06/09/2026
Cherry Beauregard, beloved husband, father, mentor, and friend, died on Sunday, September 14th, 2025. He was a renowned tuba player and professor – a career spanning five decades. He once wrote that “[Since] 8th grade, I knew I wanted to be a musician. I put all of my efforts into music, and I’ve never regretted it.” He attended Brigham Young University graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in 1959, then attended the Eastman School of Music graduating with a Master of Arts in 1964 and a Doctor of Musical Arts and Performer’s Certificate in 1970.
After a two-year tour of service as a tuba player in the United States Army Band stationed in Nürnberg, Germany, he played Principal Tuba in the Bavarian State Opera Orchestra in Munich. Upon returning to the United States, he joined the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra (1962-1997) and was a founding member of the Eastman Brass Quintet (1964-1990), the latter a premier chamber ensemble with international tours throughout the 1960s and 1970s, including an 8-week tour of South America sponsored by the State Department.
He was Professor Emeritus of Tuba and Euphonium at the Eastman School of Music (1972-1996) and continued working with students in his early retirement at the University of Arizona School of Music (1998-2001). Cherry was also a composer, having written two etude books that enable low brass instructors to better prepare their students for the challenging techniques required in performing modern music.
He was loving, patient, selfless, playful, and steadfast, touching innumerable lives through service, warmth, and genuine care. Cherry was a great hugger and hand-squeezer, a master storyteller, a lover of the Southwest, a patriotic American, a voracious reader, a seeker of truth and knowledge, a trusted and comforting confidante and advisor to many, an avid tennis player, and a maker of delicious waffles. He had a signature chuckle and an infectious laugh, a penchant for good-natured mischief, an uncanny ability to eat quantities of food seemingly larger than himself, better muscle tone than most men half his age, and a kind, gentle spirit.
He never stopped learning or living his life to the fullest, and delighted--particularly in his last few years – in simple joys like mountain views that reminded him of his childhood, a good glass of root beer, and quality time with loved ones. He was an active member of the LDS Church, especially over the last decade. This provided Cherry an abiding sense of peace, purpose, and community. Most importantly, he was a fantastic dad, not only to his three children, but additionally to so many of his former students and others who have regarded him as a father figure. His work ethic, intellect, dedication, humility, sense of humor, and quiet leadership made him an ideal role model.
Read “In Memoriam: Cherry Beauregard (1933-2025)” for tributes by Mark Kellogg, John Stevens, Jay Krush, Jason Ladd, Mark Mordue, Patty Welch, Mark Cox, Don Little, Philip Sinder, and David Holben in the Winter 2026 ITEA Journal. This edition also includes four of Cherry’s previous ITEA articles as a tribute.
https://iteaonline.org/journal/
