Now I'm reporting from the USA on the first leg of a two month non stop tour which sees me going from USA to Switzerland- China - Italy - Lithuania - South Korea. It is the longest , most sustained travelling of my life and I'm ready for the challenge. These challenges are very varied too with some return visits to old friends/festivals and new challenges too.

The variety of my experiences, languages, cultures can leave me mentally in a spin , not to mention the jet lag dehydration etc. But I feel fortunate to have these opportunities in my life and will try to make the most of them too.

So, first to the Brass Band of Battle Creek concert, Kellogg auditorium (not Binder Park Zoo as originally listed). Battle Creek, Michigan. USA . Conductor will be Damon Gupton, The band will be performing 2 pieces with the Brazeal Dennard Singers, from Detroit. One of these will be Wycliffe's Me/We from the Ali suite. I will play ‘Neath Dublin Skies as a solo in the concert.

From there I will go, along with Les Neish (Tuba) who also plays in the BBBC, to Zurich for a week with the National Youth Brass Band of Switzerland (conductor James Gourlay).

We have a busy schedule of concerts (4) as I will solo in each of the concerts with the A Band. (Peter Graham - In League with Extraordinary Gentlemen, and ‘Neath Dublin Skies.

From Monday 12th- Sunday 18th July I will make my first ever visit to China, performing a concert with Beijing Wind Orchestra, Masterclass 16th, concert17th July (rep incl Vintage/James Curnow) at Beijing Wind Band Festival. They'll also be other masterclasses and lessons. Big thanks to Gong Hongliang and Allen Fan for setting this up for me. See events page for Chinese links page.

From China I return to London, I touch down overnight at Heathrow and fly next morning to Montepulciano in the centre of Italy. I'll be there from Monday 19th -Thursday 22nd July and included in my first visit tot this festival will be a performance of The Hallows Concerto (Rudin), 21st July) with the RNCM Symphony Orchestra, conductor Roland Boer, at the Montepulciano Festival, Italy.

Then it's going to be my very great pleasure to work with my old friends, the Gomalan Brass Quintet at the MusicaRiva Festival: concerts and workshops, at Riva Del Garda, Italy Thursday 22nd - Thursday 29th July. See the Festival web site: www.musicarivafestival.com/eng/Public/Musica/default.asp

It includes for the first time during the Festival, a euphonium masterclass and many Italian players have signed up already. There is still time to attend, and the invitation to musicians is not limited to Italian players. I will also play a couple of concerts with Gomalan Brass, as a replacement member (playing euphonium!) for their trombonist on tour in Japan.

Traditionally my favourite week on the summer music calendar is the summer course, Trakai Fanfare Week, Trakai, Lithuania. Monday 2nd August-Saturday 7th August
Concerts and masterclasses. It's a perfect place for a summer course, and you can see YouTube videos from past events. I expect a big euphonium/tuba/horn section this year !!

Then I get a couple of days at home before heading for Jeju , South Korea ! From Tuesday 10th August - Friday 20th August is the Jeju Wind Festival, this time incorporating the Ensemble Festival, including Sound Inn Brass and the International Solo competition, see website for more details: http://jiwef.org/english/competition/sub_01.php I'll be judging the Euphonium solo competition and the Brass Quintet competition and giving three concerts with Sound Inn Brass and a recital with piano.

Here the flight plan !

Maybe after this, if there is any energy left, I'll take a little break for a week or so !