Blue Lake’s founder and president emeritus, Fritz Stansell, has passed away at the age of 92. Fritz Stansell was also one of the original founders of the Falcone Festival and had an incredible impact on the music world. We are deeply saddened to learn of his passing. Our most sincere condolences to the Stansell family and BLFAC community during these difficult times. He leaves a legacy that will forever inspire our mission and vision. Thank you, Mr. Stansell. Ars longa, vita brevis. Guest Artist for 2014 - Les Neish
Les Neish is one of the leading tuba players of his generation. His endeavours as a tuba player have gained him recognition as a soloist, chamber musician and educator throughout the world. His career has been diverse with highlights including a performance at Millennium Park, Chicago and recording on an album with pop star "Sting".
Gaining a First Class Honours degree, Professional Performance Diploma and Postgraduate Diploma with Distinction from the Royal Northern College of Music Les is proud to be tuba tutor at this prestigious conservatoire.
Always pushing the boundaries, Les became the first tuba player to be awarded the Worshipful Company of Dyers Award for Wind and Brass at the Royal Overseas League Competition and performed the first solo tuba recital at the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester.
His debut solo CD "Salt of the Earth", which received airtime on Radio 3, scooped Brass Band World, British Bandsman and www.4barsrest.com Solo CD of the Year Awards. His follow up CD "Shine" was awarded the prestigious Roger Bobo Award in Recording Excellence from the International Tuba Euphonium Association.
Away from solo performance, Les is privileged to be part of the tuba section of the world famous, American based, Brass Band of Battle Creek and as a chamber musician is a member of the Fine Arts Brass Ensemble, a group with a 30 year history having performed in over 60 countries.
With a real passion for musical education Les has performed workshops to youngsters throughout the UK, Europe, USA and Australia. Playing a major role in the Scottish Brass Band Association Youth Development programme Les has performed numerous workshops to thousands of youngsters and has been an integral part of the huge increase in youth bands throughout the whole of Scotland. He is also a member of staff at the Junior RNCM teaching young, talented tuba players of the future and conducting the JRNCM Brass Band.
Les is also an experienced adjudicator judging solo, brass band and windband competitions throughout the world, including the prestigious BBC Radio 2 Brass Soloist of the Year, Brass in Concert, Tasmanian Band League State Championships, Royal Overseas League Competiition and the Young Artist Tuba Competition at ITEC's in Arizona and Linz.
