Steven Mead

Steven Mead
Background information
Born (1962-02-26) 26 February 1962 (age 62)
Bournemouth, England
GenresClassical
Occupation(s)Soloist, virtuoso, teacher
InstrumentEuphonium
SpouseMisa Mead (née Akahoshi

Steven Mead (born 26 February 1962 in Bournemouth, England) is an English virtuoso euphonium soloist and teacher.

Biography

Mead has played an important role in achieving worldwide recognition of the instrument.[1][2][3] He has played solo concertos with many symphony orchestras, including: the Stuttgart Philharmonic Orchestra, the Trondheim Symphony Orchestra, Lahti Symphony Orchestra and Helsinki Philharmonic, Capella Cracoviensis, the Minneapolis Pops Orchestra and the Japan Chamber Orchestra. He has premiered works by Martin Ellerby, Torstein Aagaard-Nilsen, Vladimir Cosma, Goff Richards, John Reeman, Rolf Rudin and Philip Sparke, amongst others. Goff Richards' Pilatus, Aagaard-Nilsen's Concerto for Euphonium and Orchestra, Reeman's Sonata for Euphonium and Ellerby's Euphonium Concerto were all written expressly for Mead.[4][5][6]

He is married to Misa Mead (née Akahoshi) who is also a renowned euphonium soloist, additionally active as a freelance composer and orchestrator.[7]

Selected recordings

Ensemble: Royal Ballet Sinfonia; Soloists: Andrew Haveron (violin), Steven Mead (euphonium), David Owen Norris (piano); Conductor Joseph Horovitz; Label: Dutton Epoch.
  • Concertino
Ensemble: The Lillestrøm Musikkorps; Soloist: Steven Mead (euphonium); Conductor Gert Buitenhuis; Label: Polyphonic.
  • Euphonium Virtuoso
Ensemble: Brass Band Buizingen; Soloist: Steven Mead (euphonium); Conductor: Luc Vertommen; Label: Bocchino.
Ensemble: Royal Northern College of Music Wind Orchestra; Soloist: Steven Mead (euphonium); Conductor: James Gourlay; Label: Polyphonic.
  • Audacious
Soloist: Steven Mead; Accompanied by Tomoko Sawano, piano; Label: Bocchino.
  • Fandango, released 1 June 2011; Accompanied by Tomoko Sawano, piano; Label: Bocchino.

References

  1. ^ Roy Newsome, The Modern Brass Band: From the 1930s to the New Millennium, Ashgate Publishing, Ltd., 2006, p. 252. ISBN 0-7546-0717-8.
  2. ^ Peter Spaull, "Blowing in the wind my friends", Liverpool Daily Post, March 28, 2003. Accessed 10 September 2008.
  3. ^ Martin Stote, "Euphonium euphoria as BBC makes ban U-turn", Birmingham Post, March 25, 1999. Accessed via subscription 10 September 2008.
  4. ^ Notes on Concerto for Euphonium and Orchestra[permanent dead link‍] on the official web site of Torstein Aagaard-Nilsen.
  5. ^ Lloyd Bone, Eric Paull, R. Winston Morris, Guide to the Euphonium Repertoire: The Euphonium Source Book, Indiana University Press, 2007, pp. 60 and 132. ISBN 0-253-34811-0
  6. ^ Roy Newsome, The Modern Brass Band: From the 1930s to the New Millennium, Ashgate Publishing, Ltd., 2006, p. 367.
  7. ^ Denis Wick Products. "Misa Mead".
  • Steven Mead's official website
  • Video of a live unedited performance, most of the third movement of the Hallows Concerto (Rolf Rudin) in a performance given by Steven at The Capitol Theatre, Offenbach, on Sunday 15 March 2009, with the Neue Philharmonie Orchestra, conductor Roland Böer