Christmas with the Salvation Army in Toronto

The fourth annual Christmas with the Salvation Army concert was held on 2 December 2006 at Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto. In addition to the Canadian Staff Band (Bandmaster Brian Burditt), this year's festival also included a festival chorus and special guests Jude Gotrich and the Duncan Hopkins Quartet.

The Staff Band, in addition to supporting other performers and providing accompaniment for congregational singing, presented two feature items: A Christmas Festival (Leroy Anderson) and Three Kings Swing (William Himes), the latter featuring a brilliant cornet solo by Brindley Venables, well-received by the large audience.

Showing why she is internationally recognized as a vocal soloist, Jude Gotrich presented Come, Let Us Worship the King and Candlelight Carol, accompanied by the Staff Band and Bill Way on piano.

A jazz element for the festival was supplied by the Duncan Hopkins Quartet, who played several items throughout the concert, including O Christmas Tree, God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen and Lament for the Lost.

The festival chorus also performed several item's, including Innkeeper's Song (Jane Clarke) and Christ's Part (James Curnow). Other features of the concert included Kathryn Ballantine and Jessica Willis, playing an ongoing part as two of Santa's elves, and a number of carols and favorite Christmas songs sung by the audience.

Following a multimedia presentation of the Salvation Army in action around the world and a devotional thought from the Chief Secretary for Canada and Bermuda, Colonel Glen Shepherd, all of the musicians joined together for a final item, Christmas Time is Here (Vince Guaraldi, arr. Duncan Hopkins), bringing the evening to a joyous conclusion.