On the weekend of 18 – 20 November 2016, the [bclink id=”943″ target=”_blank”] (Bandmaster Derek Lance) found itself on the road once again, this time traveling to various parts of Pennsylvania. The weekend comprised a Friday evening concert in Wellsboro and Saturday and Sunday events in Williamsport, including a joint concert with [bclink id=”3015″ target=”_blank”] (Director Richard Coulter).
On Friday evening the Staff Band was in Wellsboro, Pennsylvania, where they played a concert in support of various Salvation Army service units in the area. The concert was also a “preseason” appreciation for the volunteers who will be working during the Christmas season. The band was greeted by a very enthusiastic audience. The concert program was as follows:
- Let There Be Light (Steven Ponsford)
- Shekinah (Kenneth Downie)
- Valero (Sandy Smith)
- Memory (Alan Catherall), Christopher Ward, soprano cornet soloist
- Fiesta (Peter Graham), Matthew Luhn, trombone soloist
- God’s Love (Eric Dina), Band Chorus
- I Surrender (Marcus Venables)
- INTERMISSION
- Hold That Fort! (Sam Creamer)
- On We March (Kevin Larsson)
- Euphonium Concerto (Karl Jenkins), Ryan McCrudden, euphonium soloist
- In God’s Presence (Andrew Blyth)
- To Boldly Go (Peter Graham)
On Saturday morning, the Staff Band gathered at the Williamsport, Pennsylvania Corps for breakfast before going out in a number of caroling groups in the local neighborhood. After this, they went to Williamsport High School for a rehearsal with Billtown Brass and a time of fellowship.
The concert was a memorable one, although not all for the best reasons. During Billtown Brass’ portion of the concert, extremely high winds in the area caused multiple power outages. Despite this, they continued through their program, playing very well despite the adverse conditions. After their portion of the program, the Staff Band was on for a set that included music from Downie, Ritman, Graham, Blyth, Venables, and Leidzén. To conclude, the bands joined together for the final set.
The full program for Saturday evening was as follows:
- BILLTOWN BRASS BAND
- Fanfare Jubiloso (James Curnow)
- Angels, We Hear Your Funky (Kevin Henry)
- Hymn to the Fallen (arr. Klaas van der Woude)
- An Australian Christmas (James Curnow)
- Yule Dance (Philip Harper)
- NEW YORK STAFF BAND
- King of Heaven (Kenneth Downie)
- Triumphant Prospect (Olaf Ritman)
- Brillante (Peter Graham), Ryan McCrudden and Aaron VanderWeele, euphonium soloists
- In God’s Presence (Andrew Blyth)
- I Surrender (Marcus Venables)
- Christmas Joy (Erik Leidzén)
- COMBINED BANDS
- Amazing Grace (William Himes)
- Ye Merry Gentlemen (Dorothy Gates)
- Silent Night (David Baily)
- Three Kings Swing (William Himes)
- Stars and Stripes (John Philip Sousa)
Williamsport Salvation Army Corps was the venue for Thanksgiving Sunday. The Staff Band participated in morning worship and a regional praise gathering in the afternoon. The beautiful morning service was led by Lt.-Colonel James LaBossiere. It included wonderful singing, a moving time of prayer led by Major Paula Spencer, and some emotionally stirring pieces from the band. The band was blessed by being a part of worship on this day and the service left those in attendance thinking about all to be grateful for and how to show thanks.
The Sunday morning program included:
- Guardian of My Soul (Darren Shaw)
- Radiance (Andrew Garcia)
- In Christ Alone (Richard Phillips), Aaron VanderWeele, euphonium soloist
- Welcome and Announcements
- Opening Song – Prayer of Thanksgiving (William Himes)
- Call to Worship
- Congregational Song – “Give Thanks”
- Time of Prayer, Major Paula Spencer
- Offering
- Beside the Sea (Andrew Mackereth)
- Scripture Reading – Luke 17:11–19
- Psalm 23 (Dorothy Gates), Band Chorus
- Time of Worship – “Worthy Is the Lamb”, “How Great Thou Art”
- Corpus Christi (Robert Redhead)
- Message – Lt.-Colonel James LaBossiere
- Closing Song – “Now Thank We All Our God”
- Benediction
- Christ of Calvary (Joel Collier)
The program for the afternoon regional praise gathering:
- Let There Be Light (Steven Ponsford)
- Congregational Song – “Holy, Holy, Holy”
- Regional Singing Company
- Caprice (William Himes), Brindley Venables, cornet soloist
- On We March (Kevin Larsson)
- Testimony – Brandon Finnie
- Amazing Grace (William Himes)
- Testimony – Tom Scheibner
- Hold That Fort! (Sam Creamer)
- Brooklyn Citadel, Williamsport Timbrels
- Congregational Song – “In Christ Alone”
- To Boldly Go (Peter Graham)
Source:
[bclink id=”943″ target=”_blank”] web site