A celebration of the life of the hugely respected musician Steven Legge, who passed on the 30th March, is to be held on Friday 3rd May.

Speaking to 4BR, his husband Des Rowlinson, said that the service will be live-streamed so that "his friends wherever they are in the banding world can join in raising a toast together."

Mischievous smile

He said: "Steve would be pleased that the event is taking place during a brass band contest. He would be giving a very mischievous smile to think that he will be the centre of attention and people thinking and talking about him!

Steve truly wanted to be at the European Championships this year, particularly with his very strong connection with the Lithuanian Brass Band movement, and the wide friendships he's made there, through Remigijus and Laurynas Vilys and Piet Visser.

We laughed that I told him that I was still not sure that Steve didn't have a second family out in Lithuania, given the 40 plus trips he's made over the last 15 years!"

Special to him

Des added: "After 30 years together he finally dragged me to a major brass band contest at the British Open last year — and I was immediately hooked. I understood just what made it so special to him — the people and the music, and why people made a beeline to him in return.

I would be humbled if people could tune in and celebrate a wonderful man and a wonderful musical life.

He was such a well organised man — even writing his own obituary. He was kind, thoughtful and generous, made terrible jokes, played beautifully, made friends easily, appreciated others and always wanted to give to others through his gift of music.

That is why is said he wanted this to be a very happy occasion."

the service will be live-streamed so that "his friends wherever they are in the banding world can join in raising a toast together."Des Rowlinson

Obituary:

Steven Legge (B. Music; PGCE; PGCAP)

Steven cut his cloth as an educator for 10 years, working for the Gwent Music Service as a peripatetic brass tutor and 14 years with Gloucestershire Music holding the positions of Head of Brass and Head of Instrumental and Vocal Tuition.

He re-founded the Gloucestershire Youth Brass Band and Youth Choir who were both recognised with national awards. Steven led the Gloucestershire Youth Wind Orchestra with over 10 appearances at Music for Youth and the National Concert Band Festival.

For many years, Steven was a Trustee for the National Concert Band Festival where he represented the organisation throughout the Southwest of England and Wales

He lectured for five years the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama developing their teaching skills classes at undergraduate and postgraduate level. He was invited to tutor for the National Youth Wind Orchestra of Great Britain and the National Youth Brass Band of Wales and was trombone tutor for many years at the RWCMD Junior College.

Passion

Since 2007, Steven made 34 trips to Lithuania supporting music tuition for young people through writing educational material, leading staff development sessions, adjudicating and conducting.

Steven had a passion for researching how students learn. His research led to the publication of Music Marvels and fellowships from the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust and Finzi Trust.

After 14 years with Gloucestershire, he was offered the position as Senior Lecturer in Classical and Jazz Music Enrichment at the University of the West of England, a position he enjoyed immensely until his enforced retirement in December 2023.

His professional playing career included work with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, the Royal Shakespeare Company, QE2 Big Band, the Remix Contemporary Music Group (Porto) and a variety of show and theatre engagements.

Brass bands

Steven was principal trombone for the Sunlife Band and Tredegar Brass Band and performed regularly with both classical and jazz ensembles. He was a featured soloist at the 2017 Lithuanian National Brass Band Championships and the 2018 Swedish National Brass Band Championships.

Steven adjudicated for brass band festivals in the UK, Lithuanian National Brass Band Championships, Swedish National Brass Band Championships, National Concert Band Festival and the South Korean Schools Music Festival.

As a conductor, Steven worked in Spain with La Agrupacion Musical and with a variety of community brass and wind bands.

In 2017 he conducted the Lithuanian Youth Brass Band at the European Brass Band Championships. Steven was a regular contributor to magazines including Brass Band World, British Trombone Society, Sinfini Music and The British Bandsman.