BIOGRAPHY
An emerging tuba artist and educator, Blake Lile is the Adjunct Lecturer of Tuba and Euphonium at The University of Texas at Tyler and the Adjunct Professor of Tuba and Euphonium at Collin College.
As an active performer, Blake has performed with several different orchestras within Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas, such as the Fort Smith Symphony, the McKinney Philharmonic Orchestra, the Lawton Philharmonic, and the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas. As an advocate for chamber music, Blake Lile and Abby Ward formed a professional tuba and trumpet duo called Duo Flora. Duo Flora aims to promote and expand the repertoire of this ensemble through new commissions and recitals.
Blake has found success in several different international competitions, being named a semifinalist for the Leonard Falcone International Tuba Solo Artist competition in 2023, the International Tuba Euphonium Conferences Artist Tuba Solo competition, Arnold Jacobs Mock Orchestra competition, Mock Band competition, Chamber Music competition in 2023, and placing Third Place in the Tuba Solo Competition Category 2 at the International Women’s Brass Conference in 2022. In 2024, Blake was named a finalist for the University of North Texas's William Gammon Henry Concerto Competition. Blake was named a finalist in several International Tuba Euphonium Association Regional competitions, such as the Tuba Solo Artist, Mock Orchestra, Chamber Music, and Young Tuba Solo Artist competitions.
Blake is finishing up his Doctoral degree at the University of North Texas in Tuba Performance. He received his Master's degree in Tuba Performance from Oklahoma State University. He received his Bachelor's degree in Tuba Performance from Murray State University. His primary teachers are Professor Don Little, Professor Matt Good, Dr. Ryan Robinson, and Dr. Todd French.
PROGRAM
"Spirit Sketches" by Chris McLaughlin (2025)
I. Salamander
II. Undine
III. Gnome
IV. Sylph
Program notes by composer:
The title and the movements take inspiration from Paracelsus’s early 16th century alchemical writings. Scientists have been and always will be tasked with the endless pursuit of theorizing how the world we inhabit works. While much of alchemy is easily dismissed in a modern time, I find it helpful to imagine things from a 16th century perspective. Perhaps this was the best theory supported by the evidence at the time. As we collect more evidence and acquire more knowledge, then we can revise our theories.
Paracelsus posited that each of the four elements had a particular spirit associated with them: Salamander with fire, Undine with water, Gnome with earth, and Sylph with air. As I pondered those four elements and their representative spirits, it seemed logical that the warmth and breadth of fire and earth could be mapped to contrabass tuba while the fluidity and suppleness of water and air could be mapped to bass tuba. Thus, the movement structure fell into place.
