The Brass Crest

The London Citadel Band (Bandmaster John Lam) has announced several personnel changes as they commence their fall season.

The band announces, with mixed feelings, the retirement of Bernie Doars from the euphonium section and the band. Doars has been an exemplary bandsman since 1967. Throughout the years, he has been an outstanding soloist and section leader, and he served as bandmaster, 1978 – 1980. He continually set high standards for others in commitment, musical skills, attendance, leadership abilities and love of banding. Doars will continue to serve at the citadel, and the band will celebrate his years of banding later this coming season.

Major Jamie Braund had played in the band since his appointment to London Citadel as corps officer in 2009. Major Braund has recently been appointed as Assistant Principal of the Training College in Winnipeg.

Deborah Dawe has returned to London and taken on a teaching position again with the Thames Valley District School Board. She will resume her former role as instrumental music teacher at Glen Cairn Public School. Dawe has also agreed to move from flügelhorn to Eb alto horn and will fulfill a significant role in that section. In conjunction, Ron Gilbert will move from solo cornet to flügelhorn.

With several younger members coming into the band and “moving up the ranks,” Major Gary Venables has agreed to move to second cornet and Sarah Jaremko has taken the principal first cornet seat.

John and Seritha Rowsell have recently moved from St. John’s, Newfoundland, to London. John is completing a doctorate in music at the University of Toronto while Seritha is looking for a teaching position with the local school board. Seritha joins the band on solo horn; John will be playing Eb bass.

Greg Riman was welcomed into the band earlier this year. Greg comes from the Westminster Park Corps and has been a percussion instructor at music camps for several years.

The British Open is one of the premier brass band contests, and it is highlight of the year for the Birmingham Citadel Band (Bandmaster Gavin Lamplough). Held at Symphony Hall in Birmingham, this year’s event, held on Saturday, 3 September 2011, was no exception.

For several years, the Birmingham Citadel Band has opened the contest day with an early-morning concert. This year, the concert began at 9:00 am, and a good number of brass band enthusiasts had made the extra effort to be present for this early start to the day. As is customary for this event, the audience grew in number with each piece the band played and within a few items a large crowd was enjoying the music – some said that it was the largest crowd for many years. The audience generally consisted of Salvationists from all over the world as well as banding enthusiasts and players from the bands competing during the day. For such a knowledgeable audience, the Birmingham Citadel Band has always found them to be most encouraging, and this day was no exception. Interest in the band and its repertoire generated a long line of well-wishers and questions about the items played.

The band always seems to rise to the occasion for this event – no mean feat given the timing, immediately after the summer break – and the band and soloists performed to a very high standard. The marches Praise (Wilfred Heaton) and The Liberator (George Marshall) were “tight” and full of color, bringing back many happy memories for the current and former Salvation Army bandsmen in the audience. More contemporary arrangements such as Ein Feste Burg (Andrew Mackereth) attracted a lot of attention.

Deputy Bandmaster Mark Sharman (trombone), who played This I Know (Terry Camsey) and Neil Blessett (tenor horn), who played Demelza, represented the fine soloists of the band. Larger scale works of the Salvation Army brass band literature were represented by the classic writing of Morley Calvert in For Our Transgressions and the more contemporary style of James Curnow in Joyous Celebration.

Traditionally, the Sunday following the contest is designated as “Band Sunday”, with the band responsible for leading Sunday worship at Birmingham Citadel. This tradition was continued this year, with a number of visitors joining the congregation having stayed over from the contest the day before. The theme for the morning service was “For Our Transgressions”, based on the Morley Calvert composition. Based on Isaiah 53, the meeting took the congregation on a challenging journey from Christ’s sacrifice to the sense that we are compelled to use the resources afforded to us wisely. The congregation was challenged with the question, “How will you invest your resources of time, talents and relationships this week?” before the band played For Our Transgressions.

The National Capital Band (Bandmaster Dr. Steve Kellner) begins the 2011 – 2012 season by welcoming a number of new members. In a new initiative for this season, intended to clarify and formalize to some degree the requirements for membership in the band, each member and potential member received an invitation email from the band’s executive officer, Major James Allison, in August.

