Bio

A Lexington, Kentucky native, Jake Alford is a senior Music Education major at the University of Kentucky and a graduate of Lafayette/SCAPA High School. At UK, Jake serves as principal tuba in the Wind Symphony and performs with the Symphony Orchestra, and the Tuba-Euphonium Ensemble and octet. 

Jake has been a prizewinner and finalist in multiple competitions, winning first prize in the 2024 Leonard Falcone International Tuba Artist Division. He won the 2024 UK Tuba Mock Orchestral Audition and was a winner of the 2023 UK Wind Symphony Concerto Competition and the 2022 UK Brass Concerto Competition. In 2021, Jake won second prize in the Leonard Falcone International Tuba Student Division, and in 2020, he was a finalist in the President's Own Marine Band Concerto Competition.

Jake was the principal tuba with Carnegie Hall's National Youth Orchestra for two consecutive years in 2020 and 2021. He also served as principal tuba with Music for All's Honor Band of America in 2018 and Honor Orchestra of America in 2019, and performed as principal tuba with the Central Kentucky Youth Orchestra for several years.  Jake marched with the Lafayette High School marching band, UK's Wildcat Marching Band, and is a two-year veteran of DCI's Carolina Crown.

Jake served as low brass tech for the 2023 marching season at Bourbon County High School and as low brass tech for the 2024 marching season with Lafayette High School.  He has taught private lessons for two years with Lafayette High School's M2 program and leads the Tuba/Euphonium Chamber sectionals.

Jake's primary teachers are Dr. Brandon Smith and Dr. Matt Hightower.