UK Tour Day 1

The first day of our tour really began last evening with a departure from ORD to LHR. We departed on time and actually ended up arriving about an hour early. Unfortunately one of our bandsmen lost a few key articles of clothing from his suitcase en route. It will be a major inconvenience for him until he gets some things replaced.

We were met at the airport by Major Melvyn Ackroyd, Dr Stephen Cobb and Martin Tiplady. Major Ackroyd is appointed along with his wife as chaplain at LHR and he assisted in getting us through border control and customs. Martin has been working on the details of all of the UK touring bands and of course Dr Cobb is the bandmaster of the International Staff Band.

Once we were settled, Major Ackroyd went off to find me who had come in on a separate flight from the band that had been delayed. Once I was collected you can imagine the royal welcome I received from my colleagues who had been waiting patiently on the coach.

Next we headed off on the drive to Bournemouth after buckling our seat belts as required by law. The drive was uneventful and we went straight to the Boscombe Corps to set up for a brief rehearsal. It wasn't brief enough and we missed our opportunity for a cup of tea or coffee before checking in at the hotel where most got a little well deserved rest and several others took self guided walking tours of the area.

The English Channel is walking distance from the hotel and from the beach you can see the Isle of Wight which is very impressive.

Following our rest we returned to the Boscombe Corps for fellowship and food with members of the Boscombe Corps Band. The fish and chips were perfect as was the dessert. It's always enjoyable to meet Salvation Army bandsmen wherever we are and the members of the Boscombe Band are no exception to that. They were great hosts tonight.

It was great to see Bandmaster Howard Evans. Many of us got to know a him 6 years ago when he, his wife and two daughters were special guests at Central Music Institute. After his brief remarks we've returned to the hotel to rest and prepare for a good full day tomorrow.

Please keep us all in your prayers.

Until next time...

Counting Down

As many of you know, we leave tomorrow evening on a UK tour that will conclude at the celebration of the 120th anniversary of the International Staff Band. The blog has been quiet because a) I've been very busy and b) we've worked hard to keep perspective on this season. We've had many fine ministry opportunities this season and we have tried to focus on each one of those in turn. But, now we are on the threshold of the beginning of the tour and I must begin to write again.

The United Kingdom and Ireland Territory have really worked hard on each aspect of this event. I'll do my best to keep you informed of what is going on along the way, but for now I guess I should just publish our schedule. So, here goes:

Thursday evening, May 26

Depart Chicago O'Hare Airport

Friday, May 27

Arrive London Heathrow

Proceed to Bournemouth

Saturday, May 28

10:30 am Concert at Pine Walk Bandstand

7:00 pm Concert at The Salvation Army Boscombe Corps

Sunday, May 29

11:00 am Worship Service at The Salvation Army Boscombe Corps

Afternoon - Travel to Reading

6:00 pm Worship Service at The Salvation Army Reading Central Corps

Monday, May 30

7:00 pm Concert at Reading Central Corps

Tuesday, May 31

7:30 pm Concert at Norwich Citadel Corps

Wednesday, June 1

2:00 pm Civic Reception with Lord Mayor of Leeds

7:30 pm Concert at Morley Town Hall (Leeds)

Thursday, June 2

10:30 am Civic Reception at County Hall, Durham City

1:15 pm Informal Concert at Durham Cathedral

7:30 pm Concert at Empire Theatre (Consett)

Friday, June 3

1:00 pm Concert at Chelmsford Cathedral (45 minutes)

7:30 pm Concert in Chelmsford Cathedral

Saturday, June 4

2:00 pm Mini Concert at Royal Albert Hall (London)

7:00 pm "Brass Spectacular" Concert at Royal Albert Hall (Celebrating the 120th anniversary of the International Staff Band with seven other staff bands)

Sunday, June 5

2:15 pm March from Admiralty Arch to Buckingham Palace (London) (with seven other staff bands)

2:35 pm Concert in Buckingham Palace Forecourt (with seven other staff bands)

3:05 pm March from Buckingham Palace to Wellington Barracks (passing in review of General Linda Bond)

Monday, June 6

Return to Chicago

There are a number of other activities on our schedule but the above are public.

Please keep the ministry of the band in your prayers and watch here for updates as we go along!

The Chicago Staff Band will be in Elkhart, IN April 16-17, 2011. Plans for the weekend include a Saturday evening concert, open to the public, at the RV/MH Hall of Fame and Sunday morning worship at the First Presbyterian Church.

