The Duquesne University Brass Band was formed in 2022 by its current director, Dr. James Gourlay. The band performs two concerts per Academic year, and takes part in the annual Pittsburgh St, Patrick’s Day Parade, where it has won the Glenn Cannon award for best musical group three years running. The Duquesne Brass Band also has the honor annually to perform the Star-Spangled Banner at PNC Park, the home of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Since the band was formed, it has become a proxy training band for the world-famous River City Brass with many of its members substituting in the professional ensemble.

Prof. James Gourlay DMA, MMus, FRNCM, FLCM is a leading performer, teacher and academic. As well as his work as a soloist, conductor and member of some of Europe’s finest orchestras, James has held high level Academic and administrative posts such as Head of School, Wind, Brass and Percussion at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) as well as Deputy Principal and Director of the School of Music at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. James has been a member of the Philip Jones Brass Ensemble, English Brass, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra and the Orchestra of Zurich Opera House and has performed with the London Symphony Orchestra, the Accademia Nazionale de Santa Cecilia, and the Vienna Philharmonic. Gourlay’s work with brass band continues to be extensive. He has been professional conductor of the Brassband Berneroberland, Williams Fairey Band, the Grimethorpe Colliery Band and the Brighouse and Rastrick band, as well as serving as a guest conductor with the Brassband Treize Etoiles.  He is currently Past President of the ITEA, Music Director of the River City Brass Band, the world’s only full-time professional brass band, is International Chair of Low Brass Studies at the Royal Northern College of Music, and is Director of Bands and professor of tuba and euphonium at Duquesne University.

David Zerkel is Professor of Tuba and Euphonium at the University of Michigan, leading an active career as both a performer and educator. Before his arrival at Michigan, he taught in a similar position at the University of Georgia. His students have distinguished themselves by winning international and national competitions and attaining positions with professional performing organizations. He is a Past President of the International Tuba Euphonium Association and was selected as the inaugural recipient of the ITEA Teaching Award.

David began his performing career as a member of the United States Army Field Band and The United States Army Band, both located in Washington, DC. He has had the good fortune to perform with many orchestras and brass ensembles through the course of his career.

David has performed as a featured soloist at many workshops and symposia, including the Leonard Falcone Festival, several International Tuba Euphonium Conferences, and the United States Army Band Tuba Euphonium Workshop. In addition, he has performed as a solo recitalist at many of the leading colleges and conservatories in the United States. He has released three solo CDs: American Music for Tuba, Tuba Helper, and his latest CD, Journey, which features the music of John Stevens.

David has served as the President of the International Tuba Euphonium Association. His summer teaching activities include a position at the Interlochen Arts Camp. He lives in Dexter, Michigan with his lovely bride.

Lindsay Ring is proud to be the newest euphonium player in The United States Army Field Band, the Army’s premiere touring ensemble. The band has already taken her from coast to coast with plans of international travel to Switzerland and Finland this summer. She recently graduated from the University of Michigan in 2023 with Master's degrees in euphonium performance and chamber music. Originally from Central Illinois, she graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University in 2021 with a Bachelor's degree in music education. She studied with David Zerkel at U of M, and Ed Risinger at IWU. She has competed and placed in many solo and chamber competitions including being a finalist for the Leonard Falcone International Euphonium-Tuba Festival, placing in the Susan Slaughter solo competition hosted at the International Women in Brass Conference, competing in both excerpt and quartet competitions at MWRTEC, and placing first in the young adult winds category at the first Music International Grand Prix Competition. She has been auditioning for military band positions since 2022 and is enjoying her first year as an employed Euphonium player!

A native of Waukegan, IL, David Bandman is a graduate of The University of North Texas where he played trombone in the One O'Clock Lab Band. In 1983 he was the winner of the first ITEC (then TUBA ) international jazz euphonium competition. Currently, he is retired from twenty-four years of active duty with the The United States Air Force Band, Washington D.C.

Since retiring he has been active performing, writing, and recording music. He has written extensively for the Big Apple Circus, the world traveled WWII big band show "In the Mood Live”, The Smokey Mountain Opry, Eric Jordan Young (Las Vegas, Broadway artist) and The Imagination House. He released his first jazz euphonium CD "Can I Play Too" where he arranged the music of Herbert L. Clarke for solo euphonium and big band. "Solo work reflects musicianship by a great soloist!...tailored arrangements made everything "fit" perfectly and are superb... A very unique recording" - Sammy Nestico.

His second release, "Mendez" (which won the Bobo Award-classical division for recording excellence) is entire album of original music inspired by the style and technical wizardry of Rafael Mendez. From the outset, he wanted to create a recording that was a complete tour de force. “This album is the perfect showcase for David's incredible musicianship and unique skill set”. All of the selections are scored for a solo euphonium accompanied by a seven-piece brass ensemble with percussion. "Once again, he's dancing on the fine line between inspirational and demoralizing... it's that good."

His latest recording, “Burn Notice”, is a “collection of high-energy jazz/rock/funk tracks that demonstrates nobody plays the euphonium like he can. This turbo charged, high-octane multi- instrumentalist and composer, demonstrates the versatility and passion in which the euphonium can bring to a CD of catchy melodies and technical feats that can take your breath away - The Jazz Word. Burn Notice yanks the instrument out of it's usually nerdy pigeon hole and put it firmly in the spotlight where everyone least expects it. "David Bandman is a one-man-wrecking crew - MOJA Records.