence with the Iowa Concert Band, and also enjoys opportunities to conduct the Iowa Symphony Band. Notable performances include the Midwest premiere of Aaron Perrine’s A Dream of Trees at the 2020 College Band Directors National Association North Central Division conference and a highly acclaimed performance of Carnevale di Venezia featuring trumpet superstar Allen Vizzutti at the 2022 Iowa Bandmasters Association conference. In spring of 2023, Bush will guest conduct the Iowa Symphony Band in Kimberly Archer’s Fanfare Politeia at the prestigious American Bandmasters Association conference.

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From 2015 to 2018, Bush served as Assistant Director of Bands and Jazz Studies at The Pennsylvania State University. He was actively involved with all operations of the Marching Blue Band and volleyball, basketball, and hockey pep bands. Also a member of the conducting, jazz, and graduate faculties, Bush worked with concert bands, taught undergraduate conducting, coached jazz combos, and directed the Inner Dimensions jazz ensemble. In 2015, he served as Visiting Director of Bands at Cornell College in Mt. Vernon, IA, and from 2008 to 2012, he served as Director of Bands and assistant professor at Suffolk County Community College on Long Island, NY.

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Originally from Michigan, Bush earned his bachelor’s degree in music education from Central Michigan University. He holds a master’s degree in trumpet performance from the University of Montana, where he served as graduate teaching assistant for bands. From 2012 to 2015, Bush served as a graduate teaching assistant at the University of Iowa, where he earned the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Band Conducting and published his thesis, The History of the Big Ten Band Directors Association (1971-2015).

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Bush is very active in the music community, as he guest conducts, clinics, and adjudicates regularly, and he is frequently invited for guest speaking engagements. His professional affiliations include the College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA), National Band Association (NBA), Big Ten Band Directors Association (BTBDA), and the Iowa Bandmasters Association (IBA). Bush has served as faculty advisor to both the Penn State and University of Iowa collegiate chapters of the national music fraternity Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. In this capacity, he was honored with the coveted Orpheus Award. Dr. Bush lives in Iowa City with his wife, Alex, and their son, Brecken.