On Saturday, November 15, the Canadian Staff Band was privileged to participate in Mississauga Temple Band’s fifth annual Benefits in Brass concert. An annual event, proceeds go to various Salvation Army overseas missions projects. This year, funds were earmarked for the Army children’s home in Acupulco, Mexico.

 

In addition to the CSB and Mississauga Temple Band (under CSB alumnus BM Rob Miller), the program featured the debut performance of the new Ontario Central-East Divisional Young People’s Band. Under their new name, Blood and Fire Brass, and led by YP Band Leader Derrick Fishwick, the group made an admirable first impression, presenting a variety of items from Stephen Bulla’s arrangement of Crusaders’ Hymn to the upbeat Dance Like David (arr. Mackereth), which brought the house down.

 

Mississauga Temple Band opened the program with a sparkling rendition of Peter Graham’s march Shining Star (Peter Graham). It also featured the tuba solo Frosty the Snowman (CSB alumnus Rob Brown in a virtuoso performance) and Eric Ball’s classic suite Songs of the Morning.

 

CSB contributions included Leslie Condon’s demanding work Festivity, Bruce Broughton’s cornet solo Pleasure In His Service (Major Kevin Metcalf) and Paul Lovatt Cooper’s Vitae Aeternum. It was a great night and we were pelased to participate in such a worthwhile event.