Featuring Professor David Zerkel, tuba, with: Liz Ames, piano Jason Fettig, narrator Tim Zerkel, illustrator David and Liz will perform a recital that is thematically centered around our friends from the animal kingdom. The program will begin with Jean-Michel DeFaye's *Suite Marine*, a depiction of various creatures from the sea. Jason Fettig, Director of Bands at the SMTD and budding thespian, will join us to narrate Anthony Plog's *Animal Ditties IX*, which is a colorful work based on short poems by Ogden Nash, widely considered to be America's Poet Laureate of Light Verse. Closing the first half will be the world premiere of *\"Woof!\"*, by hornist, composer, and SMTD alum James Naigus. This piece is a clever depiction of the characteristics of seven dog breeds. The second half is dedicated to the evening's protagonist. Written in 1960, *Effie the Elephant, Suite no. 1* by Alec Wider is a relatively early work for solo tuba depicting Effie in pursuit of various human endeavors: singing a lullaby, going folk dancing, and falling in love, etc. David decided that Effie needed a rebrand, and perhaps to get out a little more: we present *Effie Swipes Left*, *Effie Goes Clubbing*, *Effie goes to Therapy*, *Effie Goes to the DMV*, *Effie Adopts a Puppy*, and *Effie Gets Tipsy*. We're grateful to the University of Michigan for funding this commission, and are thrilled to perform this world premiere of Jim Stephenson's *The Further Adventures of Effie the Elephant*. Jim is a wonderful composer and recovering brass player, and this caricature is as charming as it is clever. This will be a multimedia event, as David's much more talented brother, Tim, has created an illustration for each of the 32 (short) movements on the program. This will be a family friendly evening of storytelling and a delightfully innocuous introduction to the tuba as a solo voice.