Italian Brass Week 2023
XXIV EDITION
Florence July 23-28
Brass musicians, coming from all over the world, meet again in Florence and Arezzo, in Italy, to place themselves under the wings of great virtuosos, international soloists and members of the great orchestras of the world, their Masters.
All participants will be able to give breath to their instruments, breath to their vocation, music to the public.
During the Italian Brass Week there will also be the time for new brass bands, listen solo recitals, and be part of world premieres, happenings, concerts of the Italian Brass Week Ensemble - the always original, unrepeatable and festive international formation directed for the occasion by Luca Benucci and Lito Fontana where students will be involved in multiple concerts throughout the week.
The didactic activities will take place in an exceptional location: the Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, with soundproofed classrooms, air conditioning, in an environment dedicated to making music of the highest quality.
The concerts will be in enchanting locations in Florence which will leave even the general public breathless and will be announced after the press conference.
The Italian Brass Week has the breath and protection of amateurs and professionals of the arts, producers and ambassadors of Tuscany and patrons and sponsors also for scholarships aimed at young students.
For this XXIV edition, the following activities will be guaranteed to all members of the Festival included in the membership-registration fee which must be paid at the time of your online Application which has the deadline of July 10, 2023 until all available places for each class.
The participation fee can be paid in different ways:
By bank transfer, with PayPal transfer, please see APPLICATION on site.
All active members will be guaranteed the following activities and insurance:
RC insurance for all participants (does not include theft and damage to property tools and personal effects);
Student Secretariat active for every need - available every day for further information on hotels, restaurants and everything you need to feel good in Florence.
The tutors of the students will be your contact persons for any doubts and needs during the festival. On the first day they will let you discover the beauty and grandeur of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino theatre, they will also indicate the protocol to be observed inside the theater and they will show you the different classrooms where you will teach;
General program
* 08.15 Breathing Technique - Blow & Buzz Technique
* 09.00 -13.00 Individual lessons with the teachers of your class
* Lunch break (you will have an agreement for the restaurant)
* 15.00 Individual lessons with the teachers of your class
* 16.30 Ensemble music lessons for Brass Ensemble and Brass Band
* 19.15 end of activity in the Theater
* Dinner break (affiliated restaurants will be indicated near the concert location)
* 21.30 Evening concerts in various locations
"ACTIVE" students will be guaranteed the following activities:
23 July
8.00 - 11.00 participation payment and collection of the identification badge
a priority desk will be guaranteed for the participants in the Prize and as soon as they have regularized their participation they will be accompanied to the rooms to warm up.
10.00 WINGS TO TALENT international award for the assignment of 5 scholarships offered by A.N.B.I.M.A.
13.00 lunch break
3.00 pm orientation inside the theater with the Tutors
4.30 pm reading rehearsals for the festival concerts
19.15 end of activity in the theater.
the following activities will be guaranteed:
2 lessons of 30 minutes with each teacher that can be fixed using an app that will be sent to you once the registration has been regularized
From 24 to 28 July every day from 8.15 the Breathing Gym.
From 24 to 28 July chamber music lessons are scheduled every day for which you will be selected for your ensemble with which you will go to perform concerts in Florence and Arezzo.
From 24 to 28 individual lessons with the instructors are guaranteed at the following times: 9.00-13.00/15.00-16.30
Many concerts will be held during the festival, including a happening where you will be the protagonists and many other concert initiatives that will allow you to give voice to your art and have fun together with young people from all over the world.
Free admission to the evening concerts where the artists of the Italian Brass Week will perform with the exception of the concerts of 25 and 26 July.
"LISTENER" students will be guaranteed the following activities:
23 July
8.00 - 11.00 participation payment and collection of the identification badge
10.00 WINGS TO TALENT international award for the assignment of 5 scholarships (YOU CAN LISTEN TO THE COMPETITION)
3.00 pm orientation inside the theater with the Tutors
4.30 pm reading rehearsals for the festival concerts
19.15 end of activity in the theater.
From 24 to 28 July every day from 8.15 the Breathing Gym. From 24 to 28 July you will be able to listen to the lessons of all the teachers engaged in their individual lessons. From July 24th to 28th chamber music lessons are scheduled every day in which you can participate by playing to subsequently perform the concerts in Florence .
As soon as you have completed your online registration, you will receive a complete scheduleand personal asistent for the activities, timetables and anything else you may need for your stay in Florence.
For further clarifications, do not hesitate to write to Emilia Galli, segreteria@italianbrass.com who will be able to respond to all your needs.
As many Japanese brass musicians are so, Pepe began to play the Euphonium at age of 13 when he was in junior high school in Ehime, Japan.
Fortunately, he was in the school which has very good tradition in music playing and the wind band of school is very good with good teacher.
He continued to play the Euphonium in high school and when he was 18 years old, he began to play the Trombone as well.
