British composer Roger Steptoe joins the Editions Bim's roster
On November 11th, 2008, Roger Steptoe signed nine contracts for his most recent works to be published by Editions BIM. This marks an on-going relationship with the prestigious British composer. All the following works should become available in 2009.

String Quartets 3 and 4
Tuba Sonata
Piano Quartet
Dourando as Trevas (Painting Darkness Gold) for two tubas and vibraphone
Dance Music for symphonic brass
Sonata for trumpet and organ
Seven Miniatures for piano trio
Seven Nocturnes for piano duet.

Roger Steptoe (born 1953) is acknowledged to be one of the most respected British musicians of his generation. A composer of international renown his impressive catalogue of works includes chamber music, concertos, song cycles and instrumental sonatas all of which have been performed worldwide. As an admired pianist he has pioneered much neglected British music through recitals as a soloist, an accompanist to singers and a chamber music player. A sought-after teacher he has taught at the Royal Academy of Music in London for fifteen years, given regular masterclasses internationally and currently teaches at the conservatoire of Brive-la-Gaillarde in the French Limousin and where he lives.

"In a post-modern era often characterised by various aesthetic movements, it is especially enriching to encounter an artist like Roger Steptoe, who possesses a fresh and individual voice at once original, accessible and adventurous."

The New Groves Dictionary of Music and Musicians 2000

"Steptoe's idiom is distinctive, creating its own spaciousness throught artful counterpoint influenced by his mentor, Alan Bush, subtly-nuanced harmony and evocative lyricism."
Tempo - A Quarterly Review of Modern Music

Charles Dutoit conducts Jean Balissat
The 26/27/28 January 2009, Charles Dutoit will be conducting the Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne with, among others, the Sinfonietta for strings by Swiss composer Jean Balissat. A great tribute to the recently deceased composer. During the same concert, Martha Argerich will perform the Concerto in G major by Maurice Ravel.

2008 Harvey G. Phillips Awards
The 2008 Harvey G. Phillips Awards for Excellence in Composition were awarded on June 28 in Cincinnati, USA, at the International Tuba-Euphonium Conference. The winner of the category "Tuba solo" is the work SoNotas for tuba and piano by Portuguese composer Francisco Loreto.

Askell Masson - Kroumata - Osmo Vänskä
20 years ago Osmo Vänskä begun his work as the Chief Conductor of the Lahti Symphony Orchestra and these concerts are the final concerts of this successful period. In Vänskä’s farewell concerts will be heard as the world première performance the work ORA by Askell Masson, who is one of the most interesting composers of our time. The soloist in the work is the awsome percussion Ensemble Kroumata. Concert available live on May 8th 2008 on classicLive (online until May 29, 2008). Conductor Osmo Vänskä talks about the upcoming world premiere of ORA for 6 percussionists and orchestra.


more about Askell Masson at Editions Bim

Caroline Charrière
The Swiss composer Caroline Charrière and her women choir "Le Choeur de Jade" have won the Prize for the best performance of the set piece by Fosco Corti at the 44th Montreux Choral Festival (25-29 of March 2008). The 13 singers and their conductor share this Prize with the winner of the Prize of the Jury, the "Mrs Darcy" choir. 19 choirs from 12 European and Asian countries where attending the competition.

Trumpet Outings Contest
The best recording of the Study no X. A la Richard Strauss (Charles Reskin, Trumpet Outings, page 11) will be awarded a 100.00 Swiss Francs Gift Voucher in our online shop (+ free shipping) and a presentation of the winner on the Editions Bim homepage.