Euphonium.com

One of the fun events this summer was traveling to Italy to work with the Penta Brass. They are the principal players for the Theatre Orchestra in Turin (basically symphonic concerts and operas). They are great fun and they have been hosting a brass festival each year in a small town Quincinetto that is north of Turin. It is home of some GREAT wind musicians even though it is a little town.

This was the first year that they included the euphonium and that is a great thing. I had 4 students that came into various classes over the course of the 4 days ranging from a very talented 11 year old to a military band professional. It was an incredible week also because of the faculty. We had Andrei Ikov, trumpet from the Bolshoi in Moscow, Chris Martin from the Chicago Symphony, Fred Mills formally with the Canadian Brass, Jacques Mauger a French trombone soloist, and Frank Lloyd an English horn soloist and teacher now living in German. We also of course had the Penta Brass guys and it was such a nice relaxed time and great to really chat about making great music.

I got to play a few things from the recording sessions from July with the Penta Brass and I also played in the brass ensemble with Fred Mills conducting. The audiences were great...the whole town came out for the concerts.

Lastly, we had our final concert in a castle very high on the hills in the valley that runs to Mount Blanc. It had some incredible views and the audience was again enthused...just that darn wind...good thing I played from memory.

Off to Norway next!!