Dr. Clay Garrett

A native Texan, tubist Clay Garrett maintains a busy teaching and performing schedule throughout the state. Clay currently teaches tuba and euphonium at Temple College, Texas A&M – Kingsville, and McLennan Community College, where he also teaches trombone.

His love for the tuba as a solo instrument has garnered success at several international competitions, including those at the Markneukirchen Competition, Lieksa Brass Week, the International Tuba and Euphonium Conference, the Concert Artist’s Guild competition, and the Leonard Falcone Competition, where he was awarded 1^st Prize in the competitive Artist Division.

Clay regularly collaborates with world-class performers as a chamber and orchestral musician. He was recently appointed as Principal Tuba of the Victoria Symphony Orchestra (TX) and performs regularly with orchestras, bands, and brass quintets throughout the state. Additionally, he has served as tubist and conductor for the past two summers at the Mountain Light Music Festival in Pagosa Springs, CO.

Clay holds degrees from the University of Texas at Austin (D.M.A.), Baylor University (M.M), and the University of Texas at Tyler (B.M). His doctoral thesis explored the expressiveness of the tuba related to vocal music, for which he transcribed numerous songs from Schubert’s Winterreise.

Clay lives in Waco, Texas with his wife, bassoonist Ann Shoemaker, and their two dogs Harvey and Zin. An active cyclist, Clay spends his free time either riding his bike or working part-time at the local bike shop.

Office: BPAC 117 * Phone: (254) 299-8219 * Email: ctgarrett@mclennan.edu