October 26th 2024 – Oshawa Temple. “The kids stole the show” was one of the comments this reporter heard, following the 2024 Heritage Brass Annual Anniversary concert at Oshawa Temple. The comment was a fitting tribute to the wide variety of music enjoyed by all with the building packed to the full.

Each year Heritage Brass invites guests to join and help celebrate the occasion with this year putting youth to the front. For 150 years, Trafalgar Castle School, a day and boarding school for girls has been developing Future-Ready Competencies to prepare females for the challenges and opportunities encountered in the real world. TCS music program includes 2 singing groups, the Castle Chorale (Grades 4-6 Students) and the Castle Singers (Grades 7-12 Students). Under the leadership of Mrs. Fiona Hopkins with Charles Gerard providing piano accompaniment, the groups thrilled the audience with their charm, deportment and high musical standard.

Click to view the gallery of images from the evening.

It was also a special evening for Heritage Brass, with their newly appointed interim leader – Curtis Metcalf. Soloists included Major Kevin Metcalf (Cornet) John Avery (Cornet) Steve Nelson (Flugel Horn) and from the Castle Chorale – Sendos (Clarinet).

Watch the video recording to re-capture the memory of a wonderful evening of music.

3rd July 2024 – For what the band calls the ‘end of season’ with the summer beginning, HB annually concluded the season with a concert at Georgina Corps, preceded by a dinner at the local legion where members and family are recognized for service to the band.

This year, two members retired: Paulette Miller – 9 years of service, and Bob McArthur – 32 years of service.

Four new members were welcomed: Shirley Cummings playing Baritone, Kevin Thompson playing Baritone, Major Wayne Knight playing Cornet (not present at event) and Tristan Burditt (Audio Visual).

It is always a sad occasion to say goodbye to former members.

Bob Watson was an ‘extra’ and passed away this past winter. It was good that Sue Watson, Bob’s wife could be present, along with her family, to recognise Bob’s 8 years of service to the band.

Present was Maxine Read, the wife of John Read (Audio Visual) who also passed away this past year with 4 years of service.

Also present was Doreen Cummings, the wife of Don Cummings who also passed away this past year with 22 years of service.

Major Cliff Hollman was also recognized as Treasurer, stepping down after 13 years of overseeing the financial portion of Heritage Brass.

Finally, Col. Robert Ward announced his resignation as bandmaster due to health reasons and was duly thanked for his service to the band.

To everyone for their service to the band we said ‘thank you’ and we gave God the glory.

Following dinner, the band assembled at Georgina Corps, where a good congregation was waiting. For 90 minutes or so, the band played and sang a variety of music, which was well received. Major Ken Ritson (Exec. Officer) brought a devotional.

April 20th 2024 – HB Concert at CrossPoint CRC Church, Brampton Ontario.

Heritage Brass, a Salvation Army band, is most often involved with Salvation Army congregations and S.A. events but will occasionally provide concerts with other church denominations. This was the case with CrossPoint, and what a delight it was for the band. The sanctuary full of people responded to a program of music that included S.A. marches, musical arrangements of hymns, and some secular music such as “Love changes everything.” The band also provided two vocal items.

Bandmaster Bob Ward compered the program helping a non-Salvation Army audience understand the background behind the music and what the composer was communicating. Executive Officer, Major Ken Ritson provided a devotional thought. A link is provided below to view the program.

Sat – Sun 25-26 November 2023. St Catherines Corps hosted Heritage Brass for a weekend of music and worship. The band arrived mid-afternoon to setup with a brief sound check before being treated to a ‘Ham and Scallops’ supper provided by a team of volunteers from the corps. A good-sized congregation of people gathered and enjoyed the evening concert. Admittance to the concert was free along with an appeal to make a donation to the Corps Christmas kettle program. A Christmas kettle was set up in the foyer and the band set time aside in their concert to officially kick off the Christmas Appeal program for the community of St Catherines. The band played a March – “Celebrate His Birth” and then Major Don Feltham (Corps Officer) made the Appeal. The band concluded the ceremony with their voices singing “The Stable Door.” Bandsman Byron Penney sang with band accompaniment “A Different Man.” Bandsman Major Cliff Hollman brought a devotional thought (Major Cliff & his wife Major Ruth were former C.O.’s of St. Catherines 43 years before).

The band returned on Sunday to lead the morning worship service. The band played a beautiful arrangement on the tune “Lavenham” in the service. Major Ken Ritson (Exec Officer) brought the message. Following the service, the band were invited, along with the corps to join together in the gymnasium where a ‘beef-on-a-bun’ was served. The band retired with a feeling that not only was God glorified in worship but felt blessed that there was this reaching into the community to assist those in need during the festive season.

Sat. October 21st. The month of October has always signalled Heritage
Brass band’s Anniversary concert and this year, 2023 was the band’s
35th Anniversary with The Canadian Staff Songsters as the guests. For
both leaders, Col. Bob Ward (Heritage Brass) and Cathie Koehnen
(Canadian Staff Songsters) they were newly commissioned as leaders.

It was good to see the sanctuary at Oshawa Temple filled, with the
congregation warming to the music presented. The program began with
the band marching in The Canadian Staff Songsters to the march ‘Mighty
to Keep.’ Major Ken Ritson, also newly appointed as Executive Officer
to Heritage Brass brought a devotional thought. Ron Hustins and Steven
Cooper were also featured in the songs selected by the Songsters. A
sample of some of the music, including photos is included here to
remember a wonderful evening of music-making bringing all the
glory to God.

Sat/Sun 23-24 September 2023. An inspiring and uplifting spiritual time was enjoyed by the many who attended Bowmanville Salvation Army Community Church with the visit of Heritage Brass.

Supporting HB were a number of residents from the Redemption House Of Recovery in Oshawa.

Following a supper hosted by the corps, the band provided a program of music which included congregation participation. It truly was a God-glorifying experience. The program of music was selected and compered by Col. Robert Ward who, following this new position as
Bandmaster was conducting his first concert.

The band returned on Sunday morning in smaller numbers to support the worship service. This was led by the Corps Officer, Auxilliary Lieutenant Allison Schizkoske. The speaker for the morning was Adam Smith who was the main counsellor at RHOR. Adam gave both his testimony of his recovery and opened the ‘Word.’ Following his powerful message he invited 10 men from the program to tell their stories. We heard it all… alcohol, drugs, prison time, homelessness, abuse. And every one of them spoke about the power of the HS who changed their lives once they gave in to Him.

The weekend was indeed a blessing to all that attended and the members of HB were honoured to have been part of it.