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With a nudge of encouragement from Dr. Adam Frey, University of North Georgia (sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½¹ÙÍøÍøÒ³Èë¿Ú) professor of music, CJ Yeager entered the Southeast Regional Tuba Euphonium Conference Young Artist Solo Competition. He placed second in what Frey described as an underdog story.

"This competition brought together students from all over the Southeast, and I am incredibly proud of CJ because he was representing sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½¹ÙÍøÍøÒ³Èë¿Ú against music schools that have five to 15 times as many music majors as sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½¹ÙÍøÍøÒ³Èë¿Ú," Frey said. "It's a bit like David versus Goliath. Could you imagine sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½¹ÙÍøÍøÒ³Èë¿Ú facing Division I schools like Florida State University, University of Kentucky and University of Georgia? In a way, it's exactly the Cinderella story of March Madness."

Frey added that "the wonderful thing is that a student can benefit from the small-town charm of Dahlonega, close and intense coaching from our outstanding faculty and the support and ability to develop fully."

The music for the preliminary round was Movements 1, 4 and 5 of "Proverbs for Euphonium" by Lynn Blake John. The final round was Etude No. 1 from Kevin Day's "25 Advanced Studies," as well as "Golden Hour" by Cait Nishimura.

Yeager, along with his chamber group, "The Woofer Tuba Euphonium Quartet," made the finals of the conference's Chamber Music Competition against groups from Louisiana State University, University of Kentucky and University of Tennessee, among other programs. The Woofer quartet comprises Yeager; Lucymarie Dalton, a sophomore pursuing a degree in euphonium music education; Cooper Sandefur, a junior pursuing a degree in music composition; and Peter Pontes, a senior pursuing a degree in tuba performance.

A Dallas, Georgia, resident, Yeager was one of five sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½¹ÙÍøÍøÒ³Èë¿Ú students who placed in the 2024 Concerto/Aria Competition and was awarded a solo performance with the sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½¹ÙÍøÍøÒ³Èë¿Ú Wind Ensemble in spring 2025 as a result of his first-place standing. He described that experience as helpful for solo experiences and practicing for large auditions, both of which are life skills.

"Having performances like these also helps to open other future career avenues, such as if I wanted to pursue a solo career or a career in performance," he said.

He is a sophomore pursuing a degree in music education, with aspirations of working with high school students while continuing to perform.

"We have such wonderful and talented students here in the music program and exceptional faculty, like Dr. Frey, to nurture them on their journeys. I am absolutely delighted for CJ to be recognized for all the hard work and dedication he has put into his craft and the outstanding musician he has become in such a short time," Dr. Benjamin Schoening, Department of Music head and professor, said. "I can't wait to see what the future holds for him at sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½¹ÙÍøÍøÒ³Èë¿Ú and beyond."

sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½¹ÙÍøÍøÒ³Èë¿Ú's Low Brass Collective also performed a concert at the conference, as well as Frey giving a recital.