TBJ85: Tom McCaslin
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TBJ85: Tom McCaslin, Tubist with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra on audition prep, recording yourself and all things Canada
Tom McCaslin, tubist with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, soloist, teacher, and clinician has been described by Fanfare Magazine as “one of the contemporary tuba virtuosos”. Originally from Regina, Saskatchewan Tom’s playing and teaching have taken him around the globe. He has performed and taught in Canada, the United States, Switzerland, Portugal, Finland, New Zealand and Australia.
As an orchestral musician he has performed with the Minnesota Orchestra, the Detroit Symphony, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the North Carolina Symphony, the Regina Symphony, the Winnipeg Symphony, the New Mexico Symphony, the Orquestra Sinfónica do Porto Casa da Música (Portugal), the Lahti Symphony (Finland) and was acting Principal Tuba in the Auckland Philharmonia (New Zealand). In the summers he teaches at the Eastern Music Festival in Greensboro, NC, where he serves Principal Tuba with the EMF Festival Orchestra under the direction of Gerard Schwarz.
The Boston Brass “I Left My Pants in Sarnia, Canada” story
New gig in Calgary
Canada jokes!
Audition preparation
How he developed his ears with the help of Sam (Pilafian) and then on his own
Put a premium on recording himself (84 hours worth!)
Trust in your own abilities
Use physicality to override thought, play your way out of it
Audition prep with Sam at Tanglewood
Systematic
Used a randomizer app, put excerpts in and created rounds for himself
Daily round of most likely candidates
Day of audition, puts himself in a cocoon, noise-cancelling headphones
Listened to Bill Simmons podcast and pop music to keep his head clear
Studying with Sam Pilafian at Arizona State University
Travelin’ Light
Studying jazz
Boston Symphony audition
The support within Sam’s teaching studio
Recording solos with Sam as producer
Christmas his first year at ASU story, audition prep, followed by turkey prep
Teaching at East Carolina University
Looking for the quality of person more than quality of player
Teaching studio curation
The importance of the Studio Class hour, setting the expectations
Studying with Roger Bobo in Switzerland
The Dog Whisperer
“Sack of nicknick” story at Banff
Lance’s spot-on Jens impression
Andrew’s Banff story with Joe Alessi in Jens’ Porsche
Sweat out the bad
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Expertly produced by Will Houchin with love, care, and enthusiasm.
