We need help!

...So we have been accepted to play at the International Trumpet Guild Conference in Banff, Canada. Not a small feat. In preparation we've had rehearsals that have gone past midnight, ridiculous late night recording sessions, Friday evening chaos on the fourth floor of Crouse, and Pizza parties in the band office (not to mention trips to Tully's periodically - which is an institution I happen to detest). But when it's all said and done our recording was accepted and that has just been the first step on this long journey.
What needs to happen next is purely monetary. Our cost estimate is $8,505.81. Not only is that a lot, it is also unfathomable for our poor-college-student budgets. Let me break down what that covers.

Airfare Total (8 people) - $5,546.80 (as of March 15 - it's more expensive now)
Hotel (3 rooms, 5 nights) - $2,079.00
Transportation To/From Airport (Round trip for 8 people) - $680.01
Gas (2 cars to/from Rochester airport) - $200

That makes a grand total of $8,505.81.

The more donations the better. If you can spare a few dollars - every little bit will help us. So far we have been promised $2,000.00 from the co-curricular fund at the Setnor School of Music. We are also promised about $2,000.00 from Dr. Laverty and the Band Office. That may sound like a lot of help - which it is and we are incredibly grateful, but that's still $4,500.00+ that needs to come from somewhere else. We have also gotten promised donations from Tau Beta Sigma (I will give you updates of that - some fundraising activities they plan include Jell-O wrestling!), as well as from Mama Harris!

If you think you can help please let us know any way possible - e-mail, call, mail, carrier pigeon.... Help us represent our studio, our school, maybe even our state! Until then - I'll keep you updated!


Total Pledged: $4,000.00
Left to go: $4,505.81

Trumpet Love,
Jen

We love you (but not as much as we love each other)!

"What did the Doctor tell you?... Don't do that."

-- Mr. Sapochetti

So, welcome to the (maybe kind of semi?) official blog of the Syracuse University trumpet ensemble. We're all music students (past, present, and future --yes, future) of Syracuse University. Our members this semester are Jared, Tom, Andy, Jen, Billy, Adam, Katy, Brett, and of course, the legendary Melissa Bushee, our director. We have to shout out to Saps (since he's the director half the time) and Dr. Laverty, the SU Director of Bands and Major Trumpet Aficionado to boot.

We just wanted to spread the word about this fantastic studio and ensemble, and what better way to do that than over the internet. We'll take you through the day to day loveable disfunctionality of our rehearsals, and let you in on upcoming events and news. So keep your eyes open for pictures, videos, and sound clips that will be posted from time to time!!

A quick schedule/recent news as we know it:

- We're performing tomorrow (March 26, 2008) at the Syracuse University Chamber Music Concert in Setnor Auditorium

- March 29th is Adam Stagnitta's Junior recital at 8 PM in Setnor Auditorium. We'll be performing on that, also, but listen in, regardless, because Adam is pretty not so bad (that's a Melissa-ism) at the trumpet.

- April 1st is Brass Bash in Cicero North Syracuse. When we have more information about time and place, we'll post it.

- April 20th at 5 PM in Setnor Auditorium is Katy's senior recital. Please come. You'll get to hear the Trifecta (Katy, Jen, and Andy) play some Tomasi together. Stay for food afterward, fill your bellies, and promptly go to --

- The Trumpet Ensemble Concert. April 20th at 8 PM in Setnor Auditorium. Hear us play all the repertoire we've been working on this semester. Works by Ewazen, DiMartino, Scherzinger (SU's own Dr. Nick!), Gabrielli, and others.

- June 1st-5th The International Trumpet Guild Conference. We've recently been invited to play at the Annual Conference which will be held this year in Banff, Canada (watch out for moose in heat).

* Can't make it to any concert? For all events in Setnor Auditorium, visit http://vpa.syr.edu/streaming/index.cfm for live streaming audio.

Thanks for coming. Please check in periodically for news, and just to see fun blurbs that will surely be posted.

Here's an example of one: Billy recently printed out a bunch of pictures of Chris Martin (principal trumpet in Chicago Symphony -- and not so bad looking, either) and posted them around Jen's office. Jared, the jealous boyfriend, proceeded to deface every Chris Martin picture during trumpet ensemble rehearsal. Shortly thereafter, Andy and Katy printed out about a few dozen more pictures and hid them around Jen's office. Jared got mad again. Don't get mad at Jen, Jared, get mad at the rest of us for messing with you!

That's it for now.

-- Katy and Tom