Sunday in Appleton/Menasha/Fox Cities, WI

Our day started early with an 8:45 am service at Christ The Rock Church. This church has an interesting connection with the Salvation Army having started in the basement of the old building in Appleton. Then, five years ago, the Army bought their current building from Christ The Rock. During the service we collaborated with their praise team during meaningful worship. The message of the morning was that we as Christians need to get serious and recognize that unless we introduce people to the saving grace offered by Christ they will go to hell. It was a thought provoking time together.

Between the 8:45 am service and the 10:45 am service we had a chance to grab a quick cup of coffee and a doughnut. Then we returned to our positions for the second worship service that was virtually identical to the first.

At the conclusion of the service we packed our bus and proceeded to the newly remodeled Salvation Army corps located in Menasha, WI. The Army has owned the building for five years but has just completed a $2 million renovation that includes a fully licensed day care facility, gymnasium/all purpose room and a beautiful new worship center. After a quick set up and boxed lunch we participated as the duty band for the dedication service of the new facility.

As is usually the case, once we were done with the dedication we quickly packed our gear and are now on the way back to territorial headquarters in Des Plaines.

It has been a very full weekend but every event was well planned and prepared for by our new friends in the Fox Cities. Special thanks go out to:

• Majors Jose & Annette Tamayo (Corps Officers)
• Major Jo Langham (Associate Officer)
• Mr. Rob Waugus (Development Director)
• Mr. John Stangel (Kaukauna High School)
• White Heron Chorale
• Christ The Rock Church & Peter Leschke
• Soldiers and Friends of The Fox Cities Salvation Army
• Wisconsin & Upper Michigan Divisional Staff

While we'll be in the rehearsal room Tuesday our next out of town engagement will be a visit to Port Huron, MI on November 14-15, 2009.

Saturday With The CSB In The Fox Cities region of WI

It's been a very long day for the members of the CSB. We left our headquarters this morning at 9:00 am and have just gotten to our hotel (a very nice one) in downtown Appleton, WI where it is about 11:45 pm. Though long, the day has been very good.

The first stop of the day for us was at Kaukauna High School where we were led in a clinic format by our own Bandmaster William Himes. Bandmaster Himes spent a great deal of time describing the instrumentation, scoring and technique of the brass band. The clinic was very well attended and the more than 100 young people and adults were very attentive.

Following the clinic we proceeded to Lawrence Memorial Chapel on the campus of Lawrence University in Appleton where we rehearsed with the White Heron Chorale, our hosts for the evening. The theme for the evening was "Grateful Hearts & Voices" and included several solo items from both the White Heron Chorale and the CSB. Full details of the concert will follow for those who really want to know. But, the evening of music was a delightful blend of classical choral and brass band music of many genres.

The White Heron Chorale is conducted by Dr. Paul Nesheim. Their assistant conductor is John Stangel and their accompanist is Susan Neebel.

An interesting twist to the evening was the inclusion of 13 high school vocalists in the White Heron Chorale. The Chorale includes these "Master Singers" as part of their tradition in their annual fall concert.

At the conclusion of the concert the CSB proceeded to Christ the Rock church to set up for participation in two worship services that will take place in the morning. Once set up we returned to our hotel to complete our day. So, as I said earlier, it was a good day...

For those of you who are interested, here's a listing of the items that were performed in the evening concert:

• "Now Thank We All Our God" - White Heron Chorale/CSB (Cruger/Rutter, arr. Himes)
• "Deo Dicamus Gratias" - White Heron Chorale (Homilius)
• "Alles was Odem Hat" - White Heron Chorale (Bach)
• "All Things Bright and Beautiful" - White Heron Chorale Ensemble (Silvey)
• "Clear Skies" - CSB; Peggy Thomas, soloist (Ball)
• "Song For Lotta" - CSB; Brett Tolcher, soloist (Sanderstrom)
• "Dakota Dawn" - White Heron Chorale; Toni Kuo Weijola, soloist (Fissinger)
• "I Often Dance" - White Heron Chorale (Nesheim)
• "A Lincoln Reflection" - White Heron Chorale/CSB; David Been, soloist (Himes)
• "Melodies of Dvorak" - CSB (Dvorak, arr. Steadman-Allen)

• INTERMISSION

• "Concertante for Cornets" - CSB (Bulla)
• "Prelude to Peace" - White Heron Chorale High School Master Singers (Stroope)
• "I Love You Truly" - White Heron Chorale Barbershop Quartet (Jacobs-Bond)
• "Laughing Song" - White Heron Chorale; Suzanne Bunker Jordheim, flutist (Dickau)
• "Lord, Lord, You Sure Been Good to Me" - CSB (arr. Alexander)
• "Come, You Who Are Filled" - White Heron Chorale; Jennifer Hodges Bryan, oboist (Hal)
• "What A Wonderful World" - White Heron Chorale; Mary Schmidt, soprano; Bob Williams, bass
• "The Promise of Living" - White Heron Chorale/CSB (Copland)
• "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" - White Heron Chorale/CSB (Steffe, arr. Wilhousky)

CSB To Visit Fox Valley, WI Area October 24-25, 2009

For those of you who are wondering, the CSB will be in the Fox Valley area of Wisconsin that includes communities such as Appleton and Menasha. The following link is to a local article regarding our visit and it contains pretty much all you would want to know about our visit.

Hopefully, we'll see a few of you there. If you are there, be sure to come and say hello to me!

http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20091022/APC0101/910220527/1979