The Brass Blast
We had such great feedback from the 2012 Brass Blast that we are doing it again and inviting our brass playing friends to join us. This year's special guests are:
- The Tower of Power horn section and drummer
- Dominic Farinacci and his quartet
- Louise Baranger
- UConn's Funky Dawgz Brass Band
Join us on Saturday, April 27, 2013 at Southington (CT) High School. Walk-ins are welcome!
The Southington Brass Blast is a brass festival, a Guinness World Record attempt for the largest trumpet ensemble and a benefit for organizations that support students and musicians. At least 1,167 trumpeters are needed to break the record. View the 30 second video.
View the Brass Blast Program.
The 2012 Brass Blast
Thank you to the 298 trumpeters, their fans and our volunteers who joined us on April 21, 2012. Almost $9,000 was raised for three worthy causes. Learn about the 2012 Brass Blast, including video and photos.
The 2013 Brass Blast
"It's all the trumpet section!"
All brass players, even those who hadn't played for a while, are invited to join us on April 27, 2013.
At our first event we were thrilled to see families and friends performing together: kids, parents and grandparents; adult siblings; old college friends; current and former band members; teachers with groups of their students; etc. So, dust off your horn, invite all the brass players you know and join us.
Invite your fellow trumpet and brass players to participate via the Southington Brass Blast 2013, a Guinness World Record Attempt event on Facebook, by distributing this Southington Brass poster, by sharing public service announcements which are available in a 30-second (video), 30-second (audio) and 60-second (audio) versions or listening to a radio interview on WQUN.
We will be performing The National Anthem, John Williams Magic (a medley), The Colonel Bogey March and Gonna Fly Now (Rocky Theme). Go to the Brass Blast music page, to select your part and then practice.
"The Brass Blast represents everything that is right in a healthy community. The event showcases high quality professionals working and volunteering with today's youth for the good of others...it just does not get any better!" - Dr. Joseph Erardi, Superintendent of Schools, Southington, CT.
Details:
When: April 27, 2013. Rain (inside) or Shine (outside)
Registration and vendor fair begins at 10 am, the UConn Funky Dawgz Band will entertain from 11:00-12:00, sectional rehearsal begins at 12:00 pm, the performance is at 1:00 pm, and the concert is at 2:00 pm. Food and drink will be available for purchase from 10 to 2. [NOTE: Event times were updated March 27.] View the Brass Blast Program.
Where: Southington High School, 720 Pleasant Street, Southington, CT. (Southington, Connecticut is located along I-84 and I-691 between Waterbury, New Haven and Hartford. It is about 2 hours from both New York City and Boston, MA.)
Fees: Registration fees for performers are $20 in advance or $25 at the door. Register now! Fees are non-refundable.
Spectators can attend the Guiness attempt for free and can watch from the guest bleachers, although donations will be accepted.
For the post-attempt concert and clinic, tickets will be made available based on registration date, i.e. the sooner you register and request tickets the better the chance you will have a seat in the SHS Auditorium for the concert. Brass players registered for the 2013 Brass Blast will receive their ticket for free; their guests are asked to make a $5.00 donation. Tickets will be distributed during check-in.
Registration fees will benefit three worthy organizations:
- The Mill Foundation for Kids - www.millfoundation.org
- Southington High School Band Backers - www.shsmarchingband.com
- Connecticut Music Educators Association (CMEA) - www.cmea.org
"The Connecticut Music Educators Association (CMEA) is proud to support the Brass Blast for a second year. CMEA strives to support programs and activities such as this, for students, professional educators, and future music educators which in turn enhances the quality of music education for all children in Connecticut." - Dale D. Griffa, President, CMEA
What else is going on?
We are planning a day all about music and trumpet players including an exhibit area and concert. If your trumpet or brass ensemble would like to perform or if you are a vendor that caters to brass players, we encourage you to contact us. Vendors are also welcome to sponsor, exhibit or participate, download the sponsorship form.
Additional Performances
During the vendor fair, from 11:00-12:00, be entertained by:
- The Funky Dawgz Brass Band, a New Orleans style second line brass band from The University of Connecticut.
After the Guinness Attempt, participants with tickets are invited to move into the High School and see a number of trumpet and brass ensembles teach and perform starting at 2 pm.
The performers will include:
- The Tower of Power horn section - Adolfo Acosta, Sal Cracchiolo, Emilio Castillo, Doc Kupka, and Tom Politzer, plus David Garibaldi, the TOP drummer, will be putting on a 60 minute clinic. They are being sponsored by Yamaha and Vantis Life. Tower of Power started performing 45 years ago in Oakland, CA. Each year Tower of Power tours the United States, Japan and Europe, playing to sold out crowds all over the world. Recent releases include “Great American Soulbook”, a collection of classic soul tunes, and the 40th Anniversary Concert DVD. Tower has never been busier or more in demand. New generations of fans come to see the band perform as their timeless music continues to excite fans of all ages.
