NEW APPOINTMENTS
Before the Christmas break, Bandmaster Lance announced several new appointments – Simon Morton is appointed as Deputy Bandmaster, Aaron Harris as Band Chorus Leader, and Peter Vaughan as Band Sergeant. Simon is the Divisional Music Director for the New Jersey Division, and attends the Montclair Citadel Corps. He first played with the band on the 2005 Scandinavian tour, subbing in for David VanderWeele, and joining full time shortly thereafter. Aaron Harris is the Performing Arts Manager at the Philadelphia Kroc Center, and also attends the corps there. Mr. Harris has had two stints with the band from 2003-2006, and rejoined in 2012. Aaron’s main instrument is Tuba, but volunteered to move to horn in 2017. Pete Vaughan is currently one of the longest serving NYSB bandsmen, having been a member since 1984. He currently works at Eastern territorial Headquarters as the Facilities Manager and attends the Spring Valley Corps. We wish these gentlemen well in their new appointments.
PERSONNEL CHANGES
Following our Christmas weekend in December, the band bid farewell to Ken Kirby who had served for 17 total years with the band. During his first time with the band, Ken had been able to play under the leadership Derek Smith, Brian Bowen, Ron Waiksnoris and the current Bandmaster, Derek Lance. We thank Ken for his great service through the years! Filling our vacancy in the back row, we welcomed Fred Mbesi to the band on 2nd Cornet. Fred works for the Salvation Army Eastern Pennsylvania & Delaware Division as a Regional Music Director, and attends the Chester, PA Corps. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Music from Asbury University. Fred is also a composer and has written several compositions for brass band and vocal scoring – we look forward to seeing more of his pieces. Read more about Fred in this article (from the former SA Bandsman Magazine) that featured him as an emerging composer: http://music.saconnects.org/sa-bandsman-talks-to-fred-mbesi/
RECORDING SESSIONS
The band recently finished a recording session for its next two albums. One of the albums will be released during the Canadian Staff Band’s 50th Anniversary Concert at Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto, and will feature previously recorded pieces along with some new items, highlighting Canadian Staff Band connections. The other album will feature new music, including a new work by Dorothy Gates entitled “The Glory of Jehovah” written especially for the CSB 50 celebration, and a new work by Kenneth Downie entitled “God is My Shelter”, and will be released at the Old Orchard Beach Camp Meetings in July 2019, where the NYSB is the guest band. We are happy that expert recording engineer Phil Bulla will head the recording once again.
JANUARY 2019 RECORDING SESSION:
Proclamation (Tom Davoren)
Introit – O Love (Andrew Blyth)
All-Powerful (Marcus Venables)
To Ask the Lord’s Blessing (Simon Morton)
Be Still (Dorothy Gates)
Great Are You Lord (Joel Collier)
The Seafarer (Norman Bearcroft)
He Cares For Me (David Chaulk)
