Posted by Jay Bertolet on January 06, 1999 at 14:50:53:
In Reply to: Re: Steve Syeward posted by Sean Chisham on January 06, 1999 at 09:42:02:
What great memories! I was an undergraduate student at the University of Michigan when Steve came to Ann Arbor to give a Master Class/Recital. I think the "gap" in Steve's life that you may be forgetting is when he tried to make a solo career for himself. This was before he landed the job in K.C. What he told us was that he was, basically, living out of his car, traveling from place to place giving Master Classes and Recitals. The recital he gave was really good, Steve has incredible technical abilities, and he actually played the last movement of the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto. His transcription was a literal one, with the size of range preserved, just transposed into the tuba range. That meant that the piece had a full 7 octave range with a double high E in it, the one on top of the treble clef staff! Steve carried it all off very well and it was a pleasure to hear his solo work.
And what a musical family indeed! In addition to the folks you mention, Steve's sister Lynn is a first rate clarinetist who, after graduation, went on to join the Navy Band in D.C. And her boyfriend? A guy by the name of Vince Humphrey who was one of Steve's best tuba students. Oh man, to grow up in that environment...