- Dominick Farinacci and his quartet will put on a concert and master class. The New York Times recognizes Dominick Farinacci as "having the prepossessing charm and lyrical instinct of a jazz pop-star." The 29-year-old trumpeter is the recipient of the International New Star Award (along with Diana Krall and Christian McBride), the Disney New Star Award, first place honors in the ITG Carmine Caruso Jazz Competition (2003), and was first discovered by Wynton Marsalis when he was just 17. After appearing on PBS with Marsalis, Dominick attended The Juilliard School in NYC. In addition to touring internationally with his band, he created an innovative music outreach program for the Tommy Lipuma Center for Creative Arts in his native town of Cleveland, reaching over 3,000 kids in its inaugural year. The legendary Quincy Jones says of Dominick's wide array of accomplishments, "This kid is 360 degrees!" Most recently Dominick was featured of NPR's Piano Jazz Rising Stars, and is touring in support of his latest release Dawn of Goodbye.
Dominick resides in New York City. He is endorsed by E.K. Blessing.
- Check out Dominick's interview/performance on NPR here!
- Connect with Dominick via
- Louise Baranger. Louise has performed around the world and her solo CD, Trumpeter's Prayer, on Summit Records, features Arturo Sandoval, Tom Kubis and Carl Fontana. She is included on the CD To Fred With Love: The World's Finest Brass Players Pay Tribute to Fred Mills.
- The Southington Brass, your hosts.
How it will work:
In short: register, select your part, practice at home, rehearse and perform on April 27, 2013.
- Participants submit their registration form and non-refundable fee, indicating their experience level.
- Go to the Brass Blast music page, select your part and then practice. For trumpet players, there are multiple parts, ranging from beginner to advanced so you can select the version you are most comfortable with. We may ask advanced players to switch in order to have balance. Parts for trombone, tuba, baritone and horn in F have also been provided. An MP3 file of the songs will be shared so that you can play along at home. You do not need to memorize the songs, lyres are allowed and will be available for purchase if needed.
- On the day of the event, everyone needs to check in so we get credit for the number of people in the attempt. Players will be given a color-coded stamp or sticker that indicates which part they will perform.
- Players will assemble in the football stadium (or indoors, depending on the weather). The players will be divided by part for a sectional rehearsal and will then return to the main stands. Parents and spectators who are not performing will be directed to the visitor's stands to watch. Parents of younger students are welcome to stay with their child.
- Brass players then perform each song at least twice, first as a practice, once as the official performance, starting with The National Anthem.
- Please note that the all activities during the day, including the performances, will be photographed and recorded. The files will be shared on Facebook, the Southington Brass site and used for future Brass Blast attempt promotions.
Lead Sponsors
We would like to thank our lead sponsors.
- Vantis Life: Insurance Company
http://www.vantislife.com/able
- TAB Computer Systems, Inc.
www.tabinc.com
- Yamaha: 125 Years of Passion & Performance
Supporters
Thank you to all of our supporters.
- Wayne Stanforth, CPA
- Lux Bond & Green
- Westchester Brassmen Drum and Bugle Corps
http://westchesterbrassmen.com/
- S.E. Shires Custom Brass Instruments
- Ryan Business Systems
- Music & Arts
- WTIC NewsTalk 1080
http://connecticut.cbslocal.com
- The Music Shop of Southington
- Southington Chamber of Commerce
http://www.southingtoncoc.com/
- Charles Colin Publications
- Jaeger Brass: Brass Instrument Specialists
- Emendee Technologies: Telecommunications and Energy Solutions
- D'Agostino & Mazzone, LLC: Certified Public Accountants, Business & Financial Advisors
http://dagostinoandmazzone.com/
- Pan De Oro: All Natural Tortilla Chips
- Carmen Filloramo Photography
- Guida's Milk
- E.K. Blessing, manufacturing brass instruments since 1906.
- ChopSaver
- Rachel's Cookies & Treats
www.rachelscookiesandtreats.com
Vendors are welcome to sponsor, exhibit or participate, download the sponsorship form.
2012 Brass Blast Photos
The trumpet section:
Musical Director, Tim Johnson:
More photos and video from 2012 are at Southington Brass Blast, a Guinness World Record Attempt event on Facebook.
Invite your fellow trumpet players to participate in 2013 via the Southington Brass Blast 2013, a Guinness World Record Attempt event on Facebook.
