en http://www.canadianstaffband.ca RSS Feed for CSB - Canadian Staff Band Copyright: (C) CSB - Canadian Staff Band, see http://www.canadianstaffband.ca for terms and conditions of reuse 60 CSB - Canadian Staff Band Ecclesiact Web System for Churches http://www.ecclesiact.com December was a busier than usual month for the CSB as this year we were on duty for three Christmas concerts within the span of a week.





First up was the annual Christmas With The Salvation Army program at Toronto's Roy Thomson Hall.



This year's special guests were soprano Marjory Watson from Kirkcaldy, Scotland, along with the Peterborough Singers under Sydney Birrell, organist Ian Sadler and dramatist Colin Fox. The Peterborough Singers made up the core of this year's Festival Chorus, supplemented by Salvation Army songster groups from throughout souther Ontario. The massed group two selections on its own - Leonard Ballantine's One Cold Night and the traditional O Holy Night - as well as supporting soloist Marjory Watson in Somewhere In My Memory (Leslie Bricusse/John Williams), They Followed His Star (Carol Cymbala) and Joy Webb's Come Into our World. Marjory Watson sang three solo items - It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year and Michael W. Smith's Emmanuel/Little Town (both accompanied by the CSB), and Winter Wonderland, with Bill Way on piano, Ken Bailey on bass and Gord Mayer on drums.

The Peterborough Singers were making their second appearance at this annual concert and proved themselves to be once again in fine form with a spirited rendition of the first movement from John Rutter's Gloria, accompanied by organist Ian Sadler and a brass/percussion ensemble from the CSB. In the second half of the program they also presented two contrasting carols in settings by Paul Halley - What Child Is This? and Good King Wenceslas.



In addition to accompanying three carols and tuba soloist Robert Brown in his own unique interpertation of Frosty the Snowman (complete with a dancing snowman!), the Canadian Staff Band main contributions to the evening were Christmas Fantasy, a medley of carols arranged by Jan de Haan, Sergei Prokofiev's Troika arranged by Andrew Blyth, and the scintillating Gaudete! by Kevin Norbury.



Also appearing on the program were dramatist Colin Fox who presented a series of readings; the territorial commander, Commissioner Brian Peddle, who brought a devotional message; and Ontario Lieutenant-Governor David Onley, who brought greetings and thanked the Army for its valuable work to the community.





_____





On Monday, December 5, the CSB was priviled to participate in Let's Celebrate Christmas, a concert at the Richmond Hill Performing Arts Centre just north of Toronto sponsored by The Salvation Army's Richmond Hill Community Church. Organized by Staff Bandsman Steve Pavey, the event also included the Easy Street Youth Band, a group of young musicians that Steve leads at his corps, the Mackenzie Singers from Alexander Mackenzie High School, and a young vocal soloist, Isabella Santiago, who amazed the audience with her outstanding vocal presentations.



Not all of the CSB was able to be present for this event due to other commitments and we were grateful to CSB alumni Kevin Hayward, Dave Rayment and Barrington Venables for helping us out. The band was led by Deputy Bandmaster Ken Smith in the absence of Bandmaster John Lam, and presented a variety of items including The Carollers, The Everlasting Light, Sleigh Ride, Chestnuts, Winter's Snow and A Christmas Festival. Staff Bandsman Cameron Rawlins also sang Mary, Did You Know?, as featured on the CSB's recent Christmas CD, Christ is Born! A definite highlight of the night was the presentation of Eric Ball's The Kingdom Triumphant, featuring a special video dramatizing the story of Jesus' birth, his life and ministry, death and resurrection and future exaltation.



The CSB also accompanied the audience in Joy to the World (arr. Kevin Hayward), Hark! the Herald Angels Sings (Willcocks), White Christmas (arr. Ballantine), and Joyful, Joyful (arr. Himes), in which it was joined by the Easy Street Youth Band. This enthusiastic group of youthful musicians did a splendid job through the evening, presenting two items on its own - Fanfare for Christmas and Christmas Lullaby - as well as joining us for two massed items, Westminster Fanfare and Angels in the Mid-winter. The CSB was impressed with the high quality of musicianship displayed by the group and commend Steve Pavey for his leadership.
_____

A week later it was off to St. Paul's Church for the 33rd annual Christmas Carol Concert, an event that is always packed out for both performances and helps the Toronto Star provide gift boxes to 45,000 underprivileged children in the Greater Toronto Area. Conductor emeritus Giles Bryant was once again in top form, leading the massed choirs and congregation in the usual carols with band and organ accompaniment. The CSB's contributions were Prokofiev's Troika arranged by Andrew Blyth and Gaudete! by Kevin Norbury.



