SEPTEMBER 9-10, 2023 – With great enthusiasm and anticipation, the men and women of the New York Staff Band met in early September for the first rehearsal of the band’s 2023-2024 season. It was a treat to welcome some new and returning faces to the band, such as Zack Hodgson on Flugel Horn, Caroline Wajda on 1st Cornet, and Major Tom Dressler on 2nd Cornet. There has also been some shifting around in the Cornet section, with James Dorce moving to the Solo Cornet bench and Jonathan George shifting to the Soprano Cornet chair. After hitting the ground running in our first Wednesday rehearsal, our first duty weekend had arrived.
The band met up at the Asbury Park Corps on Saturday afternoon for a mini retreat. It began with a rehearsal, where time was spent digging into the current major works of the repertoire (Robert Redhead’s “Corpus Christi” & Peter Graham’s “Renaissance”) and preparing the items for Sunday’s worship service. After a stirring devotional thought from Major Phil Ferreira (newly appointed as the Assistant Property Manager of the NYSB), Bandmaster Derek Lance shared his thoughts and reflections on what it means to be a member of the New York Staff Band. It all boiled down to one word with different facets: commitment. Commitment to our personal relationships with Jesus Christ, commitment to our local Corps, commitment to the other members of the band family and investing in their lives, commitment to the overall ministry of the band to share the Gospel to the best of its ability. This was followed by the band breaking up into sections and spending time praying over each other, which was one of the most meaningful aspects of the weekend to this reviewer. Later that evening, the band all met at the Robinson Ale House for dinner, fellowship, and entertainment.
The NYSB had an early morning on Sunday, as they were on duty at Ocean Grove’s aptly named “Great Auditorium.” This is not the band’s first time on-duty for “Salvation Army Day” in the Auditorium, and it was a privilege to be joined by not only our territorial leaders, Commissioners William & Lorraine Bamford, but also the special guests of the day: Commissioners Mark & Sharon Tillsley. Commissioner Sharon read from John 14: 8-14 while Commissioner Mark shared that greater things lie ahead if the Holy Spirit is allowed to minister to us, in us, and through us. The rain did not deter people, both Salvationists and non-Salvationists alike, from hearing what the Lord had to say through both the ministry of the Commissioners and the band. Stirring renditions of Richard Phillips’ “Be Still for the Presence of the Lord” and Marcus Venables’ new piece “Concurrence” were highlights of the morning. The meeting came to a rousing conclusion with the band, choir, and pipe organ leading the congregation in “O Boundless Salvation.”
This uplifting weekend was a great way to commence the NYSB’s latest season. We look forward to seeing how God uses our efforts to bless and minister to all who hear us in due course.
