Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra Principal Tuba Robert Carpenter, known to many as ‘Bob,’ is featured in a book by Sam Quinones titled “The Perfect Tuba”. Published on September 30, 2025, the 384-page book tells the story of a demanding instrument, the determined people who play it, and the hope they offer a fractured nation. Opening the table of contents, you’ll see Chapter 11 titled “The Perfect Tuba: Carpenter.” But his involvement in the story goes well beyond one chapter.
Bob met the author, Sam Quinones, in about 2011 when Sam was an investigative reporter writing for the Los Angeles Times. Sam was investigating the theft of sousaphones throughout L.A. area schools, and Bob was consulting with the tuba manufacturer Kanstul, along with friends Tom Treece, Claude Kashnig, and Mike Roylance. They were studying material science to prove tubas.
Sam found Bob through Kanstul, and they began discussing tubas and why the best ones were stolen from L.A. schools. This led to a long friendship and many interviews over fourteen years as he dug deeply into the subject of tubas, tuba science, tuba players, band directors, and the incredible positive effects of music education on our culture as a nation.
Bob’s chapter in particular discusses his journey with the tuba including his childhood interest, purchasing his first York Instrument Co. Tuba, studying with Arnold Jacobs, how a curiosity of the overtone series opened an exploration of tuba engineering, and the crossover between physics and music in pursuit of what makes the perfect tuba.
Bob owns multiple York tubas now. A rare one is an original 1937 York Tuba in the key of C (pictured). It is one of only a dozen made by York. The two that Bob’s teacher, Arnold Jacobs owned (now owned by and played expertly by Gene Pokorny in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra or CSO) are legendary and caused many companies to try to copy them. None are so perfect as the original York tuba.
The title of the book “The Perfect Tuba” refers to those two York tubas in the CSO. Bob’s 1937 York Tuba shares the DNA, the tone, the evenness, and the sound of the York C tubas. The legendary sound of this tuba DNA reverberates in Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra concerts through Bob today. This book has several central characters from Orlando, and the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra plays a special role in the book’s happenings. Great curious musicians, here thanks to Disney, really have influenced the tuba world.
But the tuba itself is a small part of the book. It is the stories of perseverance, hard work, curiosity, drive for excellence, and absolute care for people make this book great. The importance of music education becomes clear with examples of band directors committed to making their students successful in life and how it can lead to a better society filled with vision and hope. The story of the high school band from Roma, Texas, will bring you tears of joy.
You can purchase the book at your nearest bookshop or purchase online at Amazon.com
Experience the sound of Tuba excellence with Principal Tuba Robert Carpenter at an upcoming Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra concert.