December is a busy month for Salvation Army band members, and the extra-mile service when you're in the staff band is all part of the privilege of service.

To our regular visitors, we wish you a Happy Christmas and a new year filled with God's richest blessing.

]]> 1200842193 Mon, 19 Dec 2011 10:32:18 GMT CSB - Canadian Staff Band http://www.canadianstaffband.ca 219240356 1200842193 0 2011-12-13 December was a busier than usual month for the CSB as this year we were on duty for three Christmas concerts within the span of a week.





First up was the annual Christmas With The Salvation Army program at Toronto's Roy Thomson Hall.



This year's special guests were soprano Marjory Watson from Kirkcaldy, Scotland, along with the Peterborough Singers under Sydney Birrell, organist Ian Sadler and dramatist Colin Fox. The Peterborough Singers made up the core of this year's Festival Chorus, supplemented by Salvation Army songster groups from throughout souther Ontario. The massed group two selections on its own - Leonard Ballantine's One Cold Night and the traditional O Holy Night - as well as supporting soloist Marjory Watson in Somewhere In My Memory (Leslie Bricusse/John Williams), They Followed His Star (Carol Cymbala) and Joy Webb's Come Into our World. Marjory Watson sang three solo items - It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year and Michael W. Smith's Emmanuel/Little Town (both accompanied by the CSB), and Winter Wonderland, with Bill Way on piano, Ken Bailey on bass and Gord Mayer on drums.

The Peterborough Singers were making their second appearance at this annual concert and proved themselves to be once again in fine form with a spirited rendition of the first movement from John Rutter's Gloria, accompanied by organist Ian Sadler and a brass/percussion ensemble from the CSB. In the second half of the program they also presented two contrasting carols in settings by Paul Halley - What Child Is This? and Good King Wenceslas.



In addition to accompanying three carols and tuba soloist Robert Brown in his own unique interpertation of Frosty the Snowman (complete with a dancing snowman!), the Canadian Staff Band main contributions to the evening were Christmas Fantasy, a medley of carols arranged by Jan de Haan, Sergei Prokofiev's Troika arranged by Andrew Blyth, and the scintillating Gaudete! by Kevin Norbury.



Also appearing on the program were dramatist Colin Fox who presented a series of readings; the territorial commander, Commissioner Brian Peddle, who brought a devotional message; and Ontario Lieutenant-Governor David Onley, who brought greetings and thanked the Army for its valuable work to the community.





_____





On Monday, December 5, the CSB was priviled to participate in Let's Celebrate Christmas, a concert at the Richmond Hill Performing Arts Centre just north of Toronto sponsored by The Salvation Army's Richmond Hill Community Church. Organized by Staff Bandsman Steve Pavey, the event also included the Easy Street Youth Band, a group of young musicians that Steve leads at his corps, the Mackenzie Singers from Alexander Mackenzie High School, and a young vocal soloist, Isabella Santiago, who amazed the audience with her outstanding vocal presentations.



Not all of the CSB was able to be present for this event due to other commitments and we were grateful to CSB alumni Kevin Hayward, Dave Rayment and Barrington Venables for helping us out. The band was led by Deputy Bandmaster Ken Smith in the absence of Bandmaster John Lam, and presented a variety of items including The Carollers, The Everlasting Light, Sleigh Ride, Chestnuts, Winter's Snow and A Christmas Festival. Staff Bandsman Cameron Rawlins also sang Mary, Did You Know?, as featured on the CSB's recent Christmas CD, Christ is Born! A definite highlight of the night was the presentation of Eric Ball's The Kingdom Triumphant, featuring a special video dramatizing the story of Jesus' birth, his life and ministry, death and resurrection and future exaltation.



The CSB also accompanied the audience in Joy to the World (arr. Kevin Hayward), Hark! the Herald Angels Sings (Willcocks), White Christmas (arr. Ballantine), and Joyful, Joyful (arr. Himes), in which it was joined by the Easy Street Youth Band. This enthusiastic group of youthful musicians did a splendid job through the evening, presenting two items on its own - Fanfare for Christmas and Christmas Lullaby - as well as joining us for two massed items, Westminster Fanfare and Angels in the Mid-winter. The CSB was impressed with the high quality of musicianship displayed by the group and commend Steve Pavey for his leadership.
_____

A week later it was off to St. Paul's Church for the 33rd annual Christmas Carol Concert, an event that is always packed out for both performances and helps the Toronto Star provide gift boxes to 45,000 underprivileged children in the Greater Toronto Area. Conductor emeritus Giles Bryant was once again in top form, leading the massed choirs and congregation in the usual carols with band and organ accompaniment. The CSB's contributions were Prokofiev's Troika arranged by Andrew Blyth and Gaudete! by Kevin Norbury.



