Besson euphonium star Steven Mead will be undertaking military service of a musical kind later this month when he will be the guest soloist of the Netherlands Military Tattoo.

The world-renowned Music Festival takes place in Rotterdam each year and in addition to spotlight performances featuring the Royal Navy, Royal Air Force, Royal Military and Royal Army Bands, it also hosts international military bands, folk and dance groups and even acrobatic shows.

Sold out

Steve will be featured in sold-out evening showcase concerts between Friday 28th to Sunday 30th September 28th -30 at the Ahoy Centre in Rotterdam in front of a packed 15,000 strong audience, where he will perform Bellstedt's 'Napoli' and Karl Jenkins' 'Benedictus'.

On Saturday 29th, he will also give a masterclass for euphonium players, all of whom will then perform in the Saturday evening concert. To date there are 120 participants in the euphonium choir.

Incredible

A Festival spokesperson told 4BR: "We're delighted that Steven accepted our invitation to take part in our great military tattoo. He has many euphonium fans in the Netherlands and around the world and is sure to make new admirers during this week. The response to his workshop has been just incredible."

Speaking to 4BR, Steve said: "This could be the biggest audience I've ever played for and to do it three nights in a row is very exciting. The response to the masterclass has been amazing. It's going to be an incredible few days."

This could be the biggest audience I've ever played for and to do it three nights in a row is very exciting. The response to the masterclass has been amazing. It's going to be an incredible few daysSteven Mead

Hectic summer

After a hectic summer that seen Steve already travel to China, Malaysia Spain, Austria, Taiwan and South Korea, he will add to his passport stamps with further visits to undertake recitals in Switzerland and concerts in Lithuania.