By Amanda A. Taylor-Uchoa

RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – SEPT. 17, 2025 – When Dr. Scott Roeder sat in the audience at the International Tuba Euphonium Conference in Valencia, Spain in June, he wasn’t expecting to hear his name. In fact, he didn’t even know he was a finalist.

So, when the announcer called out the winner of the Roger Bobo Award for Recording Excellence in Classical Solo Tuba – and it was him – Roeder described the moment as almost unreal.

“To be honest, it was shocking,” Roeder said. “The previous winners of this award are some of the leading artists in the field. I never imagined I would be among them to even be in contention.”

The award, often called the “Album of the Year” by the International Tuba Euphonium Association (ITEA), is presented biennially to a single winner in each of five categories worldwide.

Roeder, associate professor of Tuba and Euphonium at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, now joins this select group of honorees for his album, “TubaSongs: Lyrical Music for Tuba.”

A CAREER MILESTONE YEARS IN THE MAKING

The project began with a UTRGV seed grant, which helped cover the costs of recording equipment, editing and pressing the album.

“In performing arts, albums are one of the most important forms of publishing,” Roeder said. “It’s the same as writing a book in other fields. When one of our music faculty creates a new album, it helps publicize not just the faculty member but the entire School of Music. The funds from the seed grant allow this to happen.”

For Roeder, this recognition is both professional validation and a deeply personal reward.

“Professionally, this means that my work has been compared to the top musicians in the business and is considered of that same quality,” he said. “Personally, it really is a reward and justification for all the work I have put in over the years practicing and developing my skills as a musician.”

The award-winning album features lyrical works for tuba — music that Roeder believes speaks to the very heart of why so many musicians fall in love with the instrument.

“Most people who play the tuba fall in love with the sound first. I wanted to create an album that really embraced that idea,” he said. “All of the music are songs that speak to me as an artist. In my career, this is music I keep coming back to and enjoy playing.”

SHINING A LIGHT ON UTRGV

Beyond his personal recognition, Roeder said the award reflects the strength of UTRGV’s School of Music and its faculty.

“I think it shows the tremendous quality of the faculty at UTRGV School of Music and that it is a place where students are taught by top professionals in our fields,” he said.

Dr. Jeffrey Ward, dean of the UTRGV College of Fine Arts, called Roeder’s accomplishment a defining moment for the School of Music.

“Recording a solo album is a significant achievement for any music faculty member, but having it recognized by leading performers from around the world as the best album of the year is a crowning achievement in a faculty member’s career,” Ward said.

BEHIND THE MUSIC

The process of creating the album required persistence. It took Roeder about 18 months to release the album. Beyond rehearsals and recording sessions, Roeder spent countless hours in the editing booth, carefully reviewing takes.

“One of the hardest parts for me is the editing process, where you are scrutinizing everything that was recorded to find the best takes,” he said.

That effort, however, was worth it. Roeder hopes the final product offers listeners something simple: joy.

“I really hope listeners find joy in the recording – both in the sound and the music,” he said. “I’ve been told the album is very relaxing to listen to and is great to put on just to chill.”

While Roeder has no immediate plans for another recording – “I’ve done three in the past five years” – his calendar is full. This spring, he will host the International Tuba Euphonium Association South Central Regional Conference at UTRGV.

He also continues to perform with the Valley Symphony Orchestra, the VSO Brass Quintet, and through annual faculty recitals.

TubaSongs: Lyrical Music for Tuba” can be streamed on most major streaming platforms, and can be purchased through Mark Custom Records.