Tuba with Sumner E.

Sumner E is a native of Austin, Texas. In 1980, he enrolled in the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. He entered Curtis in September and the following February auditioned for and won the position of Principal Tubaist of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra under Andre’ Previn. He competed against over 100 tubaists from all over the world. He was still just 18 years old, which made him among the youngest principal musicians in the 180 year history of major US Symphony Orchestras. The next over two decades were full of concert performances in all of the music capitols of the world, and dozens of professional recordings and TV appearances. He toured China, Russia, Poland, Japan, Australia, Malaysia, Taiwan, Korea, Hong Kong, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela, Uruguay, Denmark, England, Spain, Puerto Rico, Germany, Greece, Italy, The Netherlands, Switzerland, France and Belgium, returning many times to these places to perform concerts. He also performed in most all the of major North American cities during this time.