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The Natural Partnership between Music and Art

Posted on May 5, 2020 at 4:00 PM by Betsy Grabinski


Last September, the Brunnier Art Museum was reopened after a two-year renovation project. The celebration of the reopening, Beyond the Glass Reopening Gala, was held on September 19, marking, to the day, the 44th Anniversary of the museum’s opening. As part of this celebration, ISU Professor of Music and Director of Bands Dr. Mike Golemo was commissioned to compose a music fanfare that was played as the new Brunnier was revealed to the public.

Previously commissioned for original music on two other occasions by University Museums, Dr. Golemo was sought out months in advance to write the fanfare and he was given a few revealing details about what to expect. “I knew there would be a large crowd, so I wanted to make it powerful and majestic,” he said. “This led me to a brass ensemble with 12 parts for trumpet through tuba.” He chose a German/Austrian sound, to corelate with the Met Chandeliers that were new acquisitions from Austrian glassware company J. & L. Lobmeyr and revealed the night of the gala where they were installed in front of the museum’s entrance in the Scheman Building. 

The Beyond the Glass Fanfare made its debut at the reopening gala, played by the ISU student Brass Ensemble, and enjoyed by over 800 attendees to the event. 

“Music and art have a natural partnership,” Dr. Golemo noted about composing the fanfare for University Museums. “There is a need for this type of expression on a campus that is known more for its science and technology. I was proud to be a part of this creative collaboration.”

Golemo’s Beyond the Glass Fanfare was also used during the recent renaming event for the Simon Estes Music Hall on ISU campus. He has also entered the composition in the Dallas Winds Brass Fanfare Competition; if selected, the fanfare would be performed before a live performance of the prestigious Dallas Winds instrumental ensemble in Dallas, Texas. 

Listen now to the Beyond the Glass Fanfare: 

Click here to watch a highlight video from the Beyond the Glass Reopening Gala event.

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