Composer Philip Sparke is getting ready to enjoy a brace of very special 60th birthday presents.

His immense contribution to music making on both sides of the Atlantic will be recognised when he flies to the USA and then back to Austria to be a special guest at concerts featuring some of his major compositions.

Michigan

He told 4BR: "I’m thrilled to be flying to Michigan this week where the great Brass Band of Battle Creek will give two Sparke themed concerts. They will be playing my 'Music for Battle Creek',
'Music of the Spheres', 'Orient Express' and 'Mountain Song'. I will also conduct 'Two-Part Invention' with soloists Steven Mead and Ben Pierce."

Linz

He added: "In June, Steven has kindly included a Sparke concert in the fabulous ITEC programme, where a star-studded list of soloists will play my 'Tuba Concerto', 'Harlequin', 'Summer Isles', 'Pantomime' and 'Two-Part Invention', accompanied by the fantastic Sinfonisches Blasorchester Ried from Austria."

To round things off, Philip will also fly to Germany in late April where Steven Mead will give the premiere of his appropriately named, 'Diamond Concerto', commissioned and accompanied by Musikverein Mörschied, near Frankfurt4BR

Diamond

To round things off, Philip will also fly to Germany in late April where Steven Mead will give the premiere of his appropriately named, 'Diamond Concerto', commissioned and accompanied by Musikverein Mörschied, near Frankfurt.