David Zerkel wins International Tuba Euphonium Association’s inaugural Teaching Award

David Zerkel, professor of tuba and euphonium at the UGA Hugh Hodgson School of Music, was recently awarded the International Tuba Euphonium Association’s (ITEA) inaugural Teaching Award.

Recognizing exceptional achievement in teaching, the award requires a minimum of ten years of teaching euphonium and/or tuba and letters of support from colleagues, current students and former students. Zerkel was selected by vote of the ITEA Board of Directors.

“David Zerkel's professional recognition is stellar, from his own performing with leading professional orchestras in the country to having students win major positions in the performing world and education,” said Dale Monson, director of the School of Music.  

“We are so fortunate to have him on our faculty, and to have his accomplishments recognized with this international teaching award.”

According to Dr. Jerry Young, immediate past-president of the ITEA, the letters received from Zerkel’s colleagues, current students, and an outstanding array of professionally successful former students played a key role in his selection for the award.    

Young said that Zerkel’s “…reputation across the profession throughout his long career is highly distinguished. His students are sought after in every arena of the music business. His devotion to his students both during their time in school and after they leave the university is exceptional."

Zerkel has enjoyed a positive history with ITEA, having been the organization’s president from 2009-2011 and receiving its first-ever Roger Bobo Award for Excellence in Recording in 2006.

He has performed with many orchestras, including the Philadelphia Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra. 

Before his arrival at UGA, he taught in a similar position at Illinois State University. He began his performing career as a member of the United States Army Field Band and The United States Army Band, both located in Washington, D.C.