USA East Music NYSB BULLETIN - WINTER 2018 | Page 4

Lancaster Weekend Report “I Love Watching You Play”
Karen Shaffstall, NYSB First Cornet
OCTOBER 20-21, 2018 — The New York
Staff Band had a great weekend in the
Pendel Division and, more specifically, at the
Lancaster Citadel Corps in Lancaster, PA. The
first opportunity to share devotions together
with the Pendel Youth Band and Pendel
Brass, lead by Staff Bandsman Matt Hodgson,
brought me to the title of this article, “I Love
Watching You Play.” A reference to Zephaniah
3:17, where we come to understand that
we rejoice in God because He rejoices in us
when we sing and play for Him!
A beautiful fall day to board the bus, travel
to Lancaster, and meet up with the Pendel
Brass and Pendel Youth Band. Following a
mini–concert by the NYSB featuring a brilliant
piece by Roger Trigg, “Almighty” followed by a
lovely new piece “Introit-O Love” by Andrew
Blyth and the scintillating (FAST!) music
“Russlan and Ludmilla” by Michael Kenyon
the NYSB divided forces with half going
to rehearse with the Pendel Brass and half
with the Pendel Youth Band. Both groups
continue to demonstrate excellence in their
playing and singing with the Divisional Music
Director, Gavin Whitehouse and his staff of
Regional Music Leaders taking leadership.
Following a good time of rehearsal
and fellowship the NYSB made their way
to the evening concert venue, the Calvin &
Janet High Fine Arts Center in the Lancaster
Mennonite High School. A beautiful
auditorium! The concert opened with Tom
Davoren’s exciting piece, “Proclamation”
and quickly changed pace with Dorothy
Gates lovely music, “Be Still.” The Staff Band
continued on with the first half featuring,
“Southern Cross” (Bowen) and “Partita on
‘St Theodulph’” (Norbury). It was a pleasure
to share the stage with the Pendel Singers.
Under Gavin’s leadership they sang, “Prepare”
(Ballantine), “Nearer My God To Thee”
(Sorenson) and “He’s Been Faithful” (Kirkland).
The second half of the concert took off
with, “Balkan Dance” (Crausaz), “Toccata Fire!”
(Ponsford) and “Turris Fortissima” (Ponsord).
Special recognition was given to two of
the longest playing and recently retired
members of the Pendel Brass & Singers, David
and Donna Burgmayer. Finally the NYSB and
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Pendel Brass came together to play the
magnificent “Kingdom Triumphant” (Ball) and
“God Be With You” (Gordon).
Sunday morning found the NYSB
worshipping at the Lancaster Citadel Corps.
A lovely corps with several “glowing” and still
hard-working retired Officers making this
their home corps. It was our privilege to share
in worship through the playing of “Everlasting
Hope”(Sharman), a brand new piece by Joel
Collier “Great Are You Lord.” Just prior to
sharing the Word by the Executive Officer, Lt.
Colonel James LaBossiere, the band played
the very moving piece of music by Eric Ball,
“The Eternal Presence.” It was evident that the
Holy Spirit was present as there were several
moments of Holy silence at the conclusion of
the music.
Our time together finished with the
NYSB presenting an afternoon concert
at a retirement residence in Lancaster,
the Woodcrest Villa. There was music for
everyone’s taste….” The Red Shield (Goffin),
Manhattan (Leidzen) and South Shields
Celebration (Cordner)” marches. Popular
songs, “Climb Every Mountain (Harper),”
“When the Saints Go Marching In (Richards),0,”
“Valero (Swearingen)”, Lullaby (Goodnight,
My Angel) (Harper)”, “New York, New York
(Richards)” and “Amazing Grace (Himes).”
Our wish for this weekend was certainly
that the Lord would love watching us play as
it was all done to bring Him glory and honor!
W W W. N Y S B. O R G