Dr. Gilbert C. Corella
Loudoun Symphonic Winds Principal Conductor
Gil Corella, native of Miami, Florida, has performed as a soloist and
clinician at colleges and universities throughout the United States. Special
appearances have included the Fretted Instrument Guild of America's and
Mid-America Banjo Enthusiasts' international conventions, the United States Army
Band Tuba/Euphonium conferences since 1996, and at the international
Tuba/Euphonium Conferences in Saskatchewan, Canada (June 2000), and Greensboro,
North Carolina (May 2002). Additionally, Corella has performed with the Mickey
Finn Show and is widely recognized as a traditional jazz tubist, having played
with nearly every traditional jazz band in the Washington and Baltimore
metropolitan arenas. In October 1999, he released a compact disc with tenor
banjoist Stephen DiBonaventura (Philadelphia, PA), titled, Unnatural Ax, "The
Bear,” an eclectic mix of classical, dixieland and jazz. Corella is currently
tuba/euphonium professor at George Washington University (Washington, D.C.),
adjunct tuba/euphonium professor at the Catholic University of America
(Washington, D.C.) and Georgetown University (Washington, D.C.), and musical
director for the Loudoun Symphonic Winds in Loudoun County, VA, and the Friendly
Hall Chamber Orchestra of Southern Maryland.
Corella joined the United States Air Force Band, Bolling
Air Force Base, Washington D.C., in October 1985. As a tubist assigned to the
Ceremonial Brass, he has participated in a broad spectrum of ceremonies in the
nation's Capital region, ranging from State arrivals at the White House to full
honor funerals at Arlington National Cemetery. He has also performed with and
conducted other components of the United States Air Force Band, such as the
Concert Band and the Chamber Players. Corella has appeared as a soloist with the
Ceremonial Brass, the Concert Band and the Chamber Orchestra. He has served as
the director of the USAF Chamber Players Series and is currently the Career
Marketing Director for the USAF Band and Chief of Operations for Public Affairs.
Prior to his enlistment in the Air Force, he attended the University of Texas
at Austin, from 1981 to 1985. In the summer of 1984, Corella performed with
Disneyland's All-American College Band in Anaheim, CA. His private instructors
have included Dave Fedderly, principal tubist with the Baltimore Symphony, Steve
Bryant, tuba professor at the University of Texas at Austin, Ben Gucik,
principal tubist with the Tulsa Philharmonic and John Holland Wanner, noted
embouchure specialist from Las Vegas, NV. Upon his assignment to The United
States Air Force Band, he completed his Bachelor of Music degree from the
Catholic University of America, Washington, DC, in 1988. While at the
university, he studied with Milt Stevens, principal trombonist with the National
Symphony. Corella has also studied conducting with Colonel Arnald D. Gabriel,
retired Commander/Conductor of the United States Air Force Band. In May 1997 he
completed a Master's degree in conducting and performance at George Mason
University in Fairfax, VA, studying with Professor Anthony Maiello, Director of
Instrumental Ensembles. From the Catholic University of America, Corella
completed his Doctorate of Musical Arts degree in May of 2005, as the school’s
first-ever graduate in tuba performance.
Gil may be contacted at concertband@lcbandinc.org.
