British composer/pianist Roger Steptoe is joined by Stefan Reuss, principal cellist of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, and Jimi James, leading baritone of the Syracuse Opera, in a special program of works by English composer John Ireland titled, "Sea Fever:  A Portrait of John Ireland."

Included will be Ireland's rarely heard cello sonata, and his song settings of English poems by John Masefield and A.E. Housman recited by Geneva actress Eleanor Stearns. Also featured will be the world premiere of "Sonatine 2," a new composition by Steptoe dedicated to Manabu Hilayama, first cellist of the Ibaraki Symphony Orchestra and father to local arts patron Nozomi Williams. The work was commissioned by American Landmark Festivals for Reuss and is being published by Editions BIN in Switzerland.

Roger Steptoe 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, four 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 where he lives.

Stefan Reuss studied with Antonio Janigro in his native Germany at the Robert Schumann Konservatorium in Düsseldorf and later with Harvey Shapiro at The Juilliard School, where he received his master’s degree. He taught at the University of Northern Iowa and the California Music Center before joining the San Francisco Symphony. He joined the RPO in 1988. Reuss also enjoys chamber music and is Co- Artistic Director of Chamber Music Rochester, directs a series of Salon Concerts at the Academy of Medicine and is a founding member of the Finger Lakes Chamber Ensemble.

Born in Hawaii, raised on Cape Cod, and settled in Syracuse, Jimi James' repertoire is as varied as his travels. The baritone's concert credits include "Carmina Burana," the requiem settings of Brahms, Fauré, Mozart and Verdi, Bach cantatas "211," "145," "78" and "68,"  "Songs of Love and War" (Moravec), Mefistofele in Boito's "Prelude and Conclusion," Elijah, Schubert's "Mass in G," "Messiah," "Polar Express" and The Wolf in "Peter vs. the Wolf."

2009 marks the 130th anniversary of the birth of England's once popular composer John Ireland and the 150th anniversary of the birth of English poet A.E. Housman from whose poem "Sea-Fever" the concert takes its name.

The production is presented by American Landmark Festivals in conjunction with the Smith Opera House. ALF was founded by Francis Heilbut in 1973 for the presention of performing arts and cultural events in landmarks of significance, such as the historic, 1894 Smith Opera House. American Landmark Festivals and The Smith have collaborated in a variety of programs over the past ten years including Mozart's "The Impresario" and Gilbert and Sullivan's "Trial By Jury" in July, Strauss's "Die Fledermaus" last year, and a special benefit by Metropolitan Opera stars Lucine Amara and Francisco Casanova in 2000.