Reports on ISB Events
ISB120
It hardly seems possible, after so many months of anticipation, planning and preparation, that the ISB 120 Celebration weekend is now over.
The Chicago, Japan and Melbourne Staff Bands have undertaken extensive tours of the United Kingdom, culminating in a long weekend in London where they were joined in the UK by the Amsterdam, Canadian, German and New York Staff Bands. 'Fringe' concerts in Basingstoke, Chelmsford, Hadleigh, Maidenhead, Maidstone and Stowmarket on Friday 3 June, along with a concert given by the New York Staff Band and The International Staff Band in London's Cadogan Hall, effectively set the stage for what had been billed as a spectacular weekend of celebrations. more...
2011/03/07
Bacup
On Saturday 21st of May 2011, The 2nd Rossendale Scout Group Band played alongside the ISB in The Royal Court Theatre, in Bacup. The organisation's preparations for this event began over 3 years ago, and the whole of Bacup, not to mention the band were overwhelmingly proud to have secured such a fantastic band for a great evening of music.
And what a great evening of music it turned out to be. After a joint meal provided by the wonderful "Band Chefs" at the Scout HQ on Burnley Road and the exchanging of presents which the band were ever-so grateful for, both bands headed over to the Theatre to prepare for the evening where they would perform to a sell-out audience of over 450 spectators. more...
2011/03/07
Chatham
Each month the band visits a local Salvation Army centre to present a concert and lead Sunday worship. Our enagagement in February was to Chatham in Kent where Staff Bandsman Carl Woodman (Eb Tuba) is the Bandmaster.
Chatham Salvation Army's website has a report on the band's visit. Click to Read Report
2011/03/07
Norwich
We commenced our season at the Norwich citadel corps, and were warmly welcomed by all at the corps.
Bandmaster Richard Woodrow (Norwich citadel), and principle horn player David Winch were on home territory, and both featuring as soloists. We would also take this opportunity of wishing the Norwich Band well on their forthcoming tour of Canada and USA.
The ISB as always, featured new music during the weekend including:
'Exultate Deo' (Paul Sharman), 'Fill the world with glory' (Kevin Larsson), and 'Celebrate and Sing' (Martin Cordner).
The Sunday meetings were well attended, and well supported too, by the Norwich music sections. Particularly poignant was the retirement of two Norwich bandsmen, and the commissioning of two 'new' young players to the senior band.
Thanks to Norwich citadel for a good start to our season, and we now prepare for our next weekend in Exeter at the end of the month.
2010/10/10
Gloucester
Seven o’clock on a warm Saturday evening and the band have just entered onto the platform. A certain air of excitement and expectancy abounded; the opportunity to play to a capacity audience in an Army hall is one that the band seems to relish. Paul Sharman’s Psalm of Thanks was used as the opener for the very first time. Written for Birmingham Citadel Band, the full-bodied sound of the cornets in the opening bars brought an exhilarating start to Saturday night’s festival. more...
2010/03/03
Doncaster
Our first weekend engagement of the year was a visit to Doncaster. It was back in January 1998 that the band last visited the Corps. Since that date, the Corps has been through a major relocation programme that has seen the establishment of Doncaster Salvation Army’s Lakeside Community Church in a spectacular new suite of buildings. more...
2010/02/04
Maidstone
The last time the ISB visited Maidstone was 2003 and once again it was a great encouragement to present a programme to an overflowing venue. The congregation also included current ICO members as well as former members of the band. more...
2009/11/06
Brass Arts Festival 09
We were delighted to see colleague staff band member Dorothy Gates (principal trombone: New York Staff Band) present at Regent Hall on Friday 16 October. Dorothy, who is the music editor in The Salvation Army's music department in New York , kindly agreed to write a report on this unique event in the ISB's calendar of events this year. more...
2009/10/31
Band visits St Austell, Redruth & Camborne in one Sunday
The ISB’s Sunday ministry saw a departure from the normal Sunday format. As a consequence of the Heyl Band’s funding of the concert the previous evening, the ISB was able to focus on some of the smaller corps in the area for whom such a visit would normally be unattainable! Staff Bandsman Richard Woodrow writes:
Sunday morning saw the ISB split into two to lead worship at the Salvation Army Corps in St Austell and Redruth - neither centre would describe themselves as a large corps, so it was a rare opportunity for us to minister in a setting where a visit from the ISB would not usually be feasible. The Redruth group, led by Bandmaster Steven Cobb and our Executive Officer, Lt.Col David Hilton, enjoyed an extra hour's sleep while the rest of us, led by Deputy Bandmaster Derek Kane, headed off to St Austell, slightly further from our overnight stay in Truro. more...
2009/09/20
Hall for Cornwall Truro
The first weekend of any new season with the ISB is always special, but the band’s visit to Cornwall – the second in just three years - was anticipated with high expectations all round! The Band’s Saturday festival in Truro’s ‘Hall for Cornwall’ was hosted by the Heyl Town Band (Derek Johnston), a local town band whose members had worked really hard to generate an audience of around 800 for the festival.
Music included Marche Militaire Francais, Golden Slippers (soloist Kevin Ashman), In Christ Alone (soloist Derick Kane), Deep River and I'll Walk With God as well as a new work from Steven Ponsord called Turris Fortissima. The band also featured music written by Paul Sharman (solo cornet) including one of his latest works called Psalm of Thanks.
Read Derek Johnston's (Musical Director) report of the evening. more...
2009/09/19
2009 Half Yearly update
We began the year with a visit to the Sunderland Monkwearmouth Corps. After some ‘coach’ trouble at THQ, it was in to our cars and a drive to Sunderland! The ISB members however, as resilient as ever!
We enjoyed the meeting up with friends in the north-east and felt the warmth of welcome and fellowship.
Next stop was Bournemouth, for a midweek visit to the Territorial Youth Band course. This course, led by our Territorial Music Director Dr. Stephen Cobb, is in it’s 11th year, and continues to be a great success. The ISB has always had close associations with TYB and our visit was again, well received by the young musicians attending the course. The Wednesday evening concert was well supported too, by many local Salvationists. more...
2009/08/16