What we’re about.

Isomer Quartet is: Alex Avila | Ryan Chen | Keith Packman | Charlie Goodman

Isomers are molecules with the same numbers of atoms of each element but with distinct arrangements of the atoms in space and therefore potentially distinct chemical and physical properties. In looking beyond the typically insular body of works written for tuba-euphonium quartet, our quartet seeks to embrace the spirit of isomerism by taking music we love from further afield and arranging it for our instruments to new and surprising effect.

The members of Isomer Quartet have been prizewinners at multiple international competitions, released numerous albums, and essentially are trying to “do all of the things.” Individually, they are mostly college professors, on faculty at Louisiana State University, The Schwob School of Music at Columbus State University, and Texas Woman’s University. One of them is enrolled at Harvard Law School.

What we’re about, individually.

Alex Avila

Dr. Alex Avila is an avid performer, educator, and advocate of art music. Although he began his musical studies on euphonium, doubling on tuba has become a signature of his professional career. Dr. Avila distinguished himself by placing in several regional, national, and international music competitions, notably earning first prize in the prestigious Leonard Falcone Festival Competition. He has also been a finalist in professional auditions on both instruments with Pershing’s Own and The Austin Symphony Orchestra.

As a soloist, Dr. Avila has been featured with The University of Georgia Wind Ensemble, The Austin Symphonic Band, The Chesapeake Bay Wind Ensemble, and has performed recitals across the U.S. His recitals use theme, narrative, and multimedia elements to explore a balance between tradition and modernity, appealing to a broad artistic spectrum. His latest performance, “Music for Two Big Instruments,” pairs 21st century music with prose, poetry, and visual art.

Chamber music is an essential component of Dr. Avila’s musical identity. He has performed with a variety of small ensembles in settings ranging from the concert hall to a viking boat sailing across a lagoon. His most active chamber group is the genre- bending quartet, FivE, that has garnered national attention for their creativity and ability to entertain audiences of all types. With FivE, Dr. Avila is constantly challenged to integrate outstanding musicianship with design and theater elements and to think about the future of classical music in society.

Dr. Avila currently serves as Lecturer of Tuba and Euphonium for The Schwob School of Music at Columbus State University. Prior to this appointment he had a similar role at Texas A&M University - Kingsville and freelanced in the Austin metropolitan area. Dr. Avila received his bachelors degree in music education from The University of Georgia and graduate performance degrees in both euphonium and tuba from The University of Texas at Austin.

Dr. Avila is a Buffet-Crampon performing artist.

Ryan Chen

Ryan Chen is a low brass musician living in Cambridge, MA. He received bachelor's degrees in Euphonium Performance and Industrial & Operations Engineering from the University of Michigan and a master's degree in Management Science & Engineering from Stanford University. After 4 seasons working for the Orlando Magic in basketball analytics, Ryan is now a second-year law student at Harvard Law School.

Currently, Ryan plays euphonium and arranges works in the low brass ensemble Isomer Quartet. He is also an avid arranger for low brass and New Orleans-style brass band. Previously, he served on the staff for the Winter Park High School "Sound of the Wildcats" Marching Band for 3 seasons, coached low brass students at various high schools and middle schools in Central Florida and the San Francisco Bay Area, maintained a private teaching studio, and interned for 3 seasons at Stanford Live, working in programming & engagement and marketing.

Ryan has performed with a wide variety of ensembles, including the University of Michigan Symphony Band, River City Brass, Brass Band of Central Florida, New England Brass Band, and the University of Michigan Jazz Ensemble.  He has also performed in, led, and managed BlueLine Brass Band, a New Orleans-style brass band based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He has also received accolades at several solo competitions, including the Leonard Falcone International Euphonium & Tuba Festival, the International Tuba Euphonium Conference, the Concours International de Saxhorn Euphonium Tuba de Tours et Chambray-lès-Tours and the International Women's Brass Conference.  

Ryan’s primary teachers are Gail Robertson, Fritz Kaenzig, and Ken Amis.

Keith Packman

Keith Packman is a passionate musician and considerate educator looking to inspire all people by means of his tuba. Whether performing as a concert soloist on stage or backing a band downtown, Keith aims to break down barriers for how music can speak to an audience. He is elated to begin his new position as Adjunct Instructor of Tuba and Euphonium at Texas Woman’s University in Denton beginning in the Fall 2021 semester.

As a performer, Keith has had an active freelance career in the Dallas-Fort Worth area for the past decade. He can regularly be heard performing with the Lone Star Wind Orchestra, one of the few professional wind bands in the country, and has recently released the new CD One for All with the ensemble. Also a specialist in chamber music, Keith is a part of two professional tuba-euphonium quartets, fLOW Quartet and Isomer Quartet, that have recorded albums and performed across the United States and Japan. As a competitive performer, Keith has been a prize-winner at multiple prestigious international tuba competitions including those hosted by the International Tuba Euphonium Association and the Leonard Falcone International Euphonium and Tuba Festival. He can also be heard in the viral video "Down in the River to Pray" with the University of Texas at Austin tuba-euphonium studio, which is quickly nearing 1.5 million views on YouTube.

As an educator, Keith has taught at all academic levels from pre-middle school to collegiate graduate students. His pedagogical practice revolves around developing a high-level of musicality and the best possible sound quality, all while instilling a strong sense of the students’ individuality. His college students have gone on to start their careers as various types of music educators and his younger students have achieved many accolades, including the coveted TMEA All-State status. 

For more information, videos and recordings, please visit www.keithpackman.com.

Charlie Goodman

Charlie Goodman is a tuba performer and educator who has recently been appointed Visiting Assistant Professor at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  He previously held teaching positions at Valdosta State University and Southeastern Louisiana University.  He holds degrees from the University Colorado Boulder, the University of Georgia, and Western Michigan University.  His primary teachers include Michael Dunn, David Zerkel, Deanna Swoboda, Fritz Kaenzig, and Robert Whaley. 

As a performer, Dr. Goodman holds the principal tuba chair of Sinfonia Gulf Coast, based in Destin, Florida, and has previously held similar positions in the Valdosta and Albany (GA) Symphony Orchestras.  He has also performed with the Colorado Symphony, Ann Arbor Symphony, Orquesta Filharmonica de Jalisco, the Round Top Festival Orchestra, and the New World Symphony.