Lakeside Weekend for Canadian Staff Band

The Canadian Staff Band (Bandmaster Kevin Hayward) travelled to the Lake Simcoe region of Ontario to participate in weekend events celebrating the 120th anniversary of the Orillia Corps. On Saturday, the Staff Band conducted a clinic with members of the local corps band, giving rehearsal and other advice. A feature of the clinic was former Staff Bandsman Bob Venables, who gave a talk highlighting his experiences as both a professional musician and a Salvationist musician, and the need to remain balanced in this situation.

A festival of music was on the bill for Saturday evening. Held at the Calvary Pentecostal Church, the concert began with To a God Like This (Ian Robinson). Steve Brown, Deputy Staff Bandmaster, performed Stephen Bulla's jazz-style trumpet solo Joshua Swings the Battle. Other band items in the first half of the program included Endless Praise (William Himes), Western Fantasy (David Mills), and Crossbearers (Martin Cordner). Showing their versatility, the band also sang the crowd-pleasing Goodbye, World, Goodbye (Mosie Lister, arr. William Himes). The first half ended with an arrangement of Londonderry Air by former Staff Bandmaster Norman Bearcroft and The Circle of Life (from The Lion King), arranged by Philip Harper.

In Good Company (Dudley Bright) was the opener for the second half of the festival. The band also presented Jubilee and Gaelforce (Peter Graham). Praise Party (Steven Ponsford) and Heartbeat (Leonard Ballantine prompted some in the audience to sing along. A more devotional mood, framed by comments and Scripture from Lt.-Colonel Merv Leach, the Staff Band's Executive Officer, was struck with another vocal presetation, Shine on Us. The final item of the festival was The Power of Your Love (Terracini, arr. Martin Taylor). As a benediction, the band played William Gordon's arrangement of God Be With You

The Sunday morning worship services were conducted by Lt.-Colonel Leach and the Staff Band. On Sunday afternoon, the band led a March of Witness through the town, with many Salvationists and members of other local churches participating.

Source:
Canadian Staff Band

Posted by Webmaster 22 October 2004 16:28:39