USA East Music NYSB BULLETIN - WINTER 2019/20 | Page 14

NYSB EMPIRE DUTY WEEKEND REPORT
By Robert Venables, NYSB First Cornet
NOVEMBER 16-17, 2019 – The New York
Staff Band was greeted with beautiful clear
blue skies and a big morning moon to guide
the 3-hour bus ride to visit the Empire Division.
Our first stop was a Christmas appeal
concert at the Destiny Mall in Syracuse,
NY. Upon arrival, our most gracious host
Bandmaster Eric Jones, Empire Divisional
Music Director, and Majors Scott and Susan
Kelly met us and directed us to the ‘Canyon’, a
rather unique area of the Mall which features
Gallery walkways and overhead Rope walk
bridges that many children were enjoying. We
set up in Staff Band efficiency and played to
an audience of occupied but attentive and
appreciative people enjoying an afternoon of
shopping. We are told that over 250 people
were contacted on a personal level and some
even came to the concert later that evening.
We left the mall and made a quick stop by
St. Stephen Lutheran Church to set up for the
concert later that evening, then it was off to
the Syracuse ARC to enjoy a fabulous dinner.
A special thank you to Majors Robert and
Gayle Miga for providing such a wonderful
time of fellowship at the ARC.
1 3 3
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A terrific crowd gathered in the Sanctuary
of St. Stephen’s and after a time of prayer and
the singing of “Bless Them Now” the Staff
Band made its way through the front doors
in to position for an evening of Praise and
Worship.
From the exciting pulse of the
“Proclaimers” (Norbury) to the intense rhythm
of the “Balkan Dance” (Crauzaz) and amazing
euphonium playing by Aaron VanderWeele
in the solo “Glorious Ventures” (Graham)
the band showed its tremendous flair and
dazzle. The soft and sensitive presentation
of the Vocal item, “O Love” (Hagenberg) and
Andrew Wainright’s arrangement of “And
Can It Be” gave a wonderful prelude to Lt.
Colonel James LaBossiere reminding us to
“Come to the Table” where Grace begins. Sit
with the Savior, take your place with Him,
leave all your sin at the door. The brand new
piece “Rhapsody on St. Francis” (Wainwright)
finished the first half with just the right
amount of musical and emotional contrast to
leave everyone wanting more. After a short
meet and greet with band and audience
mingling, talking, laughing and sharing,
A N N U A L
the second half featured several Christmas
selections and the exciting “King of the Seven
Heavens” (Harper).
Sunday Worship was shared at the
Syracuse ARC and without a doubt a musical
and spiritual highlight was the playing of
Eric Ball’s magnificent selection “Serentity”.
Bandmaster Erik Jones shared with us how
special that piece of music is to the members
of his band in Syracuse. Christian Riesebieter
gave his compelling testimony, telling us of
the time he spent in basic training for the
Army National Guard and how physically
and emotionally draining it was. His faith
was upheld by the scripture “Trust in the
Lord with all your heart and lean not on your
own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5), and his
gratefulness was expressed in Psalm 100
which concludes with the words “for the
Lord is good and his love endures forever, His
faithfulness endures through all generations.”
Thank you, Christian.
The time spent in the Empire Division
was indeed a wonderful time of Praise and
Worship in Exaltation to our God. Happy
Thanksgiving Everyone!
F E S T I V A L
NEW YORK STAFF BAND
West Side Presbyterian
APRIL 4, 2020
Ridgewood, New Jersey