NY Staff Band - Hendon England Weekend Report

Hendon Highlights 2010

The New York Staff Band has recently returned from a long weekend in London at the invitation of Hendon Band to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Hendon Highlights as well as the 125th anniversary of the Hendon Band. This weekend will certainly be a long remembered highlight on the band calendar.

We arrived at Heathrow on Thursday evening safely, despite one trombone going astray and were quickly transported to the beautiful and historic setting of Sunbury Court, which was to be our home for the duration of our stay. Following breakfast on Friday morning we were privileged to visit Windsor Castle and tour areas not normally open to the public. At the conclusion of the tour we were able to enjoy free time before travelling to St. Mary’s Church in Maidenhead, which was to be the venue for the evening concert. This visit had been keenly anticipated and a capacity congregation of over 300 greeted the band. The program was lead by Executive Officer Lt. Colonel Maynor and Bandmaster Ronald Waiksnoris, and featured soloists Michael Baker, Gordon and Christopher Ward, Ryan McCrudden and Andrew Garcia. The singing by the Band Chorus led by Dorothy Gates was particularly appreciated.

Brian Bowen, a former Bandmaster of the NYSB wrote a piece especially for this visit to the UK, and this received its premiere performance. Consecration is a meditation based on the hymn tune “Hendon” with the words associated, “Take my life and let it be.” Dorothy Gates dramatic composition entitled Hope was the major work featured on the program. The band was in great form and a lengthy standing ovation followed the concert.

Saturday events started a little later, and a little extra sleep was appreciated. We travelled to the Queen Elizabeth Hall, the venue for the Saturday evening concert with Hendon Band, and female vocal group, All Angels, and met up with Colonel Robert Redhead, who had travelled from Canada for this event as well as leading the Sunday meetings.

Following rehearsals and sound checks, we were privileged to attend a reception in the Houses of Parliament, as a guest of Lord Foster, who is a Salvationist. We were able to tour both the House of Commons as well as the House of Lords, which the public are not normally permitted to do.

Hendon Highlights, returning back to the Queen Elizabeth Hall, was sold out, and many were unable to get tickets; the atmosphere was electric with anticipation of what was to follow before the band marched into the hall. Both the Hendon Band and the NYSB were in tremendous form with Hendon’s major contribution being Stephen Ponsford’s Cristo Redentor while NYSB again presented Dorothy’s Hope.

We really missed having percussionist Bob Jones on this trip, as he was hospitalized just days before our departure. This did not cause the omission of the drum feature Ol’ Man River from the program as we were able to enlist the help of Hendon and ISB percussionist Steve Moulton, who had to make a quick tunic change. The program ended with massed bands playing Excerpts from the Finale of Symphony No. 4 by Tchaikovsky, under the baton of ISB Bandmaster Stephen Cobb, who was with the band for the duration of the tour.

Sunday meetings were held at the Hendon Police College auditorium in order to accommodate larger numbers of people. Colonel Redhead brought the message in the holiness meeting and the Hendon Singing Company also participated. Following a buffet lunch the afternoon festival commenced with the Hendon YP Band playing Stars and Stripes Forever as the band entered. An appreciative audience, including former Enfield Bandmaster James Williams as well as former International Staff Bandmaster and composer Lt. Colonel Ray Bowes, enjoyed the program which once again featured soloists and pieces used throughout the weekend. On returning to Sunbury we were treated to a wonderful English meal of roast beef and Yorkshire pudding! Monday morning arrived and we were saying our goodbyes and appreciation to the great staff at Sunbury and enjoying some time sightseeing in London before returning to Heathrow for the flight home.

This weekend will remain a highlight in everyone’s mind that went on the trip. It was so much more than just musical performance. We were able to minister to a broad spectrum of audiences, fulfilling the band’s mission of glorifying God through musical excellence and leading men, women and children to Jesus Christ.

- Captain Brian Clark
NYSB Public Relations Secretary