When the U.S. Army Jazz Ambassadors performed at Colorado Mesa University’s Asteria Theatre on March 20, the free concert drew a crowd large enough to exceed expected seating. According to information shared at the ticket booth, 864 tickets were sold, and an additional section of the theater had to be opened to accommodate attendees.

The evening was a chance to hear one of the Army’s premier jazz ensembles deliver a polished live performance. For CMU students Tommy D. Masciullo and Albert E. Booth, the night was more personal: the chance to perform onstage with the Jazz Ambassadors in front of a packed house.

Masciullo, who plays saxophone, and Booth, a trumpet player, joined the ensemble for one song during the concert. What made the opportunity even more impressive was how little time they had to prepare with the group beforehand.

“We had zero time,” Booth said. Masciullo added, “That was the first time we played” with them in the concert.

Even without rehearsal, both students said the experience felt encouraging rather than overwhelming.

Masciullo said playing with the group gave him a firsthand look at a professional musical environment.

“I mean, it’s the US Army Jazz Ambassadors, so I had an opportunity to play with them and play with a super tight group and be in that environment of just really knowledgeable musicians and professional musicians, and it really showed me what that environment’s like, and it helped me be a better musician myself.” Masciullo said about the group.

Booth said the group’s musicianship helped him stay grounded during the performance.

“I was never questioning at any point, where am I in the music?” Booth said. “They were always helping me just with how they were playing, and it was great.”

After the performance, Director of the Jazz Ambassadors Chief Warrant Officer 2 Brian Dorgan said giving students opportunities like that is part of what makes the tours meaningful. Reflecting on Masciullo and Booth joining the ensemble, Dorgan said he never had an opportunity like that when he was younger and wanted to “inspire kids to keep doing it,” whether or not they pursue music professionally.

Dorgan said the group had completed between 14 and 16 events on the tour and would head to New England in the fall for about three weeks to perform roughly 20 more. He said the tours are about more than music alone, calling them an amazing opportunity to connect with communities and remind them that their support matters to service members.

Both students also said the interaction with the Army musicians left an impression offstage.

Masciullo said he spoke with a few members before the concert and was struck by how approachable they were. “It was cool to talk to them before the show started, and, like, they’re just regular humans like the rest of us,” he said.

Booth said one of the musicians gave him advice on auditions and preparing for tour. “They were very nice, very welcoming,” Booth said. “One of them was giving me advice on auditions and how to go about preparing for them, which was really great.”

The experience offered Booth and Masciullo more than just an opportunity to play with veterans. It gave them a closer look at professional musicianship, future career possibilities and the kind of opportunity that can sharpen a performer in real time. At Asteria Theatre, Masciullo and Booth were not just watching the spotlight — for one song, they became it.