December is a busy month for Salvation Army band members, and the extra-mile service when you're in the staff band is all part of the privilege of service.

To our regular visitors, we wish you a Happy Christmas and a new year filled with God's richest blessing.

]]>
On the weekend of November 18-20, 2011, Salvationists in Toronto and Hamilton, Ontario, were privileged to host the Glenmore Temple Band from Calgary, Alberta, under Bandmaster Jeff Haskey. The group had travelled to southern Ontario to take part in the Canadian Staff Band's annual Fall Festival and march in the Toronto Santa Claus Parade.





Visiting band members were kept busy from the moment they arrived, presenting a concert to an appreciative audience at Meadowlands Corps, Hamilton, on Friday evening. Then it was off to Toronto on Saturday morning for parade rehearsals, followed by an enjoyable Fall Festival in the evening with the CSB and the Ontario Central-East Divisional Youth Chorus at Scarborough Citadel.



As the CSB played Steven Ponsford's Servants of God to open the 2011 Fall Festival, concert, the visitors from Calgary marched in from the back of the hall proudly wearing their traditional white Stetsons. Then, following a welcome and prayer by Commissioner Brian Peddle, territorial commander, they launched into their first item, Martin Cordner's Round-up, during which the audience was treated to visual images highlighting their home city nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and known the world over for its famous Calgary Stampede.

The first of two solos on the program featured Michael Royan, cornet, who presented a sparkling rendition of Norman Bearcroft's Golden Slippers accompanied by Glenmore Temple Band. Of interest is that the work was originally written for Staff Bandsman Deryck Diffey in the early 1970s. Deryck was in the audience and later commended Michael for his superb playing.

The second soloist of the night was Staff Bandsman Cameron Rawlins who presented the euphonium solo Harlequin by Philip Sparke, featuring a slow modal ballad followed by a frenetic faster movement delievered with flawless execution to the delight of the audience. Other items rounding off the first half of the program were South Shields Celebration (Cordner) by Glenmore Temple Band and James Curnow's A Psalm of Praise by the CSB. Under leader Cathie Koehnen, the Divisional Youth Chorus presented two contrasting items, Richard Phillips' Sing for Joy and Part the Waters, an arrangement of the song by Charles Brown.

Following the intermission, the CSB led off with Bruce Broughton's The Firing Line, followed by Glenmore Temple Band's presentation of I've Got Joy by Derrick Kane. The audience was then treated to the first Toronto performance of the CSB Timbrels, led by Staff Band Member Serena Doars and set to the music of Barrie Gott's Light-walk. As it did in performances throughout Holland the Germany in the spring, it literally brought the house down! The Divisional Youth Chorus then presented its second set of the evening - the traditional spiritual Give Me Jesus and an bright, energetic rendition of Shine Down arranged by Mark Hayes. This was followed by the CSB playing Kevin Larsson's new setting of They Shall Come From the East and Glenmore Temple Band with an excellent presentation of William Hime's Celebration of Contemporary Gospel Song.

The massed bands finished the program with three items, the Christmas march Glad Tidings (Kenneth Smith), which would be heard on the streets of Toronto the next day in the Santa Claus Parade, along with Andrew Poirier's transcription of Eric Whitacre's Lux Aurumque and a new setting of In Christ Alone by Craig Woodland. In between, following devotional comments by the territorial commander, was a massed vocal item featuring all three groups - Paul Lovatt-Cooper's My Simple Prayer with words by Rob Little.



On Sunday morning, the visiting band participated in worship at Bloor Central Corps, where the message was given by Major Eddie Vincent, Glenmore Temple corps officer. It was then off to march in the 107th annual Toronto Santa Claus Parade, as Army band members from the Greater Toronto Area joined the CSB and Glenmore Temple Band along with timbrellists and divisional and territorial leaders. As always, the event provided a great opportunity for Christian witness to the 500,000 who lined the parade route along the downtown city streets.





The Canadian Staff Band was pleased to host the visitors from Alberta for this third annual fall festival and parade weekend. Plans are underway for next year and details will be announced in due course.


]]> 854307755 Mon, 12 Dec 2011 14:16:36 GMT CSB - Canadian Staff Band http://www.canadianstaffband.ca 219240356 854307755 0 2011-12-12
On the weekend of November 18-20, 2011, Salvationists in Toronto and Hamilton, Ontario, were privileged to host the Glenmore Temple Band from Calgary, Alberta, under Bandmaster Jeff Haskey. The group had travelled to southern Ontario to take part in the Canadian Staff Band's annual Fall Festival and march in the Toronto Santa Claus Parade.