Band Sergeant Dave Downing, one of the longest-serving members in the history of the National Capital Band, has had to step away from participation as a player because of a condition caused by medical treatment. However, he will still be a member of the band in a support role and will continue in his role as Band Sergeant.

In the cornet section, the band welcomes Bill Bamford on solo cornet. Bamford has recently joined the finance department at Divisional Headquarters, and attended the Band Retreat after having started his new job only the day before! Also, Ian Chaava has moved from euphonium to solo cornet after having demonstrated his talents on that instrument at the NCV Music Conservatory during the summer. The band is fortunate to have such a versatile player in the ensemble.

Captain Kathie Burleigh, corps officer in Harrisonburg, Virginia, has joined the band on first cornet. Rachel Wiley, whose parents were appointed to Divisional Headquarters in the latest round of officer moves, has been invited as a provisional member in the second cornet section.

The addition of two members in the solo cornet section allows Chris Dennard to move to flügelhorn. Dennard has previously occupied this chair in the band, most notably during the 2007 tour of Switzerland and France.

In the baritone section, Anthony Randolph, who is from Richmond, Virginia, has been invited as a provisional member.

The principal euphonium chair is now occupied by Joel Collier. Hailing from Philadelphia, Joel has begun work on a Master of Euphonium Performance degree at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Captain Amy Reardon remains in the euphonium section and, as mentioned above, Ian Chaava has moved to solo cornet.

In the bass section, the band is glad to welcome back John Reeves, who was on a leave of absence last season while serving in Iraq. He returns to his seat on B-flat tuba. Also joining the band on B-flat tuba is Jim Shiels, who has recently moved from St. Louis to Richmond, where he has already been commissioned as bandmaster of the Richmond Citadel Band. On E-flat bass, Captain Tim Delaney, appointed as Divisional Youth Secretary in June, has joined the ensemble.

The full roster of the band can be found here.

The National Capital Band of the Salvation Army, based in Washington, DC, began its 2011 – 2012 season with the Annual Band Retreat held at Camp Happyland in central Virginia. This was the second weekend in a row at camp for the band, who the weekend before supported the divisional Family Camp. The theme chosen by Bandmaster Dr. Steve Kellner for this year’s Band Retreat was “Unity”.

Continuing with the style established last season, the retreat alternated between rehearsal sessions and small group “breakout” sessions, which emphasized the spiritual and relational aspects of the band, focusing on the theme for the weekend. The culmination of the retreat was a service of consecration held on Saturday afternoon.

Attendance at the retreat this year was outstanding, with only two members of the band unable to participate because of other important commitments. The band read through much of the repertoire for the upcoming season in the five rehearsal sessions. As usual, the retreat was a time to allow new members and those with changed roles to become familiar with their positions.

For the breakout sessions, the band was divided into four groups, which met separately. Because of the number of new members, each group included at least one. The groups were also structured so that a range of experience was included in each. The sessions served both as means for the members to become more familiar with each other and also as a spiritual point of focus. The concept of the breakout groups, which was introduced in last year’s retreat, is regarded by many in the band as the most significant part of the rehearsal weekend.

For the second year running, the Bellshill Salvation Army Band was invited by the Callandar Council of Churches to play in the town square and then present a “Songs of Praise” service in Callandar Kirk. The event took place on 21 August 2011.

On approaching the picturesque town dark clouds loomed over the hills, so dark, in fact, that it looked like a torrential downpour was imminent. Not the sort of thing you want when preparing for an outdoor concert! A few drops of rain did fall, but just a few. When the band arrived, the comment from Ian Milligan, the local organizer, was “best get started as soon as possible!” The locals, like the visitors, clearly thought that the rain was just waiting for the band’s first note ...

However, these fears were totally unfounded. As the band commenced their first piece, Dance Like David, the rain clouds began to disperse and were gradually replaced by blue sky. As a result, many people gathered around the band and participated in the numerous opportunities for favorite songs and congregational singing. Under the baton of Deputy Bandmaster Melvyn Shanks, the band played a mixture of old and new pieces, warmly received by both local and visitors alike.

