NYSB Northeast Ohio Weekend Report

New York Staff Band Weekend in NEOSA – April 17-19, 2009

The New York Staff Band travelled to Ohio to celebrate and dedicate. The band greeted the day quite early as we left from THQ at 8:15 AM to begin our journey to central Ohio. We arrived and were met by our smiling and charming hostess and whisked away to the Football Hall of Fame for lunch and afternoon of football history.

As enjoyable as the tourist opportunities are, the reason for our being in Akron was to join with Akron Area officers, led by Captains James and Sue Betts, soldiers, Salvation Army friends and supporters to celebrate the 125^th anniversary of the Army’s work and ministry in Akron, Ohio. Following a short sound check the band was privileged to spend time with key supporters of the Summit County Salvation Army and fellowship with local Salvationist leadership. The evening festival began promptly at 7:00 PM and the band knew we were in for a delightful evening as we were greeted by a capacity audience who seemed to delight in each note of the festival from the first unison sounds of Handel’s Allegro from Music for the Royal Fireworks to Sousa’s rousing march, Stars and Stripes Forever. The traditional benedictory singing by the band of Bearchell’s Rock of Ages brought a joyful and peaceful conclusion to the musical celebration of God’s blessing on the Army’s mission to the people of Akron, Ohio.

The music in the program was very well received and standing ovations were the order of the day. The band’s soloists proved why they deserve to be featured by the NYSB as Michael Baker (cornet) dazzled with Silver Threads Among the Gold (Stanley Boddington) and the artistry of Aaron VanderWeele was evident throughout Peter Graham’s new euphonium solo Canaan’s Land. Ol' Man River (Mark Freeh) continues to impress and surprise as drummer extraordinaire Bob Jones finds new ways to surprise and impress both audience and band. The dulcet tone and musicianship of Andrew Garcia (flugelhorn) left a hush over the room with The Londonderry Air. One of the band’s newest featured soloists, Simon Morton, showed his command of the Eb tuba with the fun and difficult Swing Low (Andrew Mackereth)

The march The Ambassadors, written for the NYSB by Peter Graham in 1982 got feet tapping. The soulful beauty of Kenneth Downie’s To Stand with Jesus in the Morning along with the singing of Redhead’s choral gem O My Jesus framed the insightful Scripture reading and thoughts by New York Staff Band Executive Officer Major Thomas V. Mack. Leslie Condon’s programmatic classic The Present Age concluded the first half of the concert.

The new arrangement God Awesome (Nathan Power) opened the second half of the concert and we concluded the evening with the exciting and interesting Turris Fortissima (A Strong Tower), by Steven Ponsford. This major work for brass band continues to bring audiences to their feet and this performance was no exception. The impact of this music is not just the virtuoso performance but the meaning behind the music as many were heard singing the strains of “Shout to the Lord” long after the last majestic chord was played.

After our program in Akron we were met at the brand new Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center in Ashland, Ohio by the commanding officers, Majors Larry and JoAnn Shade.

The dedication weekend formally got underway for the band on Saturday morning when the men and women of the NYSB were joined by Northeast Ohio Salvationist musicians for a musical clinic and demonstration. Sessions were led by Staff Band principals and concluded with a massed band performance.

The band were then privileged to be featured at a Festival of Praise marking the dedication of the Eastern Territories’ first Ray and Joan Croc Corps Community Center. Over 500 people filled the indoor soccer field that would be the venue for most of the weekend’s activities. The band was in Ashland to support our territorial leaders, Commissioners Lawrence and Nancy Mortez, as they led the weekend along with Colonels Steve and Judy Hedgren and Northeast Ohio divisional leaders Majors William and Loraine Bamford.

The concert included items from the Territorial Arts Ministry team and others. The band were joined in William Himes’ Jerico Re-Visited by the T.A.M. team. In addition to items presented the previous evening the band presented the Leidzen march Joyful News and New York, New York (Richards).

Principal cornet Deputy Bandmaster Gordon Ward lived up to his “living legend” status with the flawless Whirlwind written for him by Peter Graham, and the band chorus featured rising vocal star Douglass Berry in Dorothy Gates’ David Danced.

The highlight for many of the band was the singing of the 100-voice community chorus who presented Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus and the Founder’s song “O Boundless Salvation”, both items accompanied by the band. The singing of William Booth’s anthem, always a heavenward experience for this writer, was noted by many as very powerful and memorable.

Before the closing two items (Stars and Stripes Forever and Rock of Ages) Kevin Norbury’s masterful Music of Thanksgiving concluded the New York Staff Band’s major contribution to the dedication weekend, as Sunday would see the band in a supporting roll for the Holiness meeting, parade of witness and dedication service.

The Sunday holiness meeting featured principal solo horn Arthur Henry in Leonard Ballintine’s lovely His Eye is on the Sparrow. Commissioner Nancy Mortez presented a powerful message and the altar was lined with soldiers of the Ashland Corps in acts of rededication.

The formal dedication service for the Center was celebratory and happy as government, civic and community leaders from local, state and federal government officials brought words of support and congratulations to the Army for the job well done in bringing the Ray and Joan Croc Corps Community Center of Ashland, Ohio to fruition.

The band did have opportunity to present several items during the dedication service, a new march written by Lt. Colonel Norman Bearcroft Wonder Working Power featuring a melody written by Major JoAnn Shade, and Turris Fortissma (The Strong Tower) which once again brought the listeners to their feet in appreciation of this powerful music.

Early Monday morning saw the band leave central Ohio for our home in New York with fond memories of three days well spent in service to the King.

- Staff Bandsman Major Donald Spencer