New York Staff Band

Old Orchard Beach, ME

April 21-22, 2007

 by Craig Evans

 

 

              While the New York Staff Band’s recent visit to the Northern New England Division was an eagerly anticipated opportunity for great music and effective ministry, it was also very much a “Family Reunion.”

              As bandsmen arrived at the host Old Orchard Beach Corps, they were greeted by siblings, parents and in-laws in addition to longtime friends.

              Kinship aside, the New York Staff Band “Family” encompasses more than blood relationships. Having been a member of this band for nearly 20 years, I developed a profound sense of what it means to be part of this family, a lineage that transcends the musical heritage.

               I am not alone. Traces of New York Staff Band DNA can be found around the globe, and Old Orchard Beach is no exception.

              So it was not surprising that, sprinkled among the crowd of 400 who attended the Saturday evening festival at the beautiful First Parish Congregational Church in Saco were several former bandsmen. No doubt for each one of them it was a “Family Reunion.”

              Just two years’ removed from the band, I may be a bit closer to the current members than some of the other alumni. Sometimes you can take family for granted, but that is certainly not the case for me. I have an enormous appreciation for the band, the impact of its ministry and its breathtaking musicianship.

              Although a reminder was not necessary, one was provided Saturday night through a performance that reflected the skill of these King’s Musicians, beginning with Dorothy Gates’ scintillating “All Glorious” to open the program.

              It was a thrill to bask in the brilliance of soloists like Gordon Ward (cornet, Crossroad), Burt Mason (trombone, I Walked Today Where Jesus Walked) and my former euphonium mate Aaron VanderWeele (The Better World).

              In my two decades with the band I would be hard-pressed to identify a better collection of soloists, evident in the “Call of the Cossacks,” which featured Andrew Garcia, Gordon Ward, Burt Mason and Aaron VanderWeele.

              Bandmaster Ron Waiksnoris (my brother-in-law) did not ignore previous generations of Staff Bandsmen when putting together this program, including such classics as “The Holy War” and Stanley Ditmer’s march, “Ceaseless Service.” Among the more recent compositions featured were Kevin Larsson’s festival march, “Victory in Jesus” and Kenneth Downie’s “Exultate.”

              The spectacular compositions and technical proficiency of the festival pieces did not overshadow the compelling devotional “The City of God,” recently written by Norman Bearcroft.

              And, of course, the Band Chorus, under the leadership of the “Godfather,” Major Thomas Mack, provided a good balance of vocal ministry with the band performances.

              Many of those who attended the Saturday evening festival had never heard a Salvation Army band before and came away marveling at the skill and musicianship of the Staff Band.

              Some of those same people returned Sunday morning to worship at the Old Orchard Beach Corps. They may have come to hear the musicians and certainly had to be blessed by cornet soloist Gordon Ward (Tenderly Calling) and the Band Chorus. But they were also ministered to by Major Donald Berry, the New Jersey Divisional Commander who was filling in as Band Executive Officer for the weekend. Major Berry delivered an eloquent and moving sermon on “grace,” urging the congregants to approach God with “empty hands” and seek His “grace.”

              As a fitting conclusion to the service, the band filled the hall with Richard Phillips’ stirring arrangement of “Amazing Grace.”

              Following the service, the band was treated to an authentic Maine lobster dinner at the famous Clambake Restaurant, arranged by Deborah Evans (this will help me earn points at home).

              The band then returned to the corps for a brief Festival of Praise, highlighted by a performance of  “Maccabeus,” written by another former Staff Bandsman, Kevin Norbury.

              Following the festival, the band reboarded the bus for a return trip to Territorial Headquarters, nourished by a box lunch of more Maine delicacies, Italian sandwiches and whoopee pies.

              While families bid goodbye to their relatives, there was a sense that the farewells were only temporary – a departing gesture until the next “Family Reunion.” Hmmm, can Camp Meetings be far away?