For the fifth year in succession Steven Mead was recently invited to the beautiful hilltop town about 30 kilometres east of Rome, called San Gregorio di Sassola, to help tutor some of Italy’s finest low brass players.

Fine musicians

This year 13 musicians studied for three days, responding magnificently to Steve’s coaching and direction culminating in a concert in at the historic church in the centre of the old medieval town.

Steve also performed five solos with the town band, the Saxula Brass Band, receiving rapturous applause from the delighted audience in the packed picturesque church.

All our thoughts go out to everyone affected by this tragedy. A wonderfuly warm and welcoming community has been terribly affectedSteven Mead

Idyllic setting

Several of Rome’s leading band conductors were also in attendance in what was an idyllic setting for a concert.

Steve was delighted with the response he received both from his pupils and audience, telling 4BR: "It was a wonderful three days of brass music making. The standard of the musicians was excellent, whilst I couldn’t think of a better setting to go to work."

Earthquake

Sadly, just 6 hours after the concert finished the earthquake, which was centred on the city of L'Aquila, about 35 miles away, cast a grim shadow over the music. Whilst the convent in which Steve was sleeping was not badly damaged, he was awoken at 3am with his bed pushed and bouncing around the room and every almost every door rattling off its hinges.

Loss of life

It was only at around 8am when he left the town was the full extent of the tragedy becoming apparent. Sadly one of the audience who was at the concert had lost their lives when a building collapsed in L'Aquila.

Steve added: "All our thoughts go out to everyone affected by this tragedy. A wonderfuly warm and welcoming community has been terribly affected."