From a Glassmen press release: The Glassmen just wrapped up a very busy weekend that not only included the usual Friday through Sunday camp, but an extra day of rehearsal and two performances with the Toledo Symphony Orchestra. Forty-five players from the Glassmen horn line were chosen to play with the symphony for this special brass-focused concert. The Friday and Saturday performances at the Toledo Museum of Art's Peristyle Theater were filled to the brim, with more than 3,000 people witnessing a "brass spectacle" that also included Russian trumpet virtuoso Sergei Nakariakov.

Glassmen brass fill the aisles in Toledo's Peristyle Amphitheater.
The sold-out crowds were treated to a rousing concert finale that brought dozens of the corps' uniformed brass players into the aisles, surrounding the theater, building a crescendo through the triumphant ending of Respighi's "Pines of Rome." The audience jumped to its feet with loud applause at the end of each performance, giving the members their first standing ovations of the season. The rest of the members of the corps, as well as staff, volunteers and parents, were also given the opportunity to attend the concert on Saturday, and meet and greet members of the symphony and audience during the evening. The collaboration, part of the new phase of the Glassmen's "Entertrainment" program, allowed members of the corps a chance to work with the new TSO conductor, Chelsea Tipton. Although the Glassmen have done several similar performances with the symphony in the past, this was the first time for Tipton, who developed quite a rapport with the members throughout the process. He was ecstatic on Saturday night after the concert. "It was true surround sound," said Tipton. "It just doesn't get any better than this!" The audience members were just as excited about the performance, calling it "breathtaking" and "exhilarating." "The concert was absolutely incredible," said one patron. "I wish every concert could be like this one!" The Glassmen certainly captured more than a few new fans, and the corps even saw a jump in ticket sales for their annual All-Star Review competition in Toledo in June over the weekend. In the midst of the symphony rehearsals and performances, the corps was still able to complete a successful camp, polishing the first half of the 2004 program music, and preparing to march drill outdoors at the later March camp weekend. Look for more exciting news to come! For more information on how you can be a part of the Glassmen experience, please visit the Glassmen Web site.