Report : Future All-Stars Weekend 2023
MARCH 17 – 19 , 2023 — Star Lake Camp has long been famous for its Musicamp and the Eric Ball march named after it , written during one particular summer time camp . That a music camp would become so well known when only gathering for one week out of each year is fascinating and is a testament to the depth of musical heritage found in the Eastern Territory . Each note played and each word sung and heard throughout the trees for that one week has been meaningful and special – an offering of praise but perhaps also representing a life changed .
However , since 2003 , another Salvation Army musical event has been taking place at Star Lake Camp , albeit in the dead of an east coast winter , but also has been making a difference in the lives of young salvationist musicians just the same . The New York Staff Band Future All-Stars Weekend held its 20th annual event from March 17 – 19 , 2023 , at the Star Lake Lodge and Conference Center , continuing the tradition of Army music making that focuses on youth . For those not familiar with the event , young brass musicians , mainly from the Eastern Territory but occasionally other areas , apply online and send in a video audition as long as they meet the age and soldiership criteria . The students chosen form a large band along with the men and women of the NYSB who sit amongst the students . It is a model long used in music camp and corps bands in which more senior players guide and direct from within their section and has proven successful over the years for the FAW band .
As has been the case for many of the Future All-Stars Weekends , several other aspects such as corporate devotions and prayer partners tie the event together and often times , special musical guests come along for the ride ! The schedule is a hectic one as the final Sunday performance must be ready with only Friday evening and Saturday rehearsals ! Breaks between playing are often quick but the kids are almost always up for the challenge and staff band members try to put on a brave face !
This year , we were pleased to welcome several fantastic people into the FAW family , the first two being Captains Nate and Loreita Hinzman who currently serve as the Divisional Youth and Candidates Secretaries in the Massachusetts division . Loreita is a FAW alumni and certainly no stranger to the goings on of this special weekend . Nate and Loreita both served the students and staff band well as they brought thoughtful and well-prepared devotional times throughout the few days together . Each session focused on a different Bible character and how that character dealt with the particular situation they found themselves in . There was certainly something for anyone present to relate to and was discussed further through the prayer partner times in which FAW students pair up with one or two staff band members .
Although the entire delegation didn ’ t get to hear them play until the second night , our musical guests – Andrew Hedley and Tom Nielsen were absolute stars on their
respective instruments , euphonium and cornet / trombone on the Saturday night recital . Andrew has been playing euphonium in the ISB for several years whilst guesting with several of the top brass bands in the UK and is a member of the Chester-le-Street Corps in the north of England . An accountant by trade but could easily make a career as a professional musician , Andrew gave masterful performances of Philip Sparkes ‘ Harlequin ’, Chris Mallets ‘ Travelling Along ’ and ‘ The Wonder of His Grace ’ by Howard Davies . Andrew ’ s humility in performance and the way he carried himself throughout the weekend really made him stand out however , and was a perfect example of a good Salvationist musician to all of the delegates . Tom Nielsen , a soldier of the Croydon Citadel Corps in London , was equally impressive during the recital and is one of the latest young cornetists born and bred in the SA to enter into the professional music world in a significant way , following in the footsteps of names like Phil Cobb and the Fountain brothers . Tom ’ s offerings during the recital were a little more eclectic but were
8 NYSB BULLETIN FALL 2023
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