imported_administrator

From TM Administrator: Major Announcement

I am both honored and saddened to have to drop a bombshell this evening.

I have, this morning, received a message from Manny Laureano regarding his future with the Minnesota Orchestra. It goes as follows:

Dear TM Administrators,

I am writing to you because TM has become a bit of a second home for me and I wanted this to come from me directly rather than have it become the source of rumor and innuendo. After much thought and consultation with my family and the management of the Orchestra, I have decided to retire my position with the Minnesota Orchestra effective immediately.

I would never want to do anything to damage the image of the orchestra or this art form and decided that I would go out while still in good shape before the ravages of age do irrepairable harm to my reputation.

The orchestra has provided me with a rather generous pension package that I find hard to resist as it includes a variety of trips for lectures to the far east for which they have provided copious sums, up front no less.

This will give me the time I have lacked to get into some recent projects involving CDs and writing. The Universty of Southern North Dakota (Hoople Campus) has had a rich music program for years and I will be professor emeritus of trumpet on a trial basis. The school helicopter will provide me with the commute that would be daunting otherwise.

As for my position in the orchestra, that has been taken care of. In the last year I have gotten to know and endorse the playing of a wonderful young trumpeter who will play in my stead for the next year, although, I have reason to believe that this young fellow will ultimately be appointed permanently. He is Sidd Finch of Flushing, New York.

To put it bluntly, I have never heard trumpet playing like this in my life. While he was born in America, he spent much of his life in India where he taught himself to play trumpet after his father found the instrument at a bazaar in Delhi. I have never heard of the brand before or since. It is a Shamsky Art Model trumpet. My information is that it was at its most popular in 1969 and then had a brief resurrection in 1986.

I have never heard anyone play faster, higher, and lower with such clarity and power. I have asked him how he does it but he is a very quiet man and really doesn't say much. He prefers to practice hidden away from humanity's mad inhuman noise. Suffice it to say, the duet sessions we've had have been humbling.

I'm looking forward to a quiet life. I will maintain the Manny 911 forum for a year and then have Sidd pick it up for me after we work on his writing and communication skills. As I said, he is a quiet living man, as I will be once I finish up my final engagements with the Orchestra.

I'll have more to say later but for now, I'll thank you for relaying this message to the folks at TM.

ML

cbradwhitfield

Sidd Finch truly is a man of many talents, even though he is still largely unknown.

Although Finch is hardly a "power player," you are probably right in leaving, frankly. On one level, Sidd deserves all your praise. Still, it will not be the same without you, Manny. I would definitely like to come up to the Dakotas for a lesson sometime, and possibly take a copter ride if you can spare the time. I dare not ask Mr. Finch for a lesson until he has had time to settle in here in our culture. (For those of you who have not heard of him, you are in for a treat!)

Good luck to you, Manny. And don't stop posting.

-B

camelbrass

mmmmmm

The Shamsky Art model trumpet found in a bazaar in Indaa eh?

And use of the school helicopter from UND..what was it Hoople school?

Have lots of fun Manny.

Regards,

Trevor

silverstar

Mr. Laureano,

You're still going to post here and talk with us, right? I enjoy your comments and jokes and advice.

Lara

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email: Lara.Shema@gmail.com
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*insert witty comment here*

docfox

No that was the University of Northern South Dakota. A great place to be a professor. The only real drawback is that they play lots of classic (not classical) tunes written by PDQ Bach. The whole faculty teaches from Bach's repertoire.

It is great music -- but it takes some time to get used to it after a symphony career.

Schwab

I understand how he became great so quickly. If you could learn to make a decent sound out of an Indian trumpet, you would be a virtuoso automatically by playing a halfway decent horn. I'm very excited to hear him play with the orchestra. No offense Manny, but Sidd has always been one of my favorites.

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Dylan Schwab
Stage 1 New York

frank

Hello Mr. Laureano,

Switch to my new invention, the Magic Mind Horn (see Eclipse Trumpet Contest), and you'll blow this Finch away!!!

Frank

nieuwguyski

Sidd has always been an unbelievable character. I guess the french horn didn't work out for him. As talented as he is, it doesn't surprise me that he's appeared seemingly out of nowhere as a world-class trumpet player.

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John N. Nieuwguyski

tpter1

Manny- You have given so much so humbly and so freely, and will be missed greatly.

I have learned alot from you not only about playing trumpet; I think many of us have also seen the importance of humanity, humility and respect through your model. (You can see evidence of that on how each treats the other on your forum!)

If any of your workshops or masterclasses bring you to New York (SUNY Potsdam has a really good trumpet department, and I might be able to convince them), let me know and I'll be in attendance, with students in tow.

I wish you the very best and most enjoyable retirement. I'll be looking for your book and CD with great anticipation!
-Glenn

JackD

Wow, that is suprising!

Enjoy your retirement Manny, and I look forward to hearing your CDs and reading the things you write. You have been a great asset here - I for one have picked up a load of things from you, even though I've never met you! I have been greatly impressed by the various recordings of yours I've heard - you truly are an amazing trumpet player and musician.

Sad to hear you won't be coming to London for that prom, but I'll keep an ear out for Mr Finch. For someone to impress you that much, he's got to be a hell of a player.

Take care,

Jack.