Monday, November 12, 2012

Jackson, MI November 10-11, 2012

November 10-11, 2012 brought with them an invitation for the Chicago Staff Band to revisit Jackson, MI. The band has visited Jackson on a number of occasions, most recently in the fall of 2010. This visit included invitations to return to the First United Methodist Church in Jackson, MI for a concert on Saturday night and two Sunday morning worship services at the Spring Arbor Free Methodist Church. Our hosts for the weekend were Majors Jason and Carrie Pollom and their team of Advisory Board members and volunteers.

The band arrived late afternoon after driving over from our headquarters in Des Plaines, IL. We set up, conducted a quick sound check and then had dinner together.

The Saturday evening concert was well attended with friends we had met in Jackson previously as well as a number of Salvation Army band fans from nearby communities in Michigan. There were people from Flint, Dearborn Heights, Royal Oak, Port Huron, Hillsdale and likely some that I've missed. That's the danger of trying to list them all. Some will be missed. If you were there and I missed your location, add it in the comments.

After the concert we drove to Spring Arbor and set up there for the two Sunday worship services before heading to the homes of our host families from the Free Methodist Church for a short night of rest.

On Sunday morning we returned to the Free Methodist Church for two worship services and were blessed to hear fine preaching along with the worship.

Following worship, we packed the bus and went to Spring Arbor University for lunch before heading  back to Des Plaines.

All in all, it was a blessed time of making music and worshiping the creator from whom all blessings flow.

Repertoire for the weekend included:
War Cry (Gates)
Arise, My Soul, Arise (Goffin)
Rejoice and Be Glad (Turrin)
Christmas Joy (Leidzen)
Fire in the Blood (Lovatt-Cooper)

Soloists included:
Beth Cooper - Virtuosity (Baker/arr. Peberdy)
Brett Tolcher - The Eternal Quest (Steadman-Allen)
Shaun Thomas - Pantomime (Sparke)
Heidi Strand - Amazing Grace (arr. Ballantine)
Paul Bowyer - Reflections on "Aberystwyth" (Pearce)

Next up for us is our annual Sounds of the Seasons Concert in Edman Chapel of Wheaton College at 7:00 pm on Saturday, November 24, 2012.

Friday, November 2, 2012

Jackson, MI - November 10-11, 2012

The Chicago Staff Band will be in Jackson, MI on November 10-11, 2012. On Saturday night there will be a 7:00 pm concert at First United Methodist Church in Jackson. On Sunday morning we will participate in worship services at the Spring Arbor Free Methodist Church in Spring Arbor at 9:00 am and 11:15 am.

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Indianapolis, IN Visit

The Chicago Staff Band left early on Saturday morning, October 20, 2012, for our first away weekend of our 2012-13 season. The destination was Indianapolis, Indiana where we'd been invited to take part in a divisional music day in the afternoon, a Saturday evening concert and two worship services on Sunday.

On arrival, we enjoyed lunch with the divisional music day attendees. Following lunch some of the band conducted a Singing Company leaders workshop while the rest of the band prepared for a combined rehearsal with the Indiana Divisional Band. Members of the divisional band sat in with the Staff Band in preparation for three combined items to be performed during the Saturday evening concert.

Following the rehearsal the band proceeded to Castleton United Methodist Church, the venue for the Saturday evening concert and Sunday worship services. Castleton UMC is to be commended for being such great hosts to us throughout our stay.

The Saturday evening concert was well attended and we were able to meet many who have been associated with the band in different ways over the years. This included former member Don Meyer, brother of our flugel horn player, Major Tim Meyer.

We were welcomed by Pastor Frank Beard of Castleton UMC and the concert included:

  • Diamond Jubilee (Bulla)
  • To Set The People Free (Broughton), P Thomas & B Kinzie, soloists
  • Rejoice and Be Glad (Turrin)
  • Fairest Lord Jesus (arr. Phillips), CSB Chorus
  • Then Will The Very Rocks Cry Out (George, McSpadden, Thompson, Scruggs)
  • The Eternal Quest (Steadman-Allen), B Tolcher, soloist
  • Fire in the Blood (Lovatt-Cooper)
  • Lift Up Your Voice (Bulla)
  • Pantomime (Sparke), S Thomas, soloist
  • Amazing Grace (arr. Ballantine), H Strand, vocal soloist
  • Arise, My Soul, Arise (Goffin)
The last items of the program were presented by the massed Indiana Divisional & Chicago Staff bands. Glenn Welch is the bandmaster of the Indiana Divisional Band and he conducted the middle item. This segment included the scripture reading by our Executive Officer, Lt. Colonel Richard Vander Weele.

  • Time to be Holy (Sharman)
  • ARC Centennial (Bulla)
  • God Bless America (Berlin, arr. Himes), S Kim, vocal soloist
The program concluded with our traditional "Choral Benediction" (Himes).

