NY Staff Band

NYSB-VAN WERT, OHIO

By Aaron VanderWeele

Bright and early on Saturday, April 16, 2005 (7:00 am to be exact) the men and women of the New York Staff Band [NYSB] were at Newark Airport to board a flight to Detroit, Michigan en route to their final destination, Van Wert, Ohio-the furthest point west in the USA Eastern Territory. Though tired from the early start, the NYSB arrived in Van Wert with anticipation and a desire to connect with those in attendance for a workshop provided by the band.

The population of this quaint little Midwest town is only 11,500 so the band was interested in exactly who might turn up for the event. To our delight, there were several young people that attended the band's workshop where they had an opportunity to be led by principals of the NYSB in sectional rehearsals and master classes.

Following an afternoon of food and fellowship, it was time for the evening program where the band delighted the small but receptive crowd. The program began with Dorothy Gates' overture, ALL GLORIOUS and moved immediately into William Himes' transcription of the march ABLE by William Turkington. Ken Downie's revised and flashy work, MUSIC FOR A JOYFUL OCCASION followed a welcome and invocation.

A week or so after giving a sensational Master's Recital at the Juilliard School of Music in NYC, Derek Lance was featured as the band's first soloist and offered up a fantastic performance of Erik Leidzen's demanding cornet solo, WONDROUS DAY. To showcase the depth of the solo cornet bench, Derek then took a seat while fellow solo cornetists Gordon Ward, Chris Ward and Jeff Barrington stood up to play Catelinet's classic cornet trio, THE HERALDS.

The music of Ken Downie speaks on so many levels and his lovely hymn setting, IN PERFECT PEACE was received just before Scripture and Testimony by Major Philip Ferreira was presented. The Band Chorus then completed the devotional segment with the singing of Thomas Mack's PEACE LIKE A RIVER.

The first half came to a conclusion with Philip Sparke's boisterous and imaginative work, DUNDONNELL from Hymn of the Highlands .

Having shed the festival tunics due to the heat of the auditorium, the NYSB began the second half of the program with Erik Silfverberg's delightful little arrangement, LIFT UP THE BANNER. The band then welcomed Van Wert High School students to join in Thomas Mack's march, SHOUT OUT! (led by the composer).

I was featured next with the euphonium solo, OCHILLS by Robert Redhead, after which the Band Chorus presented the lively setting, HE IS JEHOVAH complete with piccolo trumpet accompaniment by Douglas Berry.

Dean Jones' magnificent selection, GLORIFICO AETERNUM (title track for the band's upcoming CD release May 2005) brought the concert to its conclusion and the audience to its feet, before two encores, THE STARS AND STRIPES FOREVER and ROCK OF AGES.

It was finally time for the exhausted band to arrive at their hotel. The next day saw the band in ministry at the morning Holiness service in which Major Thomas Mack brought the Word.

Following an appetizing lunch, the band made its way over to a local park in downtown Van Wert to provide an afternoon concert. Several items were presented including THE SEAFARER (Norman Bearcroft), Cornet Solo-CROSSROAD (Stephen Bulla) played by Gordon Ward, THE LAST AMEN (Peter Graham), FROM THAT SACRED HILL (Dick Krommenhoek) and CELEBRATE (Andrew Mackereth) before the concert came to an abrupt conclusion in the middle of my solo, THE GREAT ADVENTURE, with a sudden rain shower.

The band then decided to cut its losses and head to the airport early. We finally arrived back at Newark Airport at 11:00 pm before making our way to our homes. Despite only two days on the road, the trip was one of those that felt much longer because of the long days. However, we continue to be humbled that the Lord uses our ministry and we came away from the weekend knowing we had been used and that our warm-hearted friends in Van Wert were appreciative of our Message in music.