Steven Mead (born in 1962) needs no introduction to brass enthusiasts around the world as his playing and teaching have become known to virtually all who have a love for the instrument known as the euphonium. As an innovator for the whole 'low brass' world in general, he has been the Artistic Director of all 6 of the National Tuba / Euphonium Conferences, held in the UK. As a soloist, he has played solo concerti with symphony orchestras in Canada, Finland, France, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, United Kingdom and United States. Nowadays he travels constantly and performs regularly with some of the finest brass, wind and symphonic ensembles in the world. With over 75 solo performances a year his relentless schedule sees him touring almost constantly.
He has been described as one of the world's most recorded solo brass artists with over 45 CDs to his credit. In addition, he has a strong contribution in education literature for the euphonium. He is Senior Tutor in Euphonium at the Royal Northern College of Music, in Manchester, United Kingdom and also teaches at several specialist schools across Europe, and in Japan. He has been responsible for the first ever euphonium masterclasses in Italy, Portugal, Lithuania, Slovenia, Russia and Austria. Students from all around the world come to study with him in the United Kingdom. Euphonium soloists David Childs, Adam Frey and Sho-Ichiro Hokazono had studied with him.
Steven has been an artist and clinician with Besson Musical Instruments for many years and has been responsible for the design and development of the Steven Mead series of Denis Wick brass mouthpieces and the new Besson Prestige euphonium.
He plays the Besson Prestige euphonium.
"In the parallel universe of brass-world Steven Mead is a celebrity. He amazes, astonishes and astounds afresh with each recording or concert appearance. He continually renews and invigorates his repertoire and never fails to offer something novel to the public. He never lets his fans down. Steven's years on the road, the constant search for new repertoire, a teaching role where no trouble is too much, all of these things go well beyond that of being merely a great performer, of which there are quite a few, and take him into the position only the blinkered would contest: his world-wide role as the euphonium's foremost ambassador." Howard Snell, Conductor, Former Principal Trumpet in London Symphony Orchestra
|