Tour Itinerary

As some of you know, the next thing up for the CSB is a tour of Scandinavia & Germany. We'll be in Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Germany. I've finally been able to post the public appearance schedule for the tour ( http://tinyurl.com/d6c8a6 )on our web site.

Pekin, IL - Part 2 (Sunday)

The CSB is on the bus heading back to THQ and from there home after a great visit to Pekin, IL. Captains Mount seem to be on top of things and it appears that the Salvation Army is wll supported in Pekin, a town of about 35,000 people. As stated last night, the concert on Saturday was well attended at the 1^st Church of the Nazarene with about 450 in attendance.

This morning, we were on duty at the first (i.e. 8:15 am) service at the United Methodist Church. That too was well attended. (Prior to the service the church provided the members of the band with a hot breakfast at 7:15.)

Due to space limitations only an ensemble from the band actually played but the full chorus was able to sing. The children's message “The Instruments of the Band” didn't go exactly to plan since no brave child could be found to learn to play a horn in one easy lesson. However, the point was well made anyway.

Following that service we loaded up and headed to the Salvation Army, arriving just at the tail end of their Sunday School opening. Following that opening some members of the band attended Sunday School classes and others set up the ensemble which was again on duty given the size of the platform. The Mounts gave the worship service over to us and our Executive Officer spoke on the “Stones of Israel” reminding us significant incidents in the New Testament. At the end, each in attendance were given the opportunity to receive a white stone signifying our innocence obtained by the blood of Jesus Christ.

It's always good to report that the Salvation Army hall was full. While there were a few visitors from DHQ in nearby Peoria, for the most part the hall was full of people from Pekin. That bodes well for the future of the Salvation Army in Pekin.

All in all it was a good weekend but given the hour of rising this morning it's a very quiet bus at the moment as people catch up on their Sunday afternoon nap. Once this is posted I will try uploading some photographs on our Chicago Staff Band Facebook page. If you're not a fan of that page, why not become one?

OK... Band Geeks... here's the line up from the program last evening that I promised. If you're not a band geek I'll see you next time.

• Dance Like David

• Jubilance (soloist, Peggy Thomas)

• Good Old Way

• Soon & Very Soon (vocal item)

• He Leadeth Me (vocal item)

• Testimoy (Sang Kim)

• Glorious Ventures (soloist, Jeremy Rowland)

• Memory (soloist, Kory Strand)

• Symphonette

• Intermission

• Southmount (Heartland Divisional Band, Captain Peter Mount conducting)

• Concert Piece (soloist, Brett Tolcher)

• You Raise Me Up (soloist, Heidi Strand)

• Devotional Thought (Lt. Colonel Mickey McLaren)

• Vitae Aeternum

• Nicaea (combined/massed bands)

• Cairo Red Shield (combined/massed bands)

• Choral Benediction

CSB Visits Pekin, IL

The Chicago Staff Band left Territorial Headquarters shortly after noon today to travel the 175 miles to Pekin, IL where we'd been invited by Salvation Army commanding officers Captains Peter and Catherine Mount. Upon arrival we did a quick set up followed by sectional photos to be used on our upcoming European visit. Then we returned to the stage and had a rehearsal with the Heartland Brass who are in their inaugural season. Bandmaster Himes took us through "Nicaea" and Captain James Frye, bandmaster of the Heartland Brass conducted the classic "Cairo Red Shield".

Following rehearsal it was time for a quick bite to eat and then the concert to a nearly full hall of 400-450 people gathered to hear the CSB and Heartland Brass. Ninety percent of the people indicated it was their first Salvation Army band concert. Hopefully it won't be their last!

The people were warm and receptive but you'll have to wait until tomorrow to find out what we played. I neglected to bring my cue sheet with me...

Off to post a few photos on our Facebook page before I get some sleep. It's an early call (7:15) at the United Methodist Church in Pekin tomorrow.

This weekend the CSB is headed to Pekin, IL. Here are the details:

Saturday, April 18

7:00 pm - Concert at First Church of the Nazarene
3514 E Broadway
Pekin, IL

Sunday, April 19

8:15 am - Worship Service at United Methodist Church
1315 Court Street
Pekin, IL

11:00 am - Worship Service at Salvation Army
243 Derby Street
Pekin, IL

Hope to see some of you there!

National Social Services Conference

Tonight, the CSB was on the program for the welcome banquet at the National Social Services Conference in Chicago, IL. We shared the program with the Bill Booth Theater Company and the Metro Prep Band who brought down the house.

I'm putting pictures up on our Facebook page at the moment and then heading to bed. I'm tired!

We'll be on duty at the conference worship service in the morning as well.

It's A Birthday!

No... It's not a birthday for the CSB. We celebrated our 100th last year, all year. Rather, March 6, 2009 - 80 years ago today - is the birthday of my father, Harold Shoults. Read no further if you're not interested but it's not purely personal. There is a CSB connection.

As a young Salvation Army officer my dad was appointed to the CSB in the 1950s. During the fifties and sixties he was the euphonium soloist in the band. By the time I joined the band in 1972 he'd yielded the solo work to his younger brother Art but he was the deputy bandmaster. His last stint with the band was in the 80s (I think) when he served as the Executive Officer for a period.

While he was the Executive Officer I remember a trip to Panama. At least I think it was Panama - after this many years some of the trips blend together. We were short a 2nd trombone player for the trip so my dad offerred to play 2nd and Bill Himes took him up on it. That was the only time he and I played in the same section in the CSB. I think his only regret of doing that was the march we had to do!

My dad gave me the only real music lessons I ever had outside of music camps. He started me and a bunch of other kids and adults at the Kansas City Blue Valley Corps on fluteophones after we'd learned theory basics. Then he moved me to cornet before finally letting me try the trombone at age 11. He's given most of his grandchildren lessons at one time or another as well. Two of his three children and four of his eight grandchildren have been members of the CSB.

More than teaching me to play he taught me the value of ministry through music.

On his 80th birthday his general health is quite good. His hearing and sight aren't what they used to be, but they're good enough. He's a big help to my mom in their home and teaches a weekly bible study in his subdivision.

We're not that unique when it comes to having multiple generations who have been part of the CSB. There's an entire article about it on the Central Connection - Get Connected site. But, since this is my blog and Harold's my dad I get the privilege of thanking him publicly for all he has done for me and wishing him a very happy birthday today!

My brother from Texas is flying in today and we'll celebrate at dinner tonight as a family.

Most Recent Recording

Those of you who know the CSB will already know that we record our Thanksgiving Festival live and then release that to the public. It's been out for some time now and there is a web page that allows you to hear three clips from it. I think the page also has a link for purchasing your very own copy of the recording.

To preview it, click here.