At 5:30 pm it was time for the indoor Songs of Praise service, where a responsive congregation once again made many requests for favorite songs, which were interspersed with a variety of band pieces. When the band left the church, the sun was shining and the sky was blue – an idyllic summer’s day!

Following the commissioning of Bandmaster Gavin Lamplough, the Birmingham Citadel Corps had been waiting for the opportunity to celebrate the service of his predecessor, Bandmaster Graham W. Lamplough. Graham’s ill health prevented this from happening on the same day as his son, Gavin, was commissioned. The opportunity came on Sunday, 12 June 2011, with the support of the Bristol Easton Band, which was visiting Birmingham Citadel for the weekend.

Recent health problems brought an premature end to Bandmaster Graham Lamplough’s hugely successful tenure as Bandmaster of the Birmingham Citadel Band in May 2011, and ended a 26-year incumbency spanning five decades. Since being commissioned as Bandmaster in the 1970s at the Chesterton Corps in Stoke-on-Trent, he became renowned for band training and creative programming.

Whether it was with the Band at the West Midlands Divisional Music School in the 1980s and 1990s, the West Midlands Divisional Youth Band in the 1990s, or, more recently, the Birmingham Citadel Band, Bandmaster Lamplough always endeavored to promote the relevance of the brass band in today’s society. To this end, he looked to balance the traditions and heritage of Salvation Army brass banding with new innovations to reach out and touch the lives of “new” audiences. The legacy he leaves with hundreds of band members is one which will benefit Salvation Army bands for generations and his wit will certainly be missed by the Birmingham Citadel Band as he retires.

Recent highlights with Birmingham Citadel Band include two recordings, Spirit of Joy and Seasons in Splendour, twice-annual performances at Birmingham’s magnificent Symphony Hall, numerous away weekends and evening festivals, the conception of the band’s web site. He masterminded the band’s tour of Canada at Easter 2011, which, due to ill health, he could not participate in. However, he did not let this disappointment halt his drive and determination to fully prepare the band for the tour, and even wave the coach off as it left Birmingham on 15 April 2011. A lesser man may have lost interest because of the frustration of not being able to tour with the band. But Bandmaster Lamplough loves Salvation Army banding, he loves the Birmingham Citadel Band and he epitomizes the band’s motto: “the best is yet to be.”

On Friday, 1 July 2011, the Solent Fellowship Band (Conductor John Bird) presented a charity concert at Portsmouth Citadel. The concert endeavored to raise funds for the Haven Nursery, based at Portsmouth Citadel, and the band items were interspersed with question and answer sessions featuring members of the Haven Nursery staff.

The concert commenced with a march, Wonderful Day (Steven Ponsford). Major Cedric Hills, corps officer, Portsmouth Citadel, welcomed everyone to the concert. After this the band played Trumpet Tune (Henry Purcell, arr. Ray Steadman-Allen) and Troika (arr. Alan Fernie).

Following a congregational song and a prayer by Major Lyn Hills, the band played God and God Alone (Phill McHugh).

Steve Jones has recently joined the Fellowship Band as principal trombone and he presented a solo item, Count Your Blessings (Brindley Boon). Other band items included the hymn tune arrangement Deep Harmony, the horn feature Thine Alone (James Curnow) and two “songs from the shows”, Can You Feel the Love Tonight? (Tim Rice/Elton John, arr. Frank Bernaerts) and Love Changes Everything (Andrew Lloyd Webber, arr. Stephen Bulla).

Following a video presentation featuring the work at the Haven Nursery, the band concluded the first half of the program with The Blessing (William Himes).

The march To Regions Fair (Norman Bearcroft), another congregational song and Light Up the Sunshine (Joy Webb, arr. Maurice Ozanne) followed the interval.

