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.

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