Euuphonium star Steven Mead has just returned from giving two concerts with the renowned Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra in Indiana, USA.

And he evidently made quite an impression too, with the local music critic William Nesmith, well known for his acerbic reviews, causing a stir with his comments on the concerts.

Shock and awe

"There was one surprise on the programme," he wrote, "...the artistry of Steven Mead. Who knew a euphonium could sound like this? This was pure revelation; the musical version of shock and awe."

He went on to add: "I remember the story about Johannes Brahms saying, upon hearing the Dvorak 'Cello Concerto', that if he had known a cello could sound like that, he would have written a cello concerto himself. It's too bad neither Brahms nor Antonin Dvorak did a concerto for this instrument."

He ended his review by saying: "Mead plays so well, so fluently, with such virtuosity that you begin wondering why the instrument has languished so long. The warm, almost vocal quality of his tone and his ability to play rapidly are every bit the match for any other soloist we have heard this year."

Who knew a euphonium could sound like this? This was pure revelation; the musical version of shock and aweMusic critic, William Nesmith

Delight

Steven was understandabley delighted with the response from the leading music critic of the region. "It's so satisfying to get this type of appreciation. The review caused quite a stir as Mr Nesmith has a well earned reputation for being hard to please!"

Austria bound

With his American trip behind him, Steven is off to Austria this week, to help coach the low brass section of Brass Band OberOsterreich, in their preparations for the European Brass Band Championships.

During the week of the European Championships, he is also guest soloist with the European Youth Brass Band, and will perform the virtuoso composition, 'Sir Eu' by Thomas Dos, and will conduct and perform with SoundINNBrass at the opening ceremony.