Student Successfully Auditions To Become Boston Symphony Orchestra’s New Principal Tubist; Third Recent Appointment of a DePaul School of Music Tubist by a U.S. Orchestra

DePaul University has a long been known for its highly ranked academic programs and its status as the nation’s largest Catholic university. Now the university has a new claim to fame – its School of Music has become a source of top tuba talent for orchestras.

Three U.S. orchestra principal tuba positions have gone to a student or alumnus of the school in the last two years. The most recent appointment was music master’s degree student Mike Roylance, who was chosen to be principal tubist by the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Boston Pops Orchestra Jan. 27. Alumni Daryl Johnson and Jerome Stover were appointed to the tuba chairs of the Louisville and Honolulu orchestras, respectively, in 2001. Typically, these coveted positions attract between 70 to 200 candidates, depending on the openness of an orchestra’s audition policies.

“To appreciate what Mike’s appointment represents, you have to realize that these vacancies are very rare,” said Donald Casey, School of Music dean. “None of the big five orchestras —Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, Boston and Cleveland — has had a tuba chair vacancy for 20 years or more. This is the one tubists have been waiting for.”

Music faculty member Floyd Cooley, who performed for 32 years as principal tuba of the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra before retiring last year, taught Roylance, as well as Johnson and Stover. “When Mike called to say he had the position, we were both screaming,” Cooley said. “We were both elated. But I didn’t doubt he could do it, knowing his level of playing.”

Although there are only about 15 major U.S. orchestra principal tuba positions and musicians tend to keep these posts for many years, Cooley said the openings come in cycles. Many current orchestra tubists are nearing retirement. “The next few years may be the best time ever for young, hot tuba players,” he said. Cooley also has found success in preparing students for positions with opera and ballet company orchestras in San Francisco and with orchestras in Europe and Australia.

Cooley holds another distinction, as well – he may be the DePaul faculty member with the longest commute to work. Since joining DePaul in 1992, Cooley has flown every two weeks to Chicago from San Francisco, or more recently, his home in Jackson, Wyo., to teach at the School of Music. He said the long treks have been worth it because the Windy City has become a magnet for top brass performers, teachers and students.

“DePaul is an especially good place for brass and wind students to study because most of the faculty have major positions with orchestras and because Chicago is a brass center,” Cooley said. “Many of the DePaul brass faculty members are colleagues in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. DePaul has professional musicians teaching students how to become professional musicians, and that makes it different from other universities.”

Roylance, who will head east this summer after graduating, credits the School of Music and Cooley for helping make his new appointment possible. “Studying with Floyd Cooley has given me the skills and the competitive edge needed to succeed at the highest level in the field of music performance,” he said. “I consider him to be a master teacher among teachers. The instrumental music faculty at DePaul is top-notch, providing the students with one-on-one access to the best in the business.”