USA East Music NYSB BULLETIN - SUMMER 2018 | Page 3

NYSB Visits Canada
Craig Lewis, Territorial Secretary for Music & Gospel Arts, Canada & Bermuda
There was much anticipation in Salvation
Army circles for the weekend events on
November 17–19, surrounding the 113th
annual Toronto Santa Claus parade. This
was due in large part to the participation of
the New York Staff Band (NYSB), under the
leadership of Bandmaster Derek Lance. The
weekend, a joint partnership between the
Public Relations department of the Ontario
Central East Division and the Canadian
Staff Band (CSB), is the kick-off to the many
Christmas events that will be happening in
and around the greater Toronto area.
The NYSB arrived on Friday and
immediately headed down highway 401 to
London Citadel, where they would begin
their weekend. The band entered for the
evening concert to a full house that was keen
to hear the band. In the long and prestigious
history of the NYSB and its many trips to
Canada, this was the first time that the NYSB
had visited London Citadel, a corps with its
own long history of banding excellence.
The crowd was treated to many new works
and enjoyed the solos of two of the band’s
principal players, who also happen to be
Canadian. Brindley Venables presented the
cornet solo Flashback, while Ryan McCrudden
played ‘Neath the Dublin Skies. In addition to
playing The Canadian, which resulted in the
audience standing twice for the national
T H E S A LVAT I O N A R M Y U S A E A S T
anthem during the performance, the NYSB
also played music from the pen of Canadian
composers, Jonathan Rowsell and Marcus
Venables. Both were present at the concert
and it was, in fact, the first time for Marcus
to hear his new major work, Endless Power,
in person.
On Saturday morning at the Toronto
Korean Corps, the NYSB met for marching
rehearsal with their counterparts in the
CSB, along with members of the Ontario
Central East Divisional Youth Band and
representatives from various local corps
bands. It is always good to see how quickly
friendships are renewed, especially over the
abundance of Tim Hortons coffee that was
on hand. There is a camaraderie among
Salvationist bandspersons that isn’t found in
many areas of life. While there were serious
moments of instruction from the Drum
Major of the 48th Highlanders Regiment, the
atmosphere was light and many laughs were
enjoyed. After the traditional pizza lunch,
it was time for the two staff bands to head
east to Oshawa Temple to set up and prepare
for the annual Fall Festival. (See concert report
from Stan Ewing). After the concert, while
most people went home for a well-deserved
rest, seven younger members of the NYSB
joined some of the CSB for a late night game
of floor hockey at North York Temple. While
the final outcome is in dispute, it has been
confirmed that the NYSB contingent was in
real danger until their imported Canadian
reinforcements arrived.
It is really the Toronto Santa Claus Parade
that is the main impetus for this weekend.
With the streets of Toronto packed with
750,000 people, and the largest television
audience for any Santa Claus parade in
the world, it is an incredible witnessing
opportunity for The Salvation Army. Following
a combined worship and lunch with the
parade participants and the congregation of
the Bloor Central Corps, everyone made the
short walk to the parade muster point. While
the sun was shining brightly it was the wind
chill of zero degrees Celsius which caught
most of the visitors by surprise; but that is
winter in Canada! With two staff bands in the
midst of the throng of Salvationist musicians
and timbrelists, there was a quality of sound
that didn’t waver or fade during the entire 5.6
km parade route. There was indeed strength
in numbers!
After the short bus ride back to Territorial
Headquarters, it was time for all to say their
goodbyes. It was really a privilege for Toronto
to host the first international engagement of
the NYSB under BM Derek Lance. We hope
that it will not be too long before they come
back and visit us again.
SUMMER 2018   NYSB BULLETIN   ‡   3