NY Staff Band

FUTURE ALL-STARS SHINE IN NY

Aaron VanderWeele

For the third year in a row, the New York Staff Band [NYSB] hosted its Future All-Stars Weekend [FAW] at the famous Star Lake Camp in Bloomingdale , NJ . Each of the three events has been intended for Salvationist musicians aged 13-18 and for every year thus far, delegates from all four U.S. territories and Canada (including Newfoundland !) have attended. Who said kids aren't interested in brass music?

The 2006 extravaganza took place March 17-19, 2006 and drew the largest crowd to date with a total of 67 young people in attendance.

In talking about the program Staff Bandmaster Ron Waiksnoris shared, "This third Future All-Stars Weekend reinforced the reality that our young people are both excited about and committed to Salvation Army banding. I see the standard of music-making getting better each year and I'm pleased that a spiritual sensitivity has become a prominent part of the event. I'm trusting that the FAW will begin to have a discernible influence in the corps the young people return to."

The weekend is an intensive time of investment in young people. A nominal fee of $50 is placed on attendees which covers all expenses for the weekend (food, accommodation, tee shirt and a host of donated materials from several of brass banding's top businesses). Aside from the application fee, delegates just have to get themselves to Star Lake Camp. To keep the weekend affordable for all young people, staff bandsmen serve in various roles from faculty involvement with delegates in band setting, to food preparation (even the band's Executive Officer is in the kitchen!), to set-up/clean-up responsibilities.

Right from the onset, the young people come to work and apply themselves to this ministry through rehearsals, devotions and time spent as prayer partners with members of the NYSB.

A special time came Saturday morning when selected members of the staff band shared something affectionately known as Solimonies. These are expert demonstrations of instrumental playing, combined with a relevant and personal account of where they are in their walk with the Lord. This year showcased exceptional presentations from Chris Ward (cornet), Emilee Bennett (baritone and piano), Burt Mason (trombone) and Tom Scheibner (tympani). Elisha Moretz of the Greater New York Division became the first FAW delegate to share a solimony when he asked to share something from his heart and a piece of music from one of the most recent American Soloists Albums.

Less than 48 hours after getting together for the first time, the future all-stars led worship at the Spring Valley, NY Corps (Majors Norman and Lois Garcia). They took part in presenting Scripture, accompanying songs, presenting special music and offering testimonies.

The weekend culminated with the NYSB's 119th Annual Festival. Playing to a packed crowd, the NYSB opened the program with RSA's classic march, Crown of Conquest, and the future all-stars were greeted warmly as they were marched in to the timeless march. Following the congregational song (a new setting of the hymn tune Richmond by Lt. Colonel Norman Bearcroft, R), the staff band and future all-stars presented Dr. Harold Burgmayer's imaginative adaptation, A Night at the Opera followed by two duets-Happy in the Fight featuring Gordon and Christopher Ward and Brillante! with myself and Ryan McCrudden. Richard Phillips' lovely setting, Come Beautiful Christ was next before the staff band ripped into James Curnow's thrilling major work, Trittico for Brass Band.

Finally it was time for the future all-stars to shine, and they were superb. Their first offering came in Stephen Bulla's new march, Star Lake 70, followed by Dr. Peter Graham's entertaining little ditty, Ask! This year attracted a record number of excellent percussionists, so it was fitting that all eight were featured soloists in the very powerful Highland Cathedral. The band also offered some beautiful singing in Thomas Mack's, By His Hand before the young people stretched themselves with a powerful performance of Lorne Barry's major work, Credo.

The concert concluded with several massed band items: New York, New York!, Lt. Colonel Norman Bearcroft (R) conducting his nephew, Brian Bowen's classic march, The Southern Cross, another SA classic of the same composer, My Comfort and Strength (a paraphrase of Psalm 23) and finally RSA's beautiful setting of the hymn tune St. Clements, entitled Evening Hymn. In true staff band fashion, the final two items were The Stars and Stripes Forever (standing and all!) and the singing of Rock of Ages.

It is amazing to see how the Lord is using this event. The following are emails received unsolicited from two delegates following the event.

Justin Dewan of the Maryland/West Virginia Division (USA Southern Territory) wrote, "I had fun this weekend. It was an awesome experience for me. I'm thinking about coming back next year because playing with the NYSB was awesome. I'd just like to thank you guys for such an awesome time to talk about the Lord and praise Him through music, and for coming up with the idea for us teenagers to come and praise Him in a massed band. Thank you."

Daniel Shade of the NEOSA Division wrote, "I want to thank you and everybody who made this weekend possible. It was a blessing to play for the band that I dream of playing for and what a great ministry it was. I was able to use my talents to worship the Lord and it was one of the greatest experiences I have had for a long time. Living in Ohio is hard not being around all the music opportunities that involve the Army, but being there this weekend just really opened my eyes and showed me a form of ministry I can use maybe as a career when I am older. So once again, thank you and God bless."

The band wishes to thank all those that make this weekend possible, particularly the Howard L. Green Foundation, without whose support the weekend would not be possible. More than anything, we pray God's richest blessing on our future all-stars as they strive for the very best in all that they do.

Click here to see more pictures from the weekend.