Our Memories of Vernon
Vernon Post ( 1927 — 2023 ) was a longstanding member , and then in retirement , strong supporter of the New York Staff Band . He first came to the USA East Music Department in 1954 to be Richard Holz ’ s assistant , and then by 1955 named by Holz as leader of the NYSB Male Chorus , and soon designated also Deputy Bandmaster . His tenure as Staff Bandmaster spanned some of the most turbulent years in 20th-century America , 1963 — 1972 . Those years marked quite the cultural shift in our nation , and the staff band found itself involved in some of those changes . Through it all , Vernon Post maintained steady leadership — the ‘ long hair ’ episode just being one of the more bizarre of that era . Post was steady , a gentleman , kind and sympathetic , and a great encourager not only to members of the NYSB , especially the rising generation of talented young musicians he attracted into the band , but to those of us serving as very inexperienced , new music leaders out ‘ on the field .’
With Holz ’ s blessing and encouragement , Post brought the Male Chorus to a new level of performance , so much so that my father recommended a name change : The New York Staff Band and Male Chorus . When Post took over the brass band he soon led the men in such notable events as the SA ’ s 1965 Centenary , a highly acclaimed 1968 European Tour , and fine series of recordings , to say nothing of the many trips and engagements within that 9 year period , some of them detailed in The Proclaimers . He led a generally suberb band then ! During their European trip the band played in the Royal Albert Hall , performing brilliantly pieces like Morley Calvert ’ s Canadian Folksong Suite and the last two movements of the Hummel Trumpet Concerto , especially transcribed and arranged by Post for Derek Smith . That was but prelude to the present , for very recently Post willingly accepted the task of arranging the first movement of that concerto for a recording in support of the Clarence Adoo Trust by the Cooperative Funeralcare Band , led by John Ward , with trumpet soloist Steve Stewart . The new score clearly demonstrated that the arranger was still a master of his craft .
At Star Lake Musicamp 2016 Vernon Post received the honor of being among the first members of the Star Lake Hall of Fame . The other luminaries inducted were Eric Ball , Commissioner Richard E . Holz , Erik Leidzén , and James Williams . Post ’ s highly significant contributions to the development of this famous camp represent only a part of his outstanding contributions to Salvation Army and brass band music and history .
By his high school days Vernon had developed into a fine cornet player , and was fortunate to receive lessons from the renowned cornetist , conductor , and composer , Frank Simon , at the time leading the famous Armco Band . Post traveled from Piqua to Middletown on Saturday mornings for these priceless experiences , for which Simon gave Post a full scholarship . As Post has stated in his fascinating memoir , For All the Saints ( 2002 ), “ I owe a great deal to Frank Simon .”
Within the SA at this time Post fully embraced a variety of experiences and activities both locally and on a grander scale , like Star Lake Musicamp and the Central Music Institute . He first attended Star Lake in 1940 , age 13 . That year he won the coveted cornet pin and returned again in 1941 , working all summer at the youth camps held on the hilltop , serving as camp bugler . While at Star Lake he began his lifelong study and interest in music theory and composition . Back in Ohio he expanded his musical experiences , broadening his understanding and skills . Toward the close of World War II while still in high school he enlisted as a Navy musician , serving briefly ( 1945 — 1946 ) and gaining an even wider outlook on life and music making .
Post studied at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music 1946 — 1950 , completing there the Bachelor of Music degree . He renewed his cornet study with Frank Simon , and played under him in the Conservatory Wind Band , as well as receiving
6 NYSB BULLETIN SUMMER 2023 WWW . NYSB . ORG