The 1600I features a reverse leadpipe and professional two piece valve casing with nickel silver balusters. Also included are stainless steel valves and a vertical 3rd slide stop. The discerning player can choose between a clear lacquered or silver-plated finish, pearl inlaid or metal finger buttons, regular or light action springs, and standard or weighted bottom valve caps.

Also available on the XO 1600I are the revolutionary XO Nodal Stabilizers (XONS). The XONS technology reduces gaps normally found in trumpets that contribute to turbulence and excessive resistance. This breakthrough allows Jupiter XO players to stay ahead of the curve amongst their peers.

You can find the Jupiter XO 1600I wherever world class trumpets are sold. Visit JupiterXO.com for more information.

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As the official concert percussion supplier of the 2010 TBA Convention, Majestic will provide an array of concert percussion instruments to be used on the main performance stage. This will include a new prototype rosewood marimba, a V7530S vibraphone, an X7535H xylophone, B3525S orchestra bells, a set of four Prophonic timpani, a Prophonic bass drum, and a complete set of Artist Series concert toms. Many of these will be available for conference attendees to purchase at a special show discount.

Esteemed educator and Majestic performing artist Dr. Stephen Crawford will be a featured clinician at this year’s convention. The session, titled "Head"aches: Getting the Most Out of Your Timpani, will be held on Monday, July 26th. Designed to help educators understand the instrument better, it will address performance techniques as well as instrument mechanics and maintenance. The clinic will feature Dr. Crawford providing demonstrations using Majestic suspended kettle hammered copper timpani.

KHS America will also have a large display in the exhibit hall during the convention, where several Majestic models will be featured in addition to Mapex drums, Jupiter wind instruments, and Azumi flutes.

“We have seen a dramatic rise in the popularity of Majestic percussion in Texas over the course of the last year” says Chris Hankes, KHS Marching and Concert Percussion Manager. “Many educators are beginning to discover the quality and value that have long been the hallmark of instruments produced by Majestic. I am very encouraged and excited to partner with the Texas Bandmasters Association, given the strong tradition of music education in Texas.”

Majestic has a history of building quality percussion instruments that dates back to 1921. The brand name was established in 1960, and Majestic concert drums and timpani became highly regarded throughout Europe. More recently, a full complement of mallet instruments have been introduced to fulfill all needs of the concert percussion stage.

Many different events were available to those who attended, including off-site concerts and a Majestic sponsored artist reception. This reception brought together more than forty performing artists from different areas of the world. While the evening started as scheduled with music from Team Islas and an explosive performance from Natsu/Kayo on Majestic’s own M8650H Marimba, the event made a more improvisational turn with a jam session breaking out among several artist using various percussion instruments.

Majestic artists Janus Percussion and newly signed Casey Cangelosi took part in the festivities, and had lots of promising things to say about the conference. Janus performed in a featured concert at the Landmark Center in downtown St. Paul.

"Our performance at the beautiful Landmark Center in St. Paul was a fantastic and memorable experience for us,” said Janus artist Brian Duffy. “We performed several of the great staples of the mallet duo repertoire and also premiered a new work by Alex Orfaly for xylophone duo and ragtime style mallet ensemble.”

Janus Percussion, consisting of Duffy and Erik Barsness, created quite a stir, and Majestic was happy to help. “Thanks to transportation provided by Majestic we had a standing room only audience that was engaging and inquisitive about not only our performance but also the fabulous Majestic instruments we performed on."

And that was just the beginning. Later in the festival Janus Percussion performed in a concert featuring vibraphone and marimba duos. Duffy and Barsness performed Anders Koppel's renowned "Toccata" for an appreciative audience at Ted Man Concert Hall in Minneapolis. A second show at Ted Man saw Janus collaborating with Croatian marimba artist Ivana Bilic as part of a concert featuring marimba concertos.

Janus played exclusively on Majestic percussion, and had wonderful things to say on the new M8650H. “[It] has a powerful yet warm and sustaining low register that blends perfectly with the balanced and pitch-right tones of the mid and upper registers to create an overall tone quality that is not just appropriate, but enviable for any venue or artist.”

