DEREK FENSTERMACHER, PRINCIPAL TUBA

Derek Fenstermacher has performed as Principal Tuba of the Albany Symphony Orchestra since 2015. In addition to his work with the ASO, he has served as Principal Tubist with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra since 2011. From 2018-2020, he earned the opportunity to serve as Principal Tuba with the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Stephane Deneve. During the 2021-2022 season, he served as Principal Tuba of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Fenstermacher’s first principal appointment was with the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera Orchestra from 2006-2014, and he has guest performed with the New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony, Cincinnati Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, Seattle Symphony, Florida Orchestra, Mariinsky Theater Orchestra, Nashville Symphony, the New World Symphony, Houston Ballet Orchestra, and Alabama Symphony orchestras.

A devoted educator, Mr. Fenstermacher has also been on faculty at Bard College’s Conservatory of Music since 2012. More recently he also teaches as Adjunct Professor of Tuba at Manhattan School of Music, and Adjunct Professor of Tuba and Euphonium at Winthrop University in South Carolina. Other schools that he has served as adjunct professor include Montclair State University and Kean University. Since 2016 he has toured nationally as a member of the world-renowned Sotto Voce Quartet, an internationally acclaimed tuba and euphonium quartet, and maintains a regular touring schedule of masterclasses and performances throughout the United States. He is also a former member of the New York Tuba Quartet, and Boreas Quartet.

A native of Huntsville Alabama, Mr. Fenstermacher began playing the tuba at the age of 14 and by age 19 he was a featured soloist with the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra. He received a B.M. from the University of Alabama studying with Demondrae Thurman and James Michael Dunn. He then went on to receive a master’s degree from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music with Timothy Northcut, and was pursuing a Performer’s Certificate from the University of Houston with Mark Barton prior to joining New Jersey Symphony.

Derek Fenstermacher is a Buffet Crampon Performing Artist, and performs regularly on B&S tubas.