Visiting band members were kept busy from the moment they arrived, presenting a concert to an appreciative audience at Meadowlands Corps, Hamilton, on Friday evening. Then it was off to Toronto on Saturday morning for parade rehearsals, followed by an enjoyable Fall Festival in the evening with the CSB and the Ontario Central-East Divisional Youth Chorus at Scarborough Citadel.



As the CSB played Steven Ponsford's Servants of God to open the 2011 Fall Festival, concert, the visitors from Calgary marched in from the back of the hall proudly wearing their traditional white Stetsons. Then, following a welcome and prayer by Commissioner Brian Peddle, territorial commander, they launched into their first item, Martin Cordner's Round-up, during which the audience was treated to visual images highlighting their home city nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and known the world over for its famous Calgary Stampede.

The first of two solos on the program featured Michael Royan, cornet, who presented a sparkling rendition of Norman Bearcroft's Golden Slippers accompanied by Glenmore Temple Band. Of interest is that the work was originally written for Staff Bandsman Deryck Diffey in the early 1970s. Deryck was in the audience and later commended Michael for his superb playing.

The second soloist of the night was Staff Bandsman Cameron Rawlins who presented the euphonium solo Harlequin by Philip Sparke, featuring a slow modal ballad followed by a frenetic faster movement delievered with flawless execution to the delight of the audience. Other items rounding off the first half of the program were South Shields Celebration (Cordner) by Glenmore Temple Band and James Curnow's A Psalm of Praise by the CSB. Under leader Cathie Koehnen, the Divisional Youth Chorus presented two contrasting items, Richard Phillips' Sing for Joy and Part the Waters, an arrangement of the song by Charles Brown.

Following the intermission, the CSB led off with Bruce Broughton's The Firing Line, followed by Glenmore Temple Band's presentation of I've Got Joy by Derrick Kane. The audience was then treated to the first Toronto performance of the CSB Timbrels, led by Staff Band Member Serena Doars and set to the music of Barrie Gott's Light-walk. As it did in performances throughout Holland the Germany in the spring, it literally brought the house down! The Divisional Youth Chorus then presented its second set of the evening - the traditional spiritual Give Me Jesus and an bright, energetic rendition of Shine Down arranged by Mark Hayes. This was followed by the CSB playing Kevin Larsson's new setting of They Shall Come From the East and Glenmore Temple Band with an excellent presentation of William Hime's Celebration of Contemporary Gospel Song.

The massed bands finished the program with three items, the Christmas march Glad Tidings (Kenneth Smith), which would be heard on the streets of Toronto the next day in the Santa Claus Parade, along with Andrew Poirier's transcription of Eric Whitacre's Lux Aurumque and a new setting of In Christ Alone by Craig Woodland. In between, following devotional comments by the territorial commander, was a massed vocal item featuring all three groups - Paul Lovatt-Cooper's My Simple Prayer with words by Rob Little.



On Sunday morning, the visiting band participated in worship at Bloor Central Corps, where the message was given by Major Eddie Vincent, Glenmore Temple corps officer. It was then off to march in the 107th annual Toronto Santa Claus Parade, as Army band members from the Greater Toronto Area joined the CSB and Glenmore Temple Band along with timbrellists and divisional and territorial leaders. As always, the event provided a great opportunity for Christian witness to the 500,000 who lined the parade route along the downtown city streets.





The Canadian Staff Band was pleased to host the visitors from Alberta for this third annual fall festival and parade weekend. Plans are underway for next year and details will be announced in due course.


]]>
The first CSB Christmas recording, Home For Christmas, was released in 1972. Just three years into the band's existence, the group was still being conducted by its founding bandmaster, Major Norman Beacroft. The LP album mostly featured the band playing simple carol accompaniments from the original Christmas Praise carol book published by SP&S in 1963. Added into the mix were some special arrangements taken from the published band journals of the time and some new settings by Major Bearcroft.






In 1978, the CSB released its second Christmas LP album, this time conducted by Captain Robert Redhead. It featured a wide variety of new carol arrangements including the original version of Stephen Bulla's A Christmas Suite, The Festive Season by Morley Calvert, Joyful Bells and Good Christian Men Rejoice by Leslie Condon, Kenneth Cook's march The Spirit of Christmas, and two items by Captain Redhead, March of the Kings and Away in a Manger (Normandy Carol). Also featured were two vocal items featuring the band's male chorus - O Come Immanuel and To Save a Poor Sinner.



