Euphoniums
Tony Wise was born in Troy, Ohio in 1979. He began his musical studies at age eight on the piano and quickly moved on to the trumpet. After a year and a half with the trumpet, he was introduced to the euphonium by his band director, Mr. Don Jenkins. By the 8th grade he was earning superior ratings on euphonium solo’s and brass ensembles. In high school Mr. Wise performed with the Sidney (Ohio) Civic Band, Piqua Community Band, the Troy Community Band, and sat first chair in the District Band his Junior and Senior year.
Mr. Wise earned a Bachelors of Music Education Degree from Morehead State University (Cum Laude), Masters of Secondary Education from Indiana University Southeast (Summa Cum Laude), and is completing the Educational Leadership program at Indiana University Southeast. While at Morehead State University, Mr. Wise served as the low brass section leader, principal euphonium for the MSU Symphonic Band, principal euphonium for the MSU Tuba/Euphonium ensemble, and was hired by MSU as a Music Theory/Listening tutor. In 2002, Mr. Wise was invited to perform at the International Tuba Euphonium Conference with the World’s Honor Tuba/Euphonium ensemble in Greensboro, North Carolina. Currently, Mr. Wise is the principal Euphonium for both the Lexington Brass Band and the Commonwealth Brass Band.
Mr. Wise has studied the Euphonium with Don Jenkins, Stacy Baker, and Earl Louder who studied with the renowned Leonard Falcone. He has studied conducting under Dr. Richard Miles, director of bands at Morehead State University.
Mr. Wise is currently the band director at Oldham County Middle School in Buckner, Kentucky. His bands have received numerous Proficient and Distinguished ratings. In his spare time, Mr. Wise enjoys spending time with his family, watching movies, and playing golf.
James Adams is currently an undergraduate student at Eastern Kentucky University pursuing a BME and studying euphonium with Mr. James Willett. His musical career started in 1991 as a trumpet player, but two years later he started playing the euphonium and has been doing so ever since. He has been a member of the KMEA All-State Concert and Symphonic Bands, Kentucky Lions Club Band, and the Kentucky Intercollegiate Band. James is currently a member of numerous ensembles at EKU including the Symphonic Band, Marching Band, Brass Choir, Tuba Ensemble, Pep Band, and has also performed with the University Concert Band and Symphony Orchestra. He teaches private lessons to Richmond area euphonium/tuba students and is a member of the counseling staff at Stephen Collins Foster Music Camp, the second oldest music camp in the country. Currently employed as a library assistant for the EKU Music Library, he likes most styles of music from Classical to Rock, but especially enjoys anything brass related such as Brass Band, Brass Choir, and Tuba Ensemble.