Samedan Brass Week

Band has broken up for the summer, but that doesn’t mean letting your musical skills gather dust for two months – quite the reverse because there are several destinations across the World at which you can holiday and hone those skills for the imminent big contest season with top tutors and conductors. Tuba star, Les Neish, reports from Samedan Brass Week where the ‘sound of music’ could be heard at 3,000 feet.

Set in one of the most picturesque parts of the World, I was delighted to make my third visit to the Samedan Brass Week. Artistic directors, Anton Ludwig Wilhalm (Ludi) and Jan Schultz, have managed to create one of the most unique brass courses in the World. With a line-up of top brass players including Philip Cobb of the LSO, Gabor Tarkovi of the Berlin Philharmonic, Thomas Reudi, Jonas Bylund and Glenn Van Looy, the week is a mix of one-to-one tuition, ensemble coaching, evening recitals and late-night jam sessions.

A particular highlight happens in the middle of the week, when participants can…

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