Well, its been a crazy few weeks, with non stop travelling to Italy, USA Canada , France and Germany. Right now i'm in Zagreb, Croatia, here to give the world premiere of the new Euphonium Concerto for Symphonic Brass and Percussion by Vanja Lisjak, a wonderful 15 minute 3 movement work, that I'll play with the brass section of the Croatian Radio Orchestra on sunday (17th May).
I am very sorry not to have been updating the site more of late, but in addition to all the travelling I have been challenged further by a trapped nerve in my neck which has resulted in permanent pain to my right arm and shoulder. Playing has been possiuble only thanks to painkilling tablets...which I am still on and which I hope to see the end of soon. It has been a painful three weeks for sure but everyone around me, especially Reda has been very understanding. How it happened I'm not sure but I think it was the result of a couple of different chiropractors, in the UK and USA who in seeking to remedy a bit of initial neck stiffness (caused by travelling, sleeping on lanes, strange foreign beds, carrying heavy suitcases etc) in fact massively compounded the problem . I am waiting to hear the results of an X-ray..good old UK National Health Service...9 days ago I had it done and still no news ! But nothing gets in the way of my euphonium playing and I really enjoyed my time in Iowa, with Jeff Funderburk and the students at UNI, then an unforgettable few days in the Toronto area, giving a masterclass at the Conservatoy of Music in Toronto and being part of a weekend's music making at the Missisauga Salvation Army. Wonderful people, great music and great friendships , (lots of photos, videos etc to come) .
From there is was on to Limoux, south of France, full report coming soon, and a superb new Brass Festival there, where I met some excellent young French euphonium players, gave a two day masterclass and played as soloist in front of huge crowds in two concerts, one with two brass bands (Dutch and French) and the other with the town wind band from Limoux. I met there my good friends from Mnozil Brass and enjoyed their wonderful concert on the sunday evening.
From there it was back tothe UK for a few days, working with my students from the RNCM , getting ready for their end of term recitals before it was on to Ludwigsburg , Germany and soloed with the tremendous Youth Wind Orchestra from Ludwigsburg, under the baton of their inspirational conductor Roland Haug. I played there : Gypsy Airs (Sarasate Arr Buitenhuis), Bravura (Peter Graham), Midnight Euphonium (Goff Richards) and Russian Dance (Bohme Arr J.Smith) It was a pleasure to be part of their 20th anniversary celebrations, having first met them in Jeju South Korea nearly 2 year ago.
And now we are in Zagreb a beautiful and optimistic city and all attention firmly on the premiere of the Concerto for this sunday. This is a work that all euphonium players will want to play, so long as you can find 3 trumpets, 4 horns, 3 trombones, Tuba and 3 percussion. More on this soon.
Off to take another painkiller for my neck, speak soon ! ciao.