In 1995, he took part in I.T.E.C.(International Tuba Euphonium Conference) in USA and took 2nd prize in the young artist division of the solo competition.
He went to France for taking part in international competition in 1997. At that time, he was very very moved and shocked by great performances which performed by great musicians from Europe.
This is the big point for his life.
He went to Perpignan/France to study under Mr. Mel Culbertson(ex-principal tuba in Orchestre National de Bordeaux Aquitaine / ex-professor in CNSMD de Lyon) in 1998. He changed a lot of things(style of playing music and life) because of he was very influenced by Mr. Mel Culbertson(Mel gave him very nice nickname "Pepe").
He received 3 gold medals for the Euphonium, the Trombone and chamber music from CNR de Perpignan in 1999. Few years later, he became assistant professor at CNR de Perpignan and gave lessons with Mr. Mel Culbertson.
In 2003, he moved to Leipzig/Germany and played in the Rundfunk-Blasorchester Leipzig(Leipzig Radio Wind Orchestra) as principal Tenorhorn(euphonium) and next year, he moved to Nyiregyhaza/Hangary and play in the Szabolcsi Szimfonikus Zenekar(Szabolcsi Symphony Orchestra) as principal Trombone.
He was invited to I.T.E.C.(International Tuba Euphonium Conference) in Budapest/Hungary in 2004 as guest artist and gave solo recital. He was invited to I.T.E.C. in Linz/Austria in 2012 again as guest artist and performed "Pantomime by P.Sparke" with wind band.
He took part in several international competitions and got some prizes such as 3rd prize in the Euphonium division and 2nd prize(there was no 1st prize) in the Trombone division at the 1st International Brass Competition in Jeju(south Korea) in 2000.
He gave master-classes and concerts in Japan and other countries in Europe such as France and Spain.
In 2005, he moved to Japan and he has kept giving solo activities and teaching.
He has been musical director of Brass Band "Camellia" since 2008.
He performed Euphonium Concerto No.3 "Diamond Concerto" by P.Sparke with Ehime University wind band as Japan Premiere in 2012.
He invited to AETYB(Spanish Euphonium and Tuba Association) Festival in Barcelona as guest artist in 2014 and gave master-class and solo recital.
He performed TWO-BONE Concerto by J.de Meij as soloist with another soloist Jörgen van Rijen as Japan Premiere with Kyushu Wind Orchestra under the baton of its composer J.de Meij in Fukuoka in 2018.
He has established his publishing company "Music. A. Pepe" and publishes his arrangements, composition and CDs such as his solo Euphonium CD "Carmen Fantasy"(2005) and Double CD with Trombone and Euphonium "BOLD AS BRASS"(2012).
He has been performing on ADAMS Custom E1 Euphonium since 2012 and giving concerts and master-classes as ADAMS Euphonium Artist.
He has been principal Trombone of the Osaka Symphony Orchestra since 2015. Euphonium and Trombone lecturer at the ESA Music Academy
David Childs is regarded as one of the finest brass musicians of his generation. He has appeared as soloist with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Royal Philharmonic, BBC Concert Orchestra, Sinfonia Cymru, DCINY Symphony and BBC Philharmonic; made solo appearances at the Singapore International Festival, Welsh Proms, Harrogate International Festival, Cheltenham Festival, Melbourne International Festival, BBC Proms and New York Festival; performed solo recitals at the Wigmore Hall, Purcell Room and Bridgewater Hall; given Concerto performances at the Concertgebouw, Carnegie Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Symphony Hall, New York’s Lincoln Center and London’s Royal Albert Hall; and regularly records as a solo artist for radio, television and commercial disc.
David tours extensively performing in Australia, New Zealand, the Middle East, Japan, Hong Kong, Europe and the U.S.A. He is a keen advocate of new music and has premièred ten concerti for euphonium including a Royal Albert Hall BBC Proms broadcast of Alun Hoddinott's,'Sunne Rising - The King Will Ride’,a Carnegie Hall US première of Karl Jenkins’Concerto for Euphonium & Orchestra, a televisedpremière of Philip Wilby’sConcerto for Euphonium& Orchestra,and a UKpremière of Christian Lindberg’sConcerto for Euphonium & Orchestradirected by the composer.
David is an Associate of the Royal College of Music London; a Professor at both the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, and the Birmingham Conservatoire; an Artist for the Buffet Group Besson, Alliance and Reunion Blues; and is Director of Prima Vista Musikk publishing house. He is also a founder member of the highly successful brass quartet Eminence Brass and Artistic Director of Wales’ premiere wind orchestra Cardiff Symphonic Winds.
David is undoubtedly leading the way for euphonium players worldwide. Through his own performances he continues to showcase the euphonium as a serious solo vehicle within the world of classical music.