Manny Laureano

I had a very nice experience last night that I mentioned earlier in another thread.

Doug Snapp is the principal trumpeter for the Mankato Symphony and also a jazz band instructor in the Mankato, Minnesota area. He's in demand quite a bit and was not able to play a recent concert. The music director is one our violists, Ken Freed, and he asked me if I would play in his place as it was a very special live TV broadcast to our soldiers in Iraq!

You can imagine how long it took me to answer.

Anyway, it was yet another gig where I would play without benefit of rehearsal other than the sound check. I got together with Jay and Tom, the 2nd and 3rd players, respectively, and we played through a few passages. I met up with the Mike the 1st trombonist, got our philosophies lined up, play some arpeggios together and the next thing you know, boom, we're live on the air.

The program was our national anthem, The Festive Overture of Shostakovitch and his 5th symphony. It was about 4:30 in the morning for the couple of soldiers that had family there in Mankato. In particular was a soldier who was the mother of a couple of two little ones. They got to talk to her after the performance. It was bittersweet to watch but I'm so grateful to have had the opportunity to be a part of something like that. You have to love technology when it's used for something so positive.

Freed made some strong remarks about fighting totalitarian regimes and how Shostakovitich used music to make his statements. It was very meaningful for those soldiers. I believe it will be shown again to a much larger, awake group of servicemen. I don't which company we were playing for but I'm sure I can find out.

I ws also very happy to see a number of my MYS kids, past and present, participating in that show as well. I mentioned to them how it must have been fun for us to all be on the same side of the baton for a change.

http://www.mankato-freepress.com/loc...055003907.html

Anyways, it was a lovely, lovely experience and I enjoyed meeting the players and seeing some old friends. There was another memebr of the MO playing as well, one of our bass players. He did it because he'd been looking for something positive to do on behalf of our military and was glad to get the call. It takes so little and means so much to these soldiers that are away keeping the fight over there instead of here.

ML

Alex Yates

That's the spirit ML. Well done!

RG111

Manny,

You da man!!!!! Thanks for supporting our troops!!!

Roy Griffin

Derek Reaban

Manny,

Nice story! Thanks for sharing it with us.

Tooter Tutor

Manny-
Thanks for going above and beyond the call of duty on that one and please pass along our thanks to others that participated in that project. Very cool!

-Greg

tpter1

I think this is such a cool story. Kudos to all the musicians and logistics people involved. And to whomever brainstormed this... wonderful idea. It's just one of those shining moments in humanity where it all ties together.

Vulgano Brother

Amen!

40cal

Excellent story Manny!

Eclipsehornplayer

+1 for sure!