Euphonium.com

I had the great opportunity to meet Steve Rosse, Prin. Tuba with the Sydney Symphony, when I took part in the Tubamania competition in 1999. I remember playing Blue Bells and Golland Euphonium Concerto #1 in the finals. I got to meet so many interesting people as well.

I have been lucky to keep in touch and also have his son take part in the IEI Festival. He organizes a festival every two years. He recently starting hosting the festival in Thailand because they have a lot of interested students, good central location for other Asian students and teachers, and GREAT food and GREAT prices!!

We had a number of concerts and master classes during the 4 days and a HUGE thank you to Yamaha Thailand that was the major sponsor and one of the reasons that the festival was possible.

I enjoyed working with students from Thailand, Japan, Australia, and Singapore and got to see many of my friends. Sergio Carolino came from Portugal and played some great new repertoire. He informed me he is commissioning some new works for euphonium by Portugese composers, so I am REALLY excited about that.

Overall the students were great and we had a very high playing level. I taught at Maihdol University about 5-6 years ago when JD Salas was teaching there and at that point they were making good strides forward, but things have vastly improved so my kudos to the teachers in Thailand that are taking things up a notch!!

I also got to work with the fabulous pianist Tomoko Sawano...she was GREAT.
Also got to give the Asian Premiere of William Brusick's Concerto for Euphonium with the Kasetsasart University Wind Symphony. Fantastic group indeed.

Well off to catch the plane to Chicago for Mid-West...I am writing from the airport in Seoul, South Korea...I get to come back here next August to judge the Jeju Competition. It will be great!!