As part of a time of reflection, the band played People Need the Lord (Nelson/McHugh, arr. Tom Fettke, trs. Howard Davies). Major Cedric Hills then read some appropriate words of Scripture from the Book of Revelation and Psalm 119, which linked with the band’s presentation of Dean Goffin’s meditation The Light of the World.

Major Hills then thanked everyone for their attendance and participation before pronouncing the benediction.

In conclusion, the band sent everyone home to the stirring sound of another march, Anthem of the Free (Dean Goffin).

On Friday, 17 June 2011, the Solent Fellowship Band (Conductor John Bird), together with hand-bell choir Bell Canto (Musical Director Derek Dunn), presented a charity concert at St. Mary’s Church, Hayling Island.

The concert commenced with the band presenting a trio of items, Trumpet Tune (Purcell, arr. Ray Steadman-Allen), the hymn tune Deep Harmony and the march Wonderful Day (Steven Ponsford).

Reverend Pennie Payne, Associate Priest, St. Mary’s Church, welcomed everyone to the concert before offering prayer.

Despite the atrocious weather conditions, a large audience had gathered for the concert and they joined with the band in a congregational song, “Thine Is the Glory””.

Bell Canto then presented Nicea, Cradle Song (Mozart), and Love’s Dream (Liszt). The group is conducted by Musical Director, Derek Dunn, a member of the Solent Fellowship Band. Derek arranges all of Bell Canto’s items.

The band then played two songs from the shows, Can You Feel the Love Tonight (Elton John and Tim Rice, arr. Frank Bernaerts) and Love Changes Everything (Andrew Lloyd Webber, arr. Stephen Bulla).

Further band items followed, including a horn feature, Thine Alone by James Curnow, Pastorale (Goff Richards) and an individual item presented by the band’s principal euphonium, Bryan Norman, who played My Story and Song (Stephen Foster, arr. Ray Steadman-Allen).

To conclude the first half of the program, the band played a tone poem, The Divine Pursuit (Bramwell Coles).

Following a further congregational song, Bell Canto presented their second set of items,Creation Hymn (Haydn), Ave Maria (Bruckner), Ode to Joy (Beethoven) and a Chopin Etude.

The band then played All in the April Evening (Hugh. S. Roberton, arr. Eric Ball) and Light up the Sunshine (Joy Webb, arr. Maurice Ozanne).

As part of a time for reflection, the band played, People Need the Lord (Greg Nelson and Phill McHugh, arr. Tom Fettke, trs. Howard Davies). The band’s conductor, John Bird, then read some appropriate words of Scripture from the Book of Revelation, which linked with the band’s playing of Dean Goffin’s meditation The Light of the World.

The concert concluded with a final band item, God and God Alone (Phill McHugh) and closing congregational song.

Reverend Payne then thanked everyone for their attendance and participation before pronouncing the benediction.

The Salvation Army’s Alexandria School for the Performing Arts (ASPA) celebrated the end of the spring semester with a recital on the afternoon of Sunday, 22 May 2011. The recital was held in the Alexandria Citadel hall with a large and appreciative audience.

To kick things off, the Alexandria Citadel Band played the march Folkestone (Erik Silfverberg) before the Principal of the ASPA, Cheryl Jones-Gage, gave some opening remarks. Things then went into the program proper, as there were a large number of performances scheduled for the afternoon.

First up was the guitar class, led by Emmanuel Gonzalez. The class presented Chord Changes and Timing. A solo item, Slow Dancing in a Burning Building was offered by Rachel Argot.

Next were the first three of several piano students, instructed by Maria Mathieson. Items included Intermezzo played by Claire Haung, A Happy Song played by Eden Abebe and When the Saints played by Nicole Conord.

The ASPA teaches both instrumental and vocal music. The first vocal presentation of the afternoon was given by the Children’s Voice Class, under the direction of vocal instructor Nakia Verner. They sang Do Re Mi from “The Sound of Music”.

While most of the students in the ASPA are children, the program is also open to adults in all tracks. Mario Ashby, one of the adult vocal students, gave a fine solo rendition of I Give Myself Away. This was followed by the Adult Voice Class, who sang Amazing Grace.

