SUMMER BRASS 2018 MEMBERS


Harrison Venables, Cornet
Noah Rife, Cornet
Malachi Reynolds, Cornet
Helen Wajda, Flugel
Ryan Lavenbein, Cornet
Mackenzie Dalrymple, Horn
Emma Betts, Horn
Rachel Dina, Trombone
D’Andre Dyer, Trombone
Marty Scott, Bass Trombone
Sarah Robertson, Euphonium
Evan VanderWeele, Baritone
Michael DeVault, Tuba
Christian Clarke, Tuba
Edward Hardy, Percussion

June 22 – August 5, 2018

Week 1

Summer Brass at Spring Valley Park

Summer Brass started its sixth year with an orientation led by Steve and Sharon Bussey at Territorial Headquarters – we were lucky to have them for the second year in a row. The Bussey’s talked about the Old Orchard Beach pier ministry as well as how to share the gospel more effectively and showed us other great ministry tools to use over the course of the summer.
Our first full week together we supported the Spring Valley Corps Summer Fun program (which included Sunday Morning worship) teaching brass, vocal, dance, drama, theory, and sports. On the Thursday and Friday evening we played some outdoor concerts around the Spring Valley area.  At the end of the week, the group headed to Trenton to perform at the adult rehabilitation center – What a great audience, as always. This is the third year in a row Summer Brass was privileged to perform at Trenton ARC.

Week 2

We headed to Camp Tecumseh to take part in Music and Arts Camp. It was a great lineup of special guests featuring Phil and Sarah Rayment as the musical guests, Kyle and Kathryn Higgins as the Arts guests, and Chuck Goodin as the Bible guest. The theme of the week was “Soar” taken from Isaiah 40:31.

Week 3

This week saw the group split up and cover Massachusetts Music Camp at Camp Wonderland, and Empire Music Conservatory at Long Point Camp. At the end of the week we all reunited as the full group at Long Point Camp to perform for the Empire Conservatory finale.

Week 4

We headed back to THQ to rehearse for a day (OOB Pier rehearsals), then went on our way to Camp Swoneky for Music Conservatory with additional engagements at the Dayton Kroc Center and Cincinnati ARC. Friday, Summer Brass went to Dayton for a few hours to perform at the Courthouse Square. Unfortunately, it started raining during the performance and the group got soaked.

Summer Brass at the Dayton Kroc after getting “soaked” by the rain.

Thankfully Majors Senak from the Kroc center looked after us and we were able to dry off, and eat a delicious lunch once we got back to the Kroc center. On Saturday, everyone headed to the Chapel at Worthington Woods Corps for the final Music Conservatory concert with the CAWW Corps Band. On Sunday, the conservatory students led morning worship at the Dayton Kroc Center, and Summer Brass played a lunch time concert. We headed back to camp for games and pizza, and shared memories from the week with the conservatory students and staff.

Week 5

Thankfully we were able to stay at Camp Swoneky for two extra days. Monday: we had OOB Pier rehearsals. Tuesday we headed to Cincinnati to minister at the ARC. Wednesday: the group made the long trek back to THQ area. Thursday: We had a day long recording session at THQ to record the Holly Ruthberg Sunday School choruses demo tracks.  Friday: traveled to Old Orchard Beach in time to hand out programs and listen to the Household Troops Band concert at the Old Orchard Beach Corps. Saturday was the first day of the OOB Pier Ministry and the group were very happy to be a part of the Pier ministry again this year.

Week 6

Summer Brass was in Old Orchard Beach all week for pier ministry and Camp Meetings. In the mornings, we were part of Crossfire Brass, which performed for the fireworks on Thursday evening, and for the opening of the Friday evening at the pavilion. Unfortunately due to the weather, some of the evening programs at the pier had to be cancelled. Despite these cancellations, we believe that the pier ministry was effective as ever on the nights we did get to proclaim the gospel. Summer Brass had two sets that we performed at the pier:

Summer Brass at Old Orchard Beach

SET 1 –  1. Star Wars (arr. Broughton) 2. Shine Down (arr. Blyth) 3. Disney Spectacular (arr. Richards).
SET 2 – 1. 007 Light (Markus Frei) 2. You Raise me Up (arr. Gates) 3. The Incredibles (arr. Burgmayer).

On Saturday it was time to leave OOB and head to Soulfest at Gunstock Mountain Resort which is in Gilford, New Hampshire. We were told that this was the first time that a brass group has been to this event. We literally played to thousands of people and it was an amazing experience.

It was a great six weeks together!