Steven Mead has just embarked on an eight week world tour, which currently sees him in the USA on the first leg of a non stop summer of high profile events which will see the euphonium star travel to Switzerland, China, Italy, Lithuania and South Korea.
Longest
Steven told 4BR: "It’s the longest, most sustained travelling of my musical life, but the challenges are very varied with some return visits to old friends and new experiences too."
America
Steven is currently getting ready to appear with Brass Band of Battle Creek in Michigan where he will be performing a new arrangement of 'Asphalt Cocktail' by prominent American composer William Bolcom, who will be present at the rehearsals and the concert to hear his work.
From there he will go, along with tuba star Les Neish, to Zurich for a week with the National Youth Brass Band of Switzerland. There he will find a busy schedule of four concerts and will perform a solo in each directed by old friend James Gourlay.
It’s the longest, most sustained travelling of my musical life, but the challenges are very varied with some return visits to old friends and new experiences tooSteven Mead
Beijing
Direct from Switzerland he then travels to Beijing to perform a concert with the Beijing Wind Orchestra before returning to London, touching down overnight at Heathrow and flying the next morning to Montepulciano in Italy.
Steven will be performing at the Montepulciano Festival with the RNCM Symphony Orchestra, before teaming up with old friends, the Gomalan Brass Quintet, at the MusicaRiva Festival.
Lithuania
With barely time to catch breath, he then flies to Lithuania, for a series of masterclasses before the final destination of Jeju, South Korea, where he is playing a central role in the Jeju Wind Festival and its prestigious International Solo Competition, where he is jury member.
Looking forward
As Steven added: "I’m looking forward to all the events in the coming weeks, but I will also be glad to be able to get home for a cup of tea and to catch up on what’s happening in the banding world in the UK!"