Sunday morning was early since we were in place for 8:30 am and 9:40 am worship services at the United Methodist Church. With Indianapolis in the Eastern time zone, it felt especially early! But, the worship services were well worth being present as Pastor Beard spoke from Acts 2:42-47 about "A Spirit Filled Church". We supported the service accompanying singing and by playing Rigaudon (Campra), B Landis organ soloist and Procession to Covenant (Himes).

With the time change, we returned to THQ in the early afternoon in spite of some usual heavy Chicagoland traffic. It was truly a blessing to be together and to minister alongside the Salvation Army in Indianapolis this weekend.

Next up, we'll be in Jackson, MI on November 10-11, 2012.

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

CSB In Indianapolis, IN - October 20-21, 2012

The Chicago Staff Band will be in the Indianapolis, IN area this weekend. All events will take place at Castleton United Methodist Church including a 7:00 pm concert on Saturday, October 20 and worship services at 8:30 am & 9:40 am on Sunday, October 21.

For free tickets to the concert, please visit http://csband.eventbrite.com/

Thursday, March 15, 2012

CSB To Visit Galesburg, IL - March 17-18, 2012

The Chicago Staff Band will be pleased to visit Galesburg, IL this coming weekend. Our visit is sponsored by the local Salvation Army in Galesburg but we will be hosted by two churches, one on Saturday night and one on Sunday morning.

Saturday night we will be in concert at 7 pm at:
Bethel Baptist Church
1196 N. Academy Street
Galesburg, IL 61401
http://www.mybethel.com/

Sunday morning we will take part in the 10:00 am service at:
Calvary Assembly of God
432 W. Linwood Road
Galesburg, IL 61401
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A more detailed article on our upcoming visit appears on Galesburg Register-Mail web site: http://t.co/fjbh0zXL

If you're in the Galesburg area this weekend, we'd love to see you at either or both appearances!

Thursday, February 16, 2012

CSB To Visit Peoria, IL

Here's an open letter sent out by our Bandmaster this afternoon that details our upcoming concert in Peoria, IL:

Friends:

I am pleased to inform you that the Chicago Staff Band of The Salvation Army will be in concert at Grace Presbyterian Church, 8607 N. State Route 91 in Peoria on Saturday, February 25 at 7:00 PM. This 36-member brass and percussion ensemble will perform a variety of repertoire from classical to contemporary Christian music and also sings beautifully as a chorus.

Joining in the evening’s music will be Prairie Wind Ensemble with guest conductor, Dr. Stephen Eggleston. In addition to their featured repertoire, the Chicago Staff Band and Prairie Wind Ensemble will join forces to perform the "American Civil War Fantasy," "Amazing Grace" and "The Stars and Stripes Forever."

Admission is complimentary. For more information, please contact Grace Presbyterian Church (309-693-3641) or The Salvation Army at (309-655-7220.)

I hope you can join us for this evening of inspiring music.

Sincerely,

William Himes
CONDUCTOR
CHICAGO STAFF BAND
of The Salvation Army

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Visit To South Bend, IN

The Chicago Staff Band has just returned from a weekend visit to South Bend, IN where we were privileged to participate in the grand opening weekend of the Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center. This is the third Kroc Center the band has been invited to visit.

While the weekend was packed full of activities, the CSB took part in a Saturday evening concert with the Notre Dame Symphonic Winds as well as being on duty for the Sunday morning worship and dedication service. The Saturday night concert was a reunion of sorts because the two ensembles played together at Notre Dame University just two years ago.

For this evening the CSB led off with a solo set. At the intermission, the Symphonic Winds took the stage for their solo items. The two bands then combined to conclude the gala evening.

On Sunday morning the building was packed for worship, dedication of the building and the formal ribbon cutting that marked the opening of the center for members to begin using the facility.

It was a great weekend celebrating this magnificent facility that is expected to make a real difference in the lives of the people of South Bend and St. Joseph County.

For those that are interested, the Saturday evening concert play list follows:

Chicago Staff Band
Kroc Fanfare (Merten)
Virtuosity (Baker/arr. Peberdy, soloist - Beth Cooper)
Fusion (Cordner)
Blessed Assurance (Himes, soloist - Brett Tolcher)
My Simple Prayer (Little/Lovatt-Cooper)
My Unchanging Friend (Bosanko, soloist - Shaun Thomas)
Nimrod (Elgar/arr. Goffin)
Harlequin (Broughton)

Piano Offertory (Meghan Pierson)
Transition Music - Notre Dame's New Orleans Brass Band

Notre Dame Symphonic Winds
Celebration Fanfare (Reineke)
Alleluia! Laudamus Te (Reed)
Irish Blessing (Bliery/arr. Dwyer)
God Bless the USA (arr. Dye, soloist - Ryan Belock)
When The Saints Go Marching In (arr. Merton, featuring members of the New Orleans Brass Band)

Notre Dame Symphonic Winds and Chicago Staff Band
Light Walk (Gott)
Amazing Grace (arr. Himes)
The Stars & Stripes Forever (Sousa)
Choral Benediction (Himes)

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