For more information please contact the Salvation Army in Elkhart at: 574.970.0088

Saturday, April 16

Public Concert at RV/MH Hall of Fame - 7:00 pm
(A volunteer recognition event will precede the concert at 6:30 pm)
21565 Executive Parkway
Elkhart, IN 46514

Sunday, April 17 (Palm Sunday)

First Presbyterian Church - 11:00 am service
200 E Beardsley
Elkhart, IN 46514
www.presby.net

Peoria, IL Visit Schedule

The Chicago Staff Band will visit Peoria, IL March 19-20, 2011. On Saturday afternoon we will be conducting a band school with Salvation Army young people from the Salvation Army's Heartland Division. On Saturday evening there will be a public concert at 7:00 pm in Dingeldine Music Center on the campus of Bradley University.

Sunday morning we will participate in two worship services at Bethany Baptist Church.

The details for the public events follow. For more information contact the Salvation Army at: 309.655.7220

Saturday, March 19

7:00 pm Concert (open to the public)
Dingeldine Music Center
Bradley University
1417 W Baker Avenue
Peoria, IL 61606

Sunday, March 20

8:15 am and 11:00 am worship services
Bethany Baptist Church
7422 N Heinz Lane
Edwards, IL 61528
www.bethanycentral.org

Upcoming Events

We've just published as many details as we have on our schedule web page for our upcoming visits to Peoria, IL (March 2011), Elkhart, IN (April 2011) and the UK/ISB 120 (May/June 2011).

You can find our web site at:

http://www.usc.salvationarmy.org/csb.

From there you can click on "schedule" on the right hand side. Or, you can click on this link that will take you directly there: http://bit.ly/fikopb

I will be posting these details here in the blog in the next few days.

CSB Visit to Ottawa, IL - February 19-20,2011

The Chicago Staff Band traveled just 85 miles to Ottawa, IL on Saturday, February 19, 2011 for a Saturday evening concert and Sunday morning worship. With a population of just over 18,000 people it is a city of two rivers because it is where the Fox River and Illinois River meet.

The Salvation Army in Ottawa is led by Captains Quentin and Mary Boyle who had made arrangements for the events of the weekend to be hosted by the 1st Presbyterian Church in Ottawa that is pastored by John Walker.

Following the relatively short bus ride we quickly adapted to the tight space available in the sanctuary and had a quick sound check. Following the sound check dinner was hosted by the Church prior to the start of the concert. A good sized crowd gathered in the sanctuary for the 7:00 pm concert.

Following the concert some of us were hosted by members of the Church and others were housed at a hotel. We are looking forward to worship this morning where our own Executive Officer, Lt. Colonel Richard Vander Weele, will bring the message of the morning from Psalm 23, continuing the theme already started by Pastor Walker at the church.

Special thanks go out to Pastor Walker and the people of the 1st Presbyterian Church, Captains Boyle and the Ottawa Salvation Army, Major James Frye (Heartland Division Music Coordinator) and Major Evie Diaz (Heartland Divisional Commander) for their support of this weekend.

A listing of the concert program follows.

Hallelujah! (Curnow)
Invocation - Captain Quentin Boyle
Trumpet Call (Downie) - Beth Cooper, cornet soloist
Victory For Me! (Heaton)
I Hear a Voice A-Prayin' (Bright) - CSB Chorus
Grace (Hayes) - CSB Chorus
We'll All Shout Hallelujah (Audoire) - Shaun Thomas, euphonium soloist
To Worlds Unknown (Bulla)
Offering/Intermission
Vienna Philharmonic Fanfare (Strauss/arr Himes)
Chassidic Dance (Evans)
Walk With Me (Steadman-Allen) - Brett Tolcher, trombone soloist
Scripture - Lt. Colonel Richard Vander Weele
Unshakeable Kingdom (Gaither, Gaither & Smith) - Heidi Smith, vocal soloist
Symphony No. 3, Movement 4 (Giannini/arr Himes)
Prayer - Captain Mary Boyle
Choral Benediction - CSB Chorus

CSB To Visit Ottawa, IL

The Chicago Staff Band will visit Ottawa, IL on February 19-20, 2011. On Saturday evening at 7:00 pm there will be a concert and we will participate in Sunday morning worship at 10:00 am as well. Both the concert and worship service will take place at the First Presbyterian Church in Ottawa located at:

114 E Jefferson St
Ottawa, IL


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For more information contact the Salvation Army in Ottawa, IL at (815) 433-0798.