Helder Perez, tuba and euphonium
Helder Perez is a freelance tubist primarily located in the Chicago area. Originally from
Chicago Heights, Illinois. Perez holds a Bachelors of Musical Arts from the Chicago College of
Performing Arts at Roosevelt University, where he graduated Cum Laude and had the privilege
of studying tuba with Charles Schuchat. During his time at CCPA, Perez was able to regularly
perform with both the classical and jazz ensembles. He was awarded the Diversifying Higher
Education Faculty in Illinois (DFI) Fellowship in 2024 after being selected by the Illinois Board
of Higher Education (IBHE) to pursue his graduate studies. He is currently pursuing his Masters
in Business Administration at Roosevelt University, while furthering his music studies under the
tutelage of Scott Tegge.
As a tubist, Mr. Perez has had the opportunity to sub with The Symphony of Oak
Park-River Forest under Jay Friedman and the Southwest Symphony Orchestra. Most notably,
Perez can be heard on the world premiere of Edna A. Longoria’s La Banda with the Classical
Music Institute in San Antonio, Texas. He has also performed in masterclasses for Ja'Tik Clark,
Sergio Carolino,Micky Wrobleski, Mark Fisher, and others. Additionally, Perez has studied with
Gene Pokorny, Joe Lefevre and Tom Garling. Mr. Perez is a multi-genre tubist and is highly in
demand in the Mexican Regional genre playing banda and corridos. He is a member of Grupo
Esencia and currently signed to independent label Dreambox Records in Chicago.
As an educator and scholar, Mr. Perez understands the obstacles presented to musicians
when pursuing a career in music. These obstacles led him to pursue studies in business and
entrepreneurship to be able to help others bridge the gap in musician’s professional studies. He
has presented research at academic conferences as a McNair Scholar and as a member of the
Roosevelt University Honors College. He hopes to use his research to help other classical
musicians build careers outside of just the traditional orchestral setting. Because of his
experiences and interests with music and business, Helder was awarded the 2022 National
Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) President's Innovation Award. Despite his academic
and business endeavors, his passion will always be music. His teaching philosophy aims to help
his students produce great sound with ease and allow them to develop their own voices as
musicians. When he is not busy with teaching, research or performing around Chicago, you can
find Helder spending his free time attending live performances and playing soccer.
Chicago Heights, Illinois. Perez holds a Bachelors of Musical Arts from the Chicago College of
Performing Arts at Roosevelt University, where he graduated Cum Laude and had the privilege
of studying tuba with Charles Schuchat. During his time at CCPA, Perez was able to regularly
perform with both the classical and jazz ensembles. He was awarded the Diversifying Higher
Education Faculty in Illinois (DFI) Fellowship in 2024 after being selected by the Illinois Board
of Higher Education (IBHE) to pursue his graduate studies. He is currently pursuing his Masters
in Business Administration at Roosevelt University, while furthering his music studies under the
tutelage of Scott Tegge.
As a tubist, Mr. Perez has had the opportunity to sub with The Symphony of Oak
Park-River Forest under Jay Friedman and the Southwest Symphony Orchestra. Most notably,
Perez can be heard on the world premiere of Edna A. Longoria’s La Banda with the Classical
Music Institute in San Antonio, Texas. He has also performed in masterclasses for Ja'Tik Clark,
Sergio Carolino,Micky Wrobleski, Mark Fisher, and others. Additionally, Perez has studied with
Gene Pokorny, Joe Lefevre and Tom Garling. Mr. Perez is a multi-genre tubist and is highly in
demand in the Mexican Regional genre playing banda and corridos. He is a member of Grupo
Esencia and currently signed to independent label Dreambox Records in Chicago.
As an educator and scholar, Mr. Perez understands the obstacles presented to musicians
when pursuing a career in music. These obstacles led him to pursue studies in business and
entrepreneurship to be able to help others bridge the gap in musician’s professional studies. He
has presented research at academic conferences as a McNair Scholar and as a member of the
Roosevelt University Honors College. He hopes to use his research to help other classical
musicians build careers outside of just the traditional orchestral setting. Because of his
experiences and interests with music and business, Helder was awarded the 2022 National
Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) President's Innovation Award. Despite his academic
and business endeavors, his passion will always be music. His teaching philosophy aims to help
his students produce great sound with ease and allow them to develop their own voices as
musicians. When he is not busy with teaching, research or performing around Chicago, you can
find Helder spending his free time attending live performances and playing soccer.