Gail Robertson earned her B.A. degree from the University of Central Florida and a M.M. in Euphonium Performance from Indiana University while serving as graduate assistant to Harvey Phillips. She postponed her doctoral studies at the University of Maryland with Dr. Brian Bowman to perform with the “Tubafours” at Walt Disney World, Orlando where she served as musical supervisor/chief arranger and produced a highly acclaimed CD, “Tubas Under the Boardwalk.” She has recently completed her D.M.A. as a University Distinguished Fellow at Michigan State University studying with Phil Sinder, Ava Ordman, and Ricardo Lorenz. She has taught on the faculties of Eastern Michigan University, the University of Central Florida, Bethune-Cookman University, the University of Florida, Valencia, and Seminole Community Colleges, and remains active as a teacher, adjudicator, composer, arranger and free-lance artist, both nationally and internationally.
Robertson currently serves as Visiting Assistant Professor of Tuba and Euphonium at the University of Central Arkansas where she is tubist in the Pinnacle Brass and teaches the Jazz Ensemble II. She is the Chair/Chief Editor of the International Tuba and Euphonium Press, and serves on the Board of Directors of the Leonard Falcone Tuba and Euphonium Festival, the International Tuba and Euphonium Association (ITEA), and the International Women’s Brass Conference (IWBC). She has served as President of the IWBC and as a conference host in 2010 and 2006. She has also served as Euphonium and Membership Coordinator of the International Tuba and Euphonium Association (ITEA) and was the featured artist on the cover of the ITEA Journal (Vol. 38:1, Fall 2010). Two of Gail’s original works have also been featured Gems in the ITEA Journal (Jazz Encounter No. 1 – Gem Series No. 22, Vol. 38:1, Fall 2010, and Allegro et Andantango – Gem Series No. 33, Vol. 41:3, Spring 2014).
Gail was recently awarded the 2014 Clifford Bevan Award for Excellence in Research for her document, “Restoring the Euphonium’s Legacy as Cello of the Wind Band.” Her original work for brass quintet, Tower Guard Tribute, was awarded honorable mention by the 2014 International Alliance for Women in Music’s Patsy Lu competition. In May 2009, Gail recorded a new CD with Dr. Stacy Baker, Alex Thio, and Dr. Deb Eastwood, called “SymbiosisDuo.” SYMBIOSISDUO will release their second CD, “Playground,” in January 2015. Several of the works recorded by the duo were newly commissioned works written especially for the duo. Composers include: Franz Cibulka, Jim Self, James Grant, Christopher Marshall, Brian Balmages, Chris Sharp, Kimberly Archer, T.O. Sterrett, and Phillip Bimstein. In 2007, Gail received Tau Beta Sigma’s highest honor, the “Outstanding Service to Music Award.” She has also been a clinician for the MIDWEST Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, the Florida Music Educators’ Association, the Michigan Music Conference, and numerous ITEA, IWBC, and United States Army Tuba and Euphonium Conferences.
Robertson has toured the U.S., Europe, China, and Japan with Keith Brion’s “New Sousa Band,” the Brass Band of Battle Creek, the Monarch Brass, the Athena Brass Band, and the Brass Band of Central Florida. She has also performed with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the Ann Arbor Symphony, the River City Brass Band, Jack Daniel’s Silver Cornet Band, Euphoniums Unlimited, Symphonia, the Orlando based “Horns and Pipes” Brass and Percussion Ensemble, and SYMBIOSISDUO. Her published works and arrangements are available through GAR MUSIC, Euphonium.com, and Tuba-Euphonium Press. As a Willson Euphonium Artist, Robertson’s euphonium of choice is a Willson 2950TA with a Warburton/Gail Robertson mouthpiece.