Gabriel Sears
Gabriel Sears has established himself as a leader among the new generation of brass musicians, captivating his audiences by effortlessly combining virtuosity and musicianship with distinctive entertainment. Heralded by the United States Air Force Band as an “amazing talent” (MSG Burts, 2006) after being the first brass musician to win the Colonel George S. Howard Young Artist Competition, it was evident at an early age that Gabriel would set the new standard in tuba performance. Continuing with his competitive career, Gabriel won 2nd prize in the ’08 and ’09 Leonard Falcone International Tuba Artist Competition, and received a 2011-2012 Fulbright Grant to study tuba performance at the Hochschule für Musik, Theater, und Medien in Hannover, Germany. After moving to Los Angeles, Gabriel competed in the Pasadena Showcase 28th Instrumental Competition in February of 2013, and took 1st place in the brass division.
An avid chamber musician, Gabriel is currently tubist with Denali Brass in LA, and has served as tubist with 2nd Street Brass, Southwest Brass Quintet, the ASU Dixie Devils, and Omni Brass Ensemble, a project with trumpet virtuoso Randolph Lee. Gabriel has enjoyed performance seasons with orchestras in the Phoenix and Los Angeles metropolitan areas and has had the pleasure of working under the batons of both Maestro Gustavo Dudamel and renowned composer John Williams in the Walt Disney Concert Hall and Dorothy Chandler Pavilion respectively. Performing more than just ensemble work, Gabriel is an active soloist and has given several recitals at ASU, two solo performances in Germany, has given multiple solo appearances in Los Angeles, and gave a masterclass and recital tour in Arizona in November of 2017.
In addition to his performance activities, Gabriel is dedicated to arts education and received a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Arizona State University and earned a Professional Studies Certificate from the Colburn School Conservatory of Music in Los Angeles. Gabriel is currently serving as Adjunct Professor of Tuba at California State University Long Beach, Fullerton College, and Irvine Valley College. Gabriel can be heard in major motion picture and television soundtracks as well as throughout the LA area in orchestras, chamber ensembles, and as a soloist. Gabriel has been a student of Norman Pearson, Jens Bjørn-Larsen, Sam Pilafian, Patrick Sheridan, and owes his musical foundation to Donna Schmidt, an Albuquerque, New Mexico area instructor.
Gabriel is an International Artist and Clinician for the Eastman Music Company.