Of note is that this second CSB Christmas album was released a year before the very first Toronto Star Christmas Carol Concert was held in 1979 at St. Paul's Church, Toronto - a tradition that still continues some 32 years later! And in all the time since, the CSB has not released another Christmas album ... until now.


The band's latest and much-anticipated Christmas album, Christ is Born!, features new and old favourites and some new music written especially for this recording. Since its release in November 2011, it has proven extremely popular and is being enjoyed by listeners throughout Canada and around the world.

Check our recordings page to purchase your copy today. ]]> 1138722882 Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:05:51 GMT CSB - Canadian Staff Band http://www.canadianstaffband.ca 219240356 1138722882 0 2011-12-05
The first CSB Christmas recording, Home For Christmas, was released in 1972. Just three years into the band's existence, the group was still being conducted by its founding bandmaster, Major Norman Beacroft. The LP album mostly featured the band playing simple carol accompaniments from the original Christmas Praise carol book published by SP&S in 1963. Added into the mix were some special arrangements taken from the published band journals of the time and some new settings by Major Bearcroft.






In 1978, the CSB released its second Christmas LP album, this time conducted by Captain Robert Redhead. It featured a wide variety of new carol arrangements including the original version of Stephen Bulla's A Christmas Suite, The Festive Season by Morley Calvert, Joyful Bells and Good Christian Men Rejoice by Leslie Condon, Kenneth Cook's march The Spirit of Christmas, and two items by Captain Redhead, March of the Kings and Away in a Manger (Normandy Carol). Also featured were two vocal items featuring the band's male chorus - O Come Immanuel and To Save a Poor Sinner.



Of note is that this second CSB Christmas album was released a year before the very first Toronto Star Christmas Carol Concert was held in 1979 at St. Paul's Church, Toronto - a tradition that still continues some 32 years later! And in all the time since, the CSB has not released another Christmas album ... until now.


The band's latest and much-anticipated Christmas album, Christ is Born!, features new and old favourites and some new music written especially for this recording. Since its release in November 2011, it has proven extremely popular and is being enjoyed by listeners throughout Canada and around the world.

Check our recordings page to purchase your copy today. ]]>
Andrew Dolan is currently in his second year of specialist neuroscience studies at the University of Toronto. He attends Scarborough Citadel, Toronto, and plays in the corps band once led by his grandfather, noted Army musician and historian Fred Creighton. Andrew is deputy bandmaster of the Y.P. Band and a member of both the Ontario Central-East Divisional Youth Band and Youth Chorus.

Trent Mansell is not a new member, having served previously in the CSB from 1999 to 2005. Trent attends Mississauga Temple with his wife, Miriam, and their two boys, where he is involved in the senior band and worship team brass. A bachelor of music graduate from the University of Western Ontario, he currently works as an elementary school principal and is a fourth-generation Salvationist.
]]> 1170026699 Fri, 14 Oct 2011 11:15:44 GMT CSB - Canadian Staff Band http://www.canadianstaffband.ca 219240356 1170026699 0 2011-10-13
Andrew Dolan is currently in his second year of specialist neuroscience studies at the University of Toronto. He attends Scarborough Citadel, Toronto, and plays in the corps band once led by his grandfather, noted Army musician and historian Fred Creighton. Andrew is deputy bandmaster of the Y.P. Band and a member of both the Ontario Central-East Divisional Youth Band and Youth Chorus.

Trent Mansell is not a new member, having served previously in the CSB from 1999 to 2005. Trent attends Mississauga Temple with his wife, Miriam, and their two boys, where he is involved in the senior band and worship team brass. A bachelor of music graduate from the University of Western Ontario, he currently works as an elementary school principal and is a fourth-generation Salvationist.
]]>


In response to an invitation from Yarmouth Corps to help them celebrate their 125th anniversary, the band added an extra concert at Halifax Citadel on the Friday night. Unfortunately, due to a delay in our scheduled departure from Toronto, we didn't get to the corps until 7:40 p.m. ten minutes after the program was scheduled to begin. Our biggest applause of the night came before we even played a note, as the crowd waiting outside the building greeted the arrival of our bus from the airport. Needless to say, we quickly made our way into the corps building, changed into our uniforms, gathered our instruments, and walked in just after 8:00 to start the concert. No sound check, no supper, just straight into the program.

After adjusting to the hall during our first item, The Gathering, it was on to the rest of the program as we played to a capacity audience who had been patiently waiting to hear us. Some had driven in from outside the city, including several from Fredericton, New Brunswick, four hours away. They came to hear the band (it had been six years since our last visit in 2005) and we weren't about to disappoint them.

