USA East Music NYSB BULLETIN - SUMMER 2018 | Page 14

131st Annual Festival with Amsterdam Staff Band
Karen Shaffstall, NYSB First Cornet
The New York Staff Band celebrated their 131st Annual Festival
with the Amsterdam Staff Band. Following a week of engagements
throughout the Eastern Territory, the Amsterdam Staff Band shared the
stage in the beautiful Westside Presbyterian Church in Ridgewood, NJ.
Each band was in great form . . . the New York Staff Band recently
returning from their tour of Japan in mid-March and the Amsterdam
Staff Band having visited seven divisions while on tour in the Eastern
Territory. The unique fellowship that Staff Band’s share around the
world was clearly visible as both bands came together for a massed
band rehearsal prior to the Festival.
It was an exciting evening of music that was live-streamed around
the world. The New York Staff Band took the stage opening with
the world premiere of Proclamation by Tom Davoren who was in
the audience that evening. A beautiful arrangement
of Be Still (Finlandia) by Dr. Dorothy Gates, solos by
Matthew Luhn (trombone), When I Survey and Aaron
VanderWeele (euphonium), Harlequin and finally the
scintillating, Russlan and Ludmilla followed by the
NYSB Composition winning piece, Fearless by Andrew
Wainwright.
Immediately following the Amsterdam Staff Band
brilliantly presented Kerygma by Steven Ponsford, Poor
Wayfaring Stranger by Ruben Schmidt and Disciples at
Sea by Olaf Ritman, the Amsterdam Staff Bandmaster.
Exciting solos, New Horizons with Trombone Soloist,
Edwin Outhuijse and Euphonium duet, My All to God
by soloists, Michael Rosenquist & Simon Smedinga
brought the individual band’s programs to an exciting
conclusion.
Following a brief reset of the stage, both bands
came together to present the heart racing, quick
tempo march, Triumphant Prospect by Olaf Ritman.
Eric Whitacre’s beautiful choral composition, Sleep
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arranged by Andrew Poirier for brass band displayed the wide contrast
of dynamics that a large brass band can attain. High Over All by Sam
Creamer, I Know Thou Art Mine conducted by former Bandmaster
Ronald Waiksnoris and the legendary Song of Courage by Eric Ball
brought the evening to
a close.
The New York Staff
Band’s traditional vocal
closing, Rock of Ages
was sung by both
bands with the second
verse sung in Dutch.
W W W. N Y S B. O R G