Formed in 1964 by members of the Saint Louis Symphony, the Saint Louis Brass Quintet performs a repertoire spanning the spectrum of music: standard brass quintets and newly commissioned classical works, brass quintet transcriptions of Baroque and Renaissance works, and arrangements of jazz, pop and show music.

Forty-three years and more than 2,700 engagements later, the group — now comprised of trumpeters Allan Dean and Ray Sasaki, trombonist Melvyn Jernigan (the only original member remaining), tubist Daniel Perantoni and hornist Thomas Baconnow — performs three, ten-day concert tours each year. Four of its members hold top academic positions in university music departments throughout the United States.

The new concert special, SAINT LOUIS BRASS LIVE IN CONCERT — airing New Year’s Eve starting at 11 p.m. on WTVP-HD — includes performances of early Baroque selections by Michael Praetorious, two tangos by Astor Piazzolla and three narrated selections from Aesop's Fables. The chamber music ensemble then entertains the audience with upbeat renditions of "Sweet Georgia Brown" and Louis Armstrong favorites "Hello, Dolly," "What a Wonderful World" and "Mack the Knife."

The Saint Louis Brass Quintet also performs original pieces written especially for them by James De Mars, along with two tangos by Manuel deFalla. The light-hearted "Divertimento for Neglected Instruments" reflects the group's commitment to education. They employ conch shells, a garden hose and bugles while playing “Happy Birthday,” “Take Me Out to the Ballgame" and “Somewhere Over the Rainbow" during a tongue-in-cheek survey of the history of brass instruments.

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