Derek Fenstermacher is the newly appointed Principal Tubist with the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, appointed by Stéphane Denève in 2018. In addition he maintains principal positions with New Jersey Symphony Orchestra and Albany Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Fenstermacher’s first principal appointment was with Chattanooga Symphony and Opera Orchestra from 2006-2014, and has also performed with extensively with New York Philharmonic, Cincinnati Symphony, Seattle Symphony, Mariinsky Theater Orchestra, Nashville Symphony Orchestra, the New World Symphony, Charlotte Symphony, Houston Ballet Orchestra, and Alabama Symphony, among others. 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. A devoted educator, Mr. Fenstermacher has been on faculty at Bard College’s Conservatory of Music since 2012. He has also taught as Adjunct Professor of Tuba and Euphonium at Montclair State University and Kean University. Since 2016 he has toured nationally with Sotto Voce Quartet, an internationally acclaimed tuba and euphonium quartet, and maintains a regular touring scheduling of masterclasses and performances throughout the United States. Derek Fenstermacher is a Buffet Crampon Performing Artist, and performs on B&S tubas.