The concert featured a mixture of items from our spring tour along with some newer pieces such as Peter Graham's Seize the Day, Bruce Broughton's The Firing Line and two new arrangements by Kevin Larsson Fill the World With Glory and They Shall Come From the East. Solo items included Salvus (Steve Pavey), Down by the Riverside (Major Kevin Metcalf), and a special rendition of Somebody Prayed For Me (Craig Lewis), conducted by the composer, Bandmaster Peter van der Horden of Halifax Citadel.















After the concert we enjoyed a delicious roast beef dinner at 10:30 p.m. (held over from earlier, thanks to the good folk at the corps), then made our way to the hotel for the night in anticipation of our journey to Yarmouth the next day.

On Saturday morning the rain began in earnest and didn't let up for the rest of our visit. Nevertheless, we enjoyed the four-hour bus trip from Halifax and arrived at Yarmouth mid-afternoon to get set up for our evening program. Located in the heart of the world's largest lobster fishing grounds, Yarmouth is a small rural town of about 8,000 located on the western coast of Nova Scotia. Founded in 1761, it is celebrating its 250th anniversary in 2011, and The Salvation Army has been part of it since 1886. Formerly a major shipbuilding centre, Yarmouth was a significant tourist destination for many years with visitors coming across the Gulf of Maine from the United States. Unfortunately, with the recent loss of the ferry service, tourism is not what it once was and the town is facing an uncertain future.

Following a sound check in the beautiful sanctuary, we enjoyed a lovely supper hosted by Majors Peter and Janice Rowe, corps officers, along with Majors Morris and Wanda Vincent from divisional headquarters and weekend guests Majors Bruce and Judy Power from Toronto, who had been stationed at the corps some years ago. Each of us received a ...loot bago filled with mementoes of our visit including baseball caps and various other items celebrating the town's 250th anniversary.

The evening concert was enjoyed by a large audience who appreciated the band's musical ministry. The program was a repeat of the night before in Halifax and included a selection of lighter items such as The Name (with band members donning the aforementioned baseball caps), the vocal item Goodbye World Goodbye and the popular Light-walk, featuring the CSB timbrels. Two large-scale works by Robert Redhead concluded the first and second halves respectively Rejoice! and Christ-Hymn.















After a restful night, the band participated in the Sunday morning meeting with various prelude items and two selections Let There Be Praise and Shine On Us. Major Bruce Power brought the Bible message on Psalm 93, inviting us all to be aware of God's presence in our lives and to listen to his voice. Regretfully, planned outdoor activities for the afternoon including a march of witness and open-air meeting had to be cancelled due to the rain. Nevertheless, the soldiers and friends of Yarmouth Corps greatly appreciated the band's visit and extended an open invitation for us to return any time.

Our thanks to Captain Steve White, divisional youth secretary for Ontario Central-East Division, and Andrew Dolan of Scarborough Citadel, for their help during the weekend. All in all, it was a great opportunity for ministry and a wonderful start to the season.
]]> 914238489 Fri, 07 Oct 2011 14:16:20 GMT CSB - Canadian Staff Band http://www.canadianstaffband.ca 219240356 914238489 0 2011-10-07


In response to an invitation from Yarmouth Corps to help them celebrate their 125th anniversary, the band added an extra concert at Halifax Citadel on the Friday night. Unfortunately, due to a delay in our scheduled departure from Toronto, we didn't get to the corps until 7:40 p.m. ten minutes after the program was scheduled to begin. Our biggest applause of the night came before we even played a note, as the crowd waiting outside the building greeted the arrival of our bus from the airport. Needless to say, we quickly made our way into the corps building, changed into our uniforms, gathered our instruments, and walked in just after 8:00 to start the concert. No sound check, no supper, just straight into the program.

After adjusting to the hall during our first item, The Gathering, it was on to the rest of the program as we played to a capacity audience who had been patiently waiting to hear us. Some had driven in from outside the city, including several from Fredericton, New Brunswick, four hours away. They came to hear the band (it had been six years since our last visit in 2005) and we weren't about to disappoint them.

The concert featured a mixture of items from our spring tour along with some newer pieces such as Peter Graham's Seize the Day, Bruce Broughton's The Firing Line and two new arrangements by Kevin Larsson Fill the World With Glory and They Shall Come From the East. Solo items included Salvus (Steve Pavey), Down by the Riverside (Major Kevin Metcalf), and a special rendition of Somebody Prayed For Me (Craig Lewis), conducted by the composer, Bandmaster Peter van der Horden of Halifax Citadel.















After the concert we enjoyed a delicious roast beef dinner at 10:30 p.m. (held over from earlier, thanks to the good folk at the corps), then made our way to the hotel for the night in anticipation of our journey to Yarmouth the next day.

