Paul Ebbers, Associate Professor of Lower Brass at The Florida State University and Principal Tuba in the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra, Paul Ebbers is known internationally as a performer and a teacher.Mr. Ebbers received his early musical training in his native state of Iowa. Beginning his musical studies on trumpet in the fourth grade, he quickly worked his way up to tuba by the fifth grade.
Pursuing his musical career, Mr. Ebbers attended the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, Iowa. While in Cedar Falls, Mr. Ebbers would drive eight hours monthly to Chicago, Illinois to study with his most influential teacher, Mr. Arnold Jacobs of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
After being awarded a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Northern Iowa, he moved to Chicago, Illinois to study with Mr. Jacobs. While working with Mr. Jacobs, Mr. Ebbers earned a Master of Music Degree from Northwestern University.
Mr. Ebbers then moved to Bloomington, Indiana to pursue an advanced degree from Indiana University while studying with Mr. Harvey Phillips.
In 1979, Mr. Ebbers accepted an appointment from The Florida State University in Tallahassee as Assistant Professor of Tuba.
Other teachers that have influenced Mr. Ebbers have been Donald Little, Fritz Kaenzig, and Harvey Phillips.
Mr. Ebbers has been an active participant in Tubists Universal Brotherhood Association (T.U.B.A.). He served as an adjudicator for the Mock Tuba Orchestral and Solo Competitions at numerous conferences for T.U.B.A. He has served as Local Chapters Coordinator and on the International Executive Board as Secretary/Treasurer.
Mr. Ebbers is an active soloist and clinician in the United States and has performed with St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Tallahassee Symphony, Pensacola Symphony, Florida Orchestra and Florida Philharmonic.
Mr. Ebbers is also active with the Florida State Brass Quintet. In 1991, the Florida State Brass Quintet made its debut in Carnegie Hall followed by its first European tour. The Florida State Brass Quintet performs annually between forty and sixty concerts, throughout the United States and Europe.
Now in his twentieth year in Tallahassee, Mr. Ebbers considers himself a Southerner, even though he speaks as a Yankee. He and his two children very much enjoy the rich cultural environment that the School of Music and Florida State University provides.
If you have comments or suggestions, email me at pebbers@mailer.fsu.edu