A decade after he recorded his award-winning CD 'Euphonium Virtuoso' with Brass Band Buizingen, euphonium virtuoso Steven Mead recently made a welcome return to Belgium to once again link up with the band for his latest release (above).

Experts

The recording took place at the impressive Stromming Cultural Centre in Berlare, and included a number of works arranged by conductor Luc Vertommen, with the recording coming under the expert engineering skills of the renowned Richard Scott.

To be released this October, the CD will feature a welcome reprise of John Golland's 'Euphonium Concerto No.1' first performed by Steven in 1982, as well as 'Capriccio di Niccolo' by American composer Frank Proto, originally written for the celebrated trumpeter Doc Severinson and the Boston Pops Orchestra.

Incredible

Steven told 4BR: "Luc has made an incredible transcription with the composer's permission of this 16 minute virtuoso fantasy on the famous Paganini theme. I'm sure audiences will absolutely love it!"

Steve also recorded another fearsome Paganini technical extravaganza 'La Campanella' — from his Violin Concerto No.2, which he admitted to 4BR may be the hardest technical work he has ever recorded in the studio.

Also included will be 'Michelangelo' (Dagsland), 'In Gardens of Peace' (Phillip Harper), 'The Auld Noost' (arr. Tony Swainson), and one of the most beautiful songs of Gustav Mahler, 'Ich bin der Welt' from his Ruckert-Lieder, that saw the addition of a harp and a church bell to the brass band score.

Other works come from the pens of American jazz virtuoso euphonium player David Bandman, Joseph Haydn, Stan Nieuwenhuis and Ruggero Leoncavallo.

The band even kept its concentration on the first night when the recording coincided with Belgium's EURO2016 match with Wales! Despite the result the band was still brilliant!Steven Mead

Godfather

Following the recording, Luc Vertommen told 4BR: "It was great to record with Steve and Buizingen once more. He really is the godfather of the euphonium and was in amazing form."

Steven meanwhile, returned the compliment: "The band's concentration and professionalism from start to finish was absolutely first-class — and it was a real pleasure to be involved with them.

The band even kept its concentration on the first night when the recording coincided with Belgium's EURO2016 match with Wales! Despite the result the band was still brilliant!"

He added: "Luc's arrangements are just out of this world, and hopefully many players will get to tackle these in the years to come."

Air miles

Steven's busy summer now continues with festivals in Spain and Italy, an outdoor concert in Austria and a band course in Lithuania before flies off to be the Artistic Director of the Jeju International Wind Ensemble Festival in South Korea.