On Saturday morning the rain began in earnest and didn't let up for the rest of our visit. Nevertheless, we enjoyed the four-hour bus trip from Halifax and arrived at Yarmouth mid-afternoon to get set up for our evening program. Located in the heart of the world's largest lobster fishing grounds, Yarmouth is a small rural town of about 8,000 located on the western coast of Nova Scotia. Founded in 1761, it is celebrating its 250th anniversary in 2011, and The Salvation Army has been part of it since 1886. Formerly a major shipbuilding centre, Yarmouth was a significant tourist destination for many years with visitors coming across the Gulf of Maine from the United States. Unfortunately, with the recent loss of the ferry service, tourism is not what it once was and the town is facing an uncertain future.

Following a sound check in the beautiful sanctuary, we enjoyed a lovely supper hosted by Majors Peter and Janice Rowe, corps officers, along with Majors Morris and Wanda Vincent from divisional headquarters and weekend guests Majors Bruce and Judy Power from Toronto, who had been stationed at the corps some years ago. Each of us received a ...loot bago filled with mementoes of our visit including baseball caps and various other items celebrating the town's 250th anniversary.

The evening concert was enjoyed by a large audience who appreciated the band's musical ministry. The program was a repeat of the night before in Halifax and included a selection of lighter items such as The Name (with band members donning the aforementioned baseball caps), the vocal item Goodbye World Goodbye and the popular Light-walk, featuring the CSB timbrels. Two large-scale works by Robert Redhead concluded the first and second halves respectively Rejoice! and Christ-Hymn.















After a restful night, the band participated in the Sunday morning meeting with various prelude items and two selections Let There Be Praise and Shine On Us. Major Bruce Power brought the Bible message on Psalm 93, inviting us all to be aware of God's presence in our lives and to listen to his voice. Regretfully, planned outdoor activities for the afternoon including a march of witness and open-air meeting had to be cancelled due to the rain. Nevertheless, the soldiers and friends of Yarmouth Corps greatly appreciated the band's visit and extended an open invitation for us to return any time.

Our thanks to Captain Steve White, divisional youth secretary for Ontario Central-East Division, and Andrew Dolan of Scarborough Citadel, for their help during the weekend. All in all, it was a great opportunity for ministry and a wonderful start to the season.
]]>
The CSB congratulates Staff Bandsman Joshua Bailey on his recent marriage to Kristen Reid, which took place at Listowel Corps on Saturday, September 10.

We wish Josh and Kristen well as they begin their new life together.
]]> 781259721 Tue, 13 Sep 2011 10:18:01 GMT CSB - Canadian Staff Band http://www.canadianstaffband.ca 219240356 781259721 0 2011-09-13
The CSB congratulates Staff Bandsman Joshua Bailey on his recent marriage to Kristen Reid, which took place at Listowel Corps on Saturday, September 10.

We wish Josh and Kristen well as they begin their new life together.
]]> Doug Elvin and Cameron Fraser, both of whom have found they are unable to continue with the CSB for the coming year. We are grateful for their years of service and wish them well as they continue to be actively involved at their home corps of Mountain Citadel (Hamilton) and Richmond Hill Community Church respectively.

In the meantime, Ian Watkinson has agreed to come out of retirement yet again to help us out on second horn for another season, and Nicole Downer, now the mother of two, is hoping to rejoin the band after Christmas.
]]> 497977045 Tue, 13 Sep 2011 10:13:50 GMT CSB - Canadian Staff Band http://www.canadianstaffband.ca 219240356 497977045 0 2011-09-12 Doug Elvin and Cameron Fraser, both of whom have found they are unable to continue with the CSB for the coming year. We are grateful for their years of service and wish them well as they continue to be actively involved at their home corps of Mountain Citadel (Hamilton) and Richmond Hill Community Church respectively.

In the meantime, Ian Watkinson has agreed to come out of retirement yet again to help us out on second horn for another season, and Nicole Downer, now the mother of two, is hoping to rejoin the band after Christmas.
]]> Congratulations to Nicole Downer on the safe arrival of a son, Callum Reginald, born on July 22.

Mother and baby are doing well along with father Nathan and sister Chloe.

Nicole plans on returning to the band in the fall season. ]]> 868408870 Thu, 28 Jul 2011 08:55:57 GMT CSB - Canadian Staff Band http://www.canadianstaffband.ca 219240356 868408870 0 2011-07-28 Congratulations to Nicole Downer on the safe arrival of a son, Callum Reginald, born on July 22.

Mother and baby are doing well along with father Nathan and sister Chloe.

