An emerging tuba artist and educator, Dr. Blake Lile is the Lecturer of Low Brass and Music History at Troy University in Troy, Alabama. Prior to this position, Dr. Lile held positions at The University of Texas at Tyler, Collin College, East Central University, and Langston University. Dr. Blake Lile actively performs in various capacities, including as a soloist, chamber musician, and in large ensembles. He has performed with several orchestras, including the Fort Smith Symphony, McKinney Philharmonic, Lawton Philharmonic, and Symphony of Northwest Arkansas. Additionally, he has featured as a soloist with the East Central University Wind Ensemble and Brass Band. He has also been invited to perform as a soloist and chamber musician at regional conferences organized by the International Tuba Euphonium Association. An avid chamber musician, Dr. Blake Lile is a member of Duo Flora, a professional trumpet and tuba duo formed by Dr. Lile and his fiancée, Abby Ward. Duo Flora aims to expand and promote the ensemble's repertoire through new commissions and recitals. Previously, he has performed with the University of Texas at Tyler’s Faculty Brass Quintet and the University of North Texas’s Center Brass Quintet. Dr. Blake Lile, an advocate for new music, has participated in and led several consortiums focusing on new compositions for tuba and euphonium. Currently, his duo, Duo Flora, is collaborating with composer Ryan Fillinger on a new piece for trumpet, tuba, and piano, with plans to premiere it in 2027. In 2025, Dr. Lile commissioned a new work by Chris McLaughlin for contrabass and bass tuba, marking the first in the repertoire to feature both instruments. In 2024, Duo Flora commissioned Evan Ziegel for a new work for trumpet, tuba, and fixed media. Dr. Blake Lile received his Doctoral degree in Tuba Performance from the University of North Texas, with a related field in Music Education. At the University of North Texas, he served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant for the Center Brass Quintet and as a Graduate Teaching Fellow for the tuba studio. He earned his Master's in Tuba Performance and Pedagogy at Oklahoma State University, where he served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant in the tuba and euphonium studio. He also holds a Bachelor's degree in Tuba Performance from Murray State University. His primary teachers are Professor Don Little, Professor Matt Good, Dr. Ryan Robinson, and Dr. Todd French.