Blue Lake’s founder and president emeritus, Fritz Stansell, has passed away at the age of 92. Fritz Stansell was also one of the original founders of the Falcone Festival and had an incredible impact on the music world. We are deeply saddened to learn of his passing. Our most sincere condolences to the Stansell family and BLFAC community during these difficult times. He leaves a legacy that will forever inspire our mission and vision. Thank you, Mr. Stansell. Ars longa, vita brevis. 
Adjudicator Panels
I would like to welcome you to the adjudication area of the Falcone Festival. You will find that we invite only highly successful teachers and performers who are dedicated to the furthering of the tuba and euphonium to adjudicate both at the preliminary and festival rounds. Great care is taken during each step of the competition to make sure that only the highest standards are upheld, both by the judges and the contestants. Good luck to all!
~ Martin Erickson
2024 Festival Preliminary Round Adjudicators | 2024 Festival Semi-Final and Final Round Adjudicators
2024 Festival Semi-Final and Final Round Adjudicators
DR. MARK COX Professor of Tuba and Euphonium, Central Michigan University; Yamaha Artist
MARTY ERICKSON Principal E-flat tuba, Brass Band of Battle Creek; associate artist, Rodney Marsalis Philadelphia Big Brass; Principal Tuba, Fox Valley Symphony, performs with the Millennium Brass; retired faculty, Lawrence University Appleton, WI; clinician for Eastman-Shires-Willson Band Instrument Company
DR. JAMIE LIPTON Professor of Low Brass, Director of the Brass Band, Henderson State University (Arkadelphia, AR); Principal Euphonium, Natural State Brass Band (Little Rock, AR); Euphoniumist, Trio di Velluto; Willson Performing Artist
DR. MATTHEW MIRELES Chair of the Department of Music, Director of Bands, Professor of Euphonium & Tuba, St. Mary’s University (San Antonio, TX); Music Director & Conductor, San Antonio Brass Band & Backburner Tuba-Euphonium Collective
DR. MATTHEW MURCHISON performer, composer, arranger, educator, conductor, producer; Adjunct Instructor of Low Brass, Cornell University
PHILIP SINDER Professor of Tuba and Euphonium, Michigan State University College of Music; Principal Tuba, Lansing Symphony Orchestra; founding member, Brass Band of Battle Creek; Valade Teaching Fellow, Interlochen Arts Camp
DR. WILLIAM SUTTON Assistant Professor of Music, Northwest Missouri State University; summer faculty, New England Music Camp (Maine)
DR. REMUS WEBB Associate Professor of Music, Albany (Georgia) State University
DR. BETHANY WIESE, our guest artist
2024 Festival Preliminary Round Adjudicators
Euphonium Artist Division
Roger Behrend • Principal/Solo Euphonium, US Navy Band (retired)
Mark Jenkins • Principal Euphonium, US Marine Band, Washington DC; Adjunct Professor, Euphonium, George Mason University
Dr. Gail Robertson • Associate Professor, Tuba & Euphonium, University of Central Arkansas
Dr. Matthew van Emmerik • Shires and Eastman Low Brass Artist; Conductor; Clinician
Tuba Artist Division
Willie Clark • Lecturer, Tuba & Euphonium, University of Maryland School of Music
Dr. Chris Combest • Associate Professor, Tuba & Director, Graduate Studies, Middle Tennessee State University
Rainer Huss • Principal Tuba, Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra
Don Little • Regents Professor, Tuba & Euphonium, University of North Texas
Euphonium Student Division
Natália Coimbra • Principal Euphonium, Minas Gerais (Brazil) Military Firefighters Symphonic Band
Dr. Sarah Miller • Associate Professor, Trombone & Associate Director, Cougar Marching Band, Washington State University
Dr. Gail Robertson • Associate Professor, Tuba & Euphonium, University of Central Arkansas
Dr. William Sutton • Assistant Professor, Music, Northwest Missouri State University
Tuba Student Division
Dr. Dan Burdick • Pioneering Queer Brass Artist; Instructor, Euphonium & Tuba, State College of Florida
Dr. Paul Carlson • Associate Professor, Tuba & Euphonium, Grand Valley State University
Cristina Cutts Dougherty • Principal Tuba, Phoenix Symphony
Dr. Scott Roeder • Professor, Tuba & Euphonium, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