Nicole plans on returning to the band in the fall season. ]]>
CSB veteran Dave Rayment, who joined the band under Captain Robert Redhead in 1979, has been the band's longest-serving acting member for a number of years. A valued member of the CSB tuba section, his record of 32 continuous, uninterrupted years of service has been eclipsed only by founding band members Brian Burditt (33 years, 1969-2002) and Robert Young (34 years, 1969-2003). Dave's contribution to the band's ministry has been considerable during this time, giving him a lifetime of experiences and stories from his many tours and other staff band events that he continues to happily share with friends and colleagues from around the world.

Congratulations, Dave, on your retirement. It won't be the same without you! We wish you all the best as you continue to serve the Lord at your home corps of Mountain Citadel.


We are also grateful to CSB "reservist" Ian Watkinson, who actually retired from the band in 2001, but agreed to come back and help us out on second horn for the past year. Ian, who in the past year took on the leadership of Heritage Brass (formerly known as the Ontario Central-East Reservist Band), will continue to keep busy in the coming days. We wish him well as he continues in the Lord's service through this important ministry.

We also say farewell to Mathias Divert, who has gone back to his native Sweden. Though only in the band since December, his contributions to the cornet section have been appreciated.
________

Observers of the band in recent weeks will have noticed one other change put in place for the tour. We are grateful to John Avery for filling in on flugel horn since April, in place of Nicole Downer who, with her husband Nathan, is expecting their second child in August. Nicole hopes to return to the band in the fall.
]]> 1614453455 Thu, 07 Jul 2011 21:18:54 GMT CSB - Canadian Staff Band http://www.canadianstaffband.ca 219240356 1614453455 0 2011-07-07
CSB veteran Dave Rayment, who joined the band under Captain Robert Redhead in 1979, has been the band's longest-serving acting member for a number of years. A valued member of the CSB tuba section, his record of 32 continuous, uninterrupted years of service has been eclipsed only by founding band members Brian Burditt (33 years, 1969-2002) and Robert Young (34 years, 1969-2003). Dave's contribution to the band's ministry has been considerable during this time, giving him a lifetime of experiences and stories from his many tours and other staff band events that he continues to happily share with friends and colleagues from around the world.

Congratulations, Dave, on your retirement. It won't be the same without you! We wish you all the best as you continue to serve the Lord at your home corps of Mountain Citadel.


We are also grateful to CSB "reservist" Ian Watkinson, who actually retired from the band in 2001, but agreed to come back and help us out on second horn for the past year. Ian, who in the past year took on the leadership of Heritage Brass (formerly known as the Ontario Central-East Reservist Band), will continue to keep busy in the coming days. We wish him well as he continues in the Lord's service through this important ministry.

We also say farewell to Mathias Divert, who has gone back to his native Sweden. Though only in the band since December, his contributions to the cornet section have been appreciated.
________

Observers of the band in recent weeks will have noticed one other change put in place for the tour. We are grateful to John Avery for filling in on flugel horn since April, in place of Nicole Downer who, with her husband Nathan, is expecting their second child in August. Nicole hopes to return to the band in the fall.
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On Wednesday, July 6, a large crowd of Salvationists and friends gathered on the lawn of the Jackson's Point Conference Centre for the official welcome and installation of Commissioners Brian and Rosalie Peddle as the new leaders of the Canada and Bermuda Territory, conducted by General Linda Bond.

The Canadian Staff Band was happy to be on duty to provide music for the occasion, along with the Ontario Central-East Divisional Youth Chorus under the leadership of Cathie Koehnen. In addition to the CSB's main selection for the evening, Major Ken Smith's Songs of the Pioneers, the band accompanied various songs as well as providing celebratory music behorehand and afterwards. The CSB worship team also led in a time of praise and worship.

Click here for a full report and more pictures of this event.

]]> 1467188041 Mon, 11 Jul 2011 08:47:35 GMT CSB - Canadian Staff Band http://www.canadianstaffband.ca 219240356 1467188041 0 2011-07-07
























On Wednesday, July 6, a large crowd of Salvationists and friends gathered on the lawn of the Jackson's Point Conference Centre for the official welcome and installation of Commissioners Brian and Rosalie Peddle as the new leaders of the Canada and Bermuda Territory, conducted by General Linda Bond.

The Canadian Staff Band was happy to be on duty to provide music for the occasion, along with the Ontario Central-East Divisional Youth Chorus under the leadership of Cathie Koehnen. In addition to the CSB's main selection for the evening, Major Ken Smith's Songs of the Pioneers, the band accompanied various songs as well as providing celebratory music behorehand and afterwards. The CSB worship team also led in a time of praise and worship.

Click here for a full report and more pictures of this event.

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