As with most Salvation Army music programs, brass playing is a key component of the ASPA. The first brass soloist of the program was Natnael Adere, who played Londonderry Air. This was followed by two more piano items, The Donkey played by Sky Raye and The Magic Man played by Ermias Tadesse.

The program returned to the vocal performances. First was Castle on a Cloud from “Les Miserables” sung by Sophia Denton. Next was a vocal duet from Eden Abebe and Sharolyn Hyson, who sang Where Is Love from “Oliver”.

The Alexandria Citadel Youth Band took the stage next. Under the direction of Dave Downing, they offered the suite Play, Pray and Praise (William Himes). This was followed by two more piano performances, Robots played by Sharolyn Hyson and Rock Song played by Gregory Hyson.

Percussion instruments are an integral part of most instrumental groups. The percussion instructor for the ASPA is Keith Morris, and his student Jonathan Neville played the solo Urban Sunrise on drum kit.

As with the vocal program, adults are also included in the brass track. Lt.-Col. Suzanne Haupt and MacDonald Chaava, on horn and Eb tuba respectively, presented Sacred Song and Russian Hymn as duets. MacDonald’s son, Ian Chaava, is one of the brass instructors for the ASPA. Following his duet performance, MacDonald put down his tuba and went to the piano, where he played When Our Band Goes Marching By.

The accompaniment of congregational singing is a specialized skill for keyboard players. Part of the ASPA piano track includes training in this skill, which was demonstrated by Claire Huang, who played When We All Get to Heaven, and then accompanied the audience as they sang a verse of the song.

The final vocal soloist of the afternoon was Leah Argot, who sang Part of Your World from “The Little Mermaid”. The Children’s Vocal Class then returned with an energetic performance of I Won’t Grow Up from “Peter Pan”, with Gregory Hyson “stealing the show” with his irrepressible smile.

At the age of nineteen, Kevin Downing has already become an accomplished trombonist. The final item of the recital was his performance of Fantastic Polka (Arthur Pryor), which he recently featured in his spring jury recital as he completed his freshman year as a trombone performance major at the University of Maryland. Despite being extremely busy with studies and performances at university, Kevin has maintained his strong connection with the Salvation Army, serving as an instructor in the ASPA, playing in the Alexandria Citadel Band and as principal trombone of the National Capital Band.

After the performances, Bandmaster David Delaney, National Capital and Virginia Divisional Music Director, gave some remarks. This was followed by a recognition of the ASPA staff by Cheryl Jones-Gage and some remarks and a benediction by Alexandria Citadel corps officer Captain Ken Argot.

The Japan Staff Band of the Salvation Army arrived in Hythe to be greeted by the bells of St. Leonard’s Church. The Staff Band’s visit got underway on Saturday, 28 May 2011, with a march of witness through the High Street to the town hall. At the hall, they received a Civic Welcome by the Right Worshipful Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Town Clerk all resplendent in their ceremonial robes. The Staff Band also gave a short concert surrounded by a very large crowd.

At 6:30 pm, an hour before the evening concert was to start, the doors of the SAGA Pavilion opened and people poured in, sending the venue staff scurrying around to provide extra seating. The introductions were delivered by Gordon Haining, Toastmaster, who then introduced the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, Admiral, The Lord Boyce. As the representative of the Queen, the Lord Boyce was most gracious in welcoming the Japan Staff Band to Hythe, this being the first time that the band has visited the United Kingdom. The Staff Band presented a varied and excellent program with colorful contrast being provided by the Shepway Community Gospel Choir.

On Sunday morning, the Hythe Corps of the Salvation Army was packed to standing room only for a wonderful time of worship. In the afternoon, the Staff Band played to another large crowd at the Oakland’s bandstand. Finally, on Sunday evening the members of the Hythe Corps ministered to their visitors with the home band and songsters providing the music.

Hythe Corps will never be the same again – what a fantastic weekend of good music, good fellowship and good witness all delivered with enthusiasm and professionalism. God bless the members of the Japan Staff Band.