Shadyside Brass Quintet

While we prefer to sit for longer gigs, our instrument combination allows us to stand to save space at small venues. We typically perform for up to three hours but will need frequent breaks with longer shows. Being brass players, we typically do not need sound amplification unless a venue is very large. This also means that we would not be appropriate background music in small spaces. Churches and halls make the best setting for this type of group.

Our inspiration for music comes from a love of chamber music and brass. We take particular inspiration from our favorite artists regardless of genre and have arranged music from Van Morrison, the Beatles, Bobby Darin, John Rutter, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Morten Lauridsen, and others. We like to mix fun arrangements of music in with our serious programs if appropriate to the setting, but we do not add the "choreography" that many professional brass groups add. Groups we try to emulate in all but the movement on stage include The Canadian Brass and the Gomalan Brass quintets.

Depending on the setting, we can play sensitive background music or make people come to a new appreciation of what brass music can sound like. We are not the screaming brass sections of big bands, we are quiet guys who care about making meaningful music, having fun doing it, and making sure those hearing us walk away with a smile.

Shadyside Brass is an award winning brass quintet based in Pittsburgh, PA. With seasoned members from several local orchestras, Shadyside Brass is ready to provide your event with quality live music. From classical music to contemporary jazz standards, let us provide background or central music to your wedding, party, or other social event.

Shadyside Brass was founded in 2013 to enable some of the leading players from the Edgewood Symphony, Pittsburgh Philharmonic, Undercroft Opera Orchestra, and Pittsburgh Civic Orchestras with an opportunity to create meaningful experiences through chamber music. While most of our performances are paid events, our primary focus is on providing beautiful music to people who appreciate quality chamber music and to show others the sensitivity and power that is possible through brass music.

While we have a full repertoire of traditional brass quintet arrangements, we particularly enjoy creating our own arrangements of the music we perform. In particular, we have created a number of Beatles, Rutter, and Renaissance arrangements that have been popular at our performances. Given time, we are happy to create an arrangement of your favorite tune for your special event.

Shadyside Brass consists of Joe Figliulo and David DeAngelo on trumpet, Doug Peters on Horn, Justin Miller on trombone, and Matthew Tesch on Bass Trombone. In addition to our experience in Pittsburgh orchestras, these musicians have performed in such diverse groups as the Altoona Symphony, New England Philharmonic, Boston Chamber Ensemble, Centre Brass Quintet, New England Philharmonic Woodwind Quintet, Quinta Voce Woodwind Quintet, Bill Dayton Orchestra, Olin Conductorless Orchestra, and Carnegie Mellon Jazz Ensemble.

We are pretty flexible with venues. We bring our own music stands and can bring stand lights if the area is dark. We tend to ask that the venue provide five armless chairs, but if these are unavailable, we can bring our own or perform standing if it is a space-constrained venue.