“When you add in the performer friendly bar dimensions, easy to use height adjustment system, and several other truly innovative design features, you have an instrument that we could not be more pleased with."

Cangelosi, Majestic’s newest Concert Percussion artist, gave Marimba 2010 an enthusiastic thumbs-up.

“In a word, the 2010 Marimba Festival was fantastic. In every aspect too: the musicianship, the organization, Fernando Meza and his students hosting us. The event was entirely comprehensive, encompassing all styles and countries of marimba playing.”

The sheer number of artists at the conference was not lost on Cangelosi. “The performing artist roster was very long; it would take less time for me just to tell who wasn't there. I've never felt such a warm musical environment, everywhere I looked I found marimbists excited at the sight of one-another. The sense of friendship and unity was splattered in all directions and at every angle. “

Casey performed on multiple occasions, showcasing several of his own pieces on the M8650H, including “Character No. 5”, “Prelude in F minor”, Etude in A minor No. 2”, “Walking Left Handed” and the fan favorite “White Knuckle Stroll”.

The masterful percussionist Pedro Carneiro of Portugal -known also for his conducting and composing -played for pleased crowds on the M8650H marimba. Carneiro had just arrived from sold-out performances the previous week with the Portuguese Chamber Orchestra at the Centro Cultural Belém in Lisbon, where he also performed on the M8650H.

“The marimba has a great tone and many nice, interesting features!” said Carneiro of this Majestic flagship model.

KHS America Concert Percussion Manager Chris Hankes saw it as an honor to have such a world-class performer play Majestic Percussion.

“I know that he enjoyed performing on our marimba and we are always happy to hear an artist of this caliber performing in such great venues on our instruments,” said Hankes.

Carneiro’s appearance, sponsored by Majestic, was the culmination of work between the percussionist and Hankes. “It has been a pleasure working with Mr. Carneiro and our international team from KHS and Majestic Holland in recent months. I am very proud that we were able to sponsor his appearance at Marimba 2010, and to support his performances in Portugal as well.”

Concerts and events for Marimba 2010 were held in various venues throughout the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, including the aforementioned Landmark Center, along with Orchestra Hall, Cathedral of Saint Paul, SPCO Center and Weisman Art Museum.

The multiple locations and many different artists provided a unique atmosphere that was truly a celebration of the marimba. Casey Cangelosi certainly put it into perspective.

“I feel so lucky to have performed alongside so many of my childhood heroes; it is simply something I won't forget.”

For more information on the Marimba 2010 International Festival and Conference, visit marimba2010.org.

“Casey is an amazing talent” said Chris Hankes, Percussion Product Manager for Majestic/Mapex. “His creativity and vision are a perfect complement to our instruments.”

In April, Majestic sponsored Mr. Cangelosi’s appearance at the Marimba 2010 International Festival and Conference in Minneapolis. Casey performed several of his recent compositions, such as “Character No. 5” and “Walking Left Handed” on the Majestic M8650H five octave rosewood marimba. He concluded his portion of the “Voices from the New Generation” concert with his new two-mallet piece “White Knuckle Stroll” which wowed those in attendance.

“The Majestic marimba is fantastically vibrant, colorful, and dynamic,” said Cangelosi. “The beauty of the instrument is not only heard, but felt, a mutual seamless conduit between performer and audience. Not only was I immediately attracted to the visual and aural aesthetic, but the instrument simply feels great to play.”

In addition to his prowess on the marimba, Cangelosi is also very well-respected for his compositions and proficiency on snare drum and multiple percussion. At a recent masterclass for the University of Delaware percussion studio he demonstrated his technical facility performing his composition “Prelude” on a Mapex Black Panther Seamless Steel Panther Model snare drum.

“He demands a lot out of his drums and mallet instruments as they are a key component of bringing his music to life, and I am pleased that Majestic and Mapex are meeting and exceeding his expectations,” Hankes said. “I foresee many years of great compositions, music making and percussion education from Casey Cangelosi. We are very proud to partner with him in these efforts.”

For more information on Casey Cangelosi, please visit www.caseycangelosi.com.

For more information on the Marimba 2010 International Festival and Conference